The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-02

- - - Nv
buckwheat but he held her arm in n
strong grasp against which the weight
Of her slim figure seemed but ms o
feather blown against n wall. Then
they set about their task. but the
sobereyed cows had no thought Of be
INK easily deprived Of their feast, and
II was some time before they were all
turned back into the pasture and the
fence temporarily repaired behind
them.
II can't thank you enough" Beulah
was saying. you just keep piling one
Kindness ON top Of another. Say, Jim,
honest. what makes you do itT'
But at that moment the keen blast
OF an engine whistle came cutting
through the air--a long clear note, fol-
lowed by n series of toots in rapid sue
cession.
II guess they're running short Of
water said jim. 81 must hustle" SO
saying he ran 10 the ford Of the creek
where the tank-wngon was still stand
ing. and In minute his strong frame
was swaying back and forth TO the
rhythmic clanking Of the pump.
Meanwhile other things were trans
piring Harris had returned from
town the night before with the fixed
Intention Of paying an early visit to
the Farther West. lie and Rifles had
spent more time than they should
breastlng the village bar, while the
latter drew picture Of rising color Of
the possibilities which the new lands
afforded. Harris was not n man who
abused himself with liquor. and Riles
too. rarely forgot that indulgence was
expensive, and had To be paid for In
cash. Moreover. Allan occnsioned his
father some uneasiness. He was young
and had not yet learned the self-con-
troll To be expected In later life. More
than once of late Allan had crossed
the boundary Of moderation and John
Harris was by no means Indifferent TO
the welfare OF his only son. Indeed.
the bond between the two was so real
and so Intense that Harris had never
been able 70 bring himself TO contem-
plate their separation. and the boy had
not even so much as thought Of estab-
fishing n home Of his own. The idea
OF demonstrating together assured fur
Their years of close relationship be-
tween father and son. and the younger
man fell In whole-heartedly with II.
Wen hurry up the blowing. Dad.
and run west before the harvest is on
US" Allan said as they rode home
through the darkness. 1--WE can Gle
our land and get back for the fall
work. Then we will go out for the
winter and commence our duties. The
only question is. can they grow any
thing on that land out there7"
That's what they used to ask when
we came To Manitoba" said his IA
Their. "And there were years when
doubted the answer myself. Some
parts were froze out year after year.
and they're among the best In the coun.
try now, and never think OF frost. The
same thlngll happen out there. and
we might as well be in the game"
gether the desire for more wealth that
prompted Harris. II was the call OF
new land the call he had heard and
answered In the early eighties; the old
appetite that had lain dormant for a
quarter Of century. bur was still in
his blood, waiting only a suggestion OF
the open spaces. a Whit from dry
grass on the wind-swept plains, the
zigzag Of wagon-trail streaklng afar
into the horizon. to set II tingling
again.
So this morning father and son were
especially anxious that not a moment
Of their blowing weather should be
lost, and II was particularly aggravat-
ing when the hired mans long delay
resulted in bubbling sputter followed
by a dry hiss from the injector. warn
ing the engineer that the water-tank
was empty. Allan shot an anxious
glance down the road 10 the coulee.
but the water team was not In sight.
Selling the whistle cord, he sent its
peremptory summons into the air.
Harris looked up from the plows. and
the two exchanged frowns OF annoy
ance. But the water stood high In the
glass. and Allan did not reduce the
speed, although he cut the link action
another notch 10 get every ounce of
advantage from the expansion. But
the water went down. down In the
glass, and still there was no sign Of
further supply. Allan again cut the
air with his whistle. and at length.
with muttered lmprecation, he
slammed the throttle shut and jumped
from the engine.
Keep keen eye on your fire." said
Harris. "and I'll go down and see
what's wrong with him." SO the farm
er strobe of across the plowed field.
The delay annoyed him, and he felt
unreasonably cross with Travers. As
he plodded on through the heavy soil
his temper did not improve. and he
was talking 10 himself by the time he
came upon Travers, giving his team
their wind at the top Of the hill lead
ing up from the creek.
"What kept your he demanded
when he came within a rod OF the
wagon. Here's the outfit shut down
waiting for water, and you"
I'm sorry. Mr.. Harris"
THAT amt what asked you. You