Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-20
red to get a word with on tn,

managed 10 get a WOTQ win on Ine
ride home.
Wee was mighty sympathetic about the
blisters and the way my back felt.
was dosed and plastered and put to bed
at $40 to make up for all the sleep I'd
lost at the other end of the day.
the silly old flowers" says she. "If
Dominick can't find time to do the
spading we'll just let it CO.
NO says l. firm and heroic. I'm
no gutter. Wee. / said I'd get 1t done
within three days, and stick to it"
''Torchy,' says she. don't you dare
try getting up again at daylight and
working with your poor blistered hands
IL shall feel dreadfully about it if you
do
mornin," says I, "but somehow or other
that diggin' has got to be DONE
Il only wish auntie could hear you
say that" says Wee. pattin' me gentle
on the cheek
| why auntie?" | asks.
ooh, just because, says Wee
With that she fixes me up all comfy
on the sleepin' porch and tells me to
call her if | want anything.
Il won't says |. I'm all set for
siumber. It's goin' to be fine. large
Moon shinin' and everything" says I.
Yes" says she.
Then here's hoping" says I.
There, there" says Wee I'm
afraid you're a little feverish."
Maybe l was, but didn't hear another
thing until more'n ten hours later when
woke up to find the sun winkin in at
me through the shutters.
ibid you have a good nights rest?"
asks Wee.
"As good as they come" says I. How
about you?"
"oh. slept fairly WELL" says she Il
was awake once or twice. | suppose /
was worrying little about you. And
then ! thought / heard strange noises "
What sort of noises?" | asks.
"Oh. like a lot of men walking by
says she. THAT must have been nearly
| they passed, and it almost sounded as
! if they were carrying tools of some sort
| Then along towards morning / thought
| heard them pass again. I'm sure some
of them were swearing"
''Huh.' says |. II wonder what they
could have been peeved about on such a
| fine nght?"
'Or | might have been simply dream
ing" she adds.
Yes, and then again." says /,
| smotherin' "a chuckle.
! could hardly wait to dress and shave
before rushin out to inspect the spot
where, I'd almost ruined myself only the
! mornin before. And it was something
worth inspectin', I'll say. Must be nearly
half an acre in that strip, and l expect
that sod has been CROWN for years IN
touched by the hand of man. At pm.
| last night it was just mass of thick
grass and dandelons. but now-say, a
! tractor pillow and a gang OF prairie
| tanners couldn't have done a more thor
| ough job. II there was a square foot
| that hadn't been torn up | couldn't see
it with the naked eye.
| n oil
There was holes here and there, some OF
EN- three feet deep. but about all the
land needed now was a little rakin' and
f1llin' in. such as Dominck could do In
his spare time. The cheerin' fact re.
| mains that the hard part Of the work
has been done. silent and miraculous
and without price.
l shouts for Wee to come out ant
see. 1t amt often, either. that ! car
spring anything on her that leave,
her stunned and bug-eyed.
why. Torchy!" says she, gaspy
How in the world did you ever man
age It? IL don't understand"
"Oh. very simpler. says T. ITS al
in havin' the right kind of neighbors.
But you don't mean" says she
that you persuaded some of our-oh
I'm sure you never could. Besides
you're grnning. Torchy. I want yo,
to tell me all about 1t. Come, now
Exactly what happened last night?'
We'll" says l, mot being presen
myself. / could hardly tell that. Blu
I've got a good hunch."
What is it?" she insists.
From your report of what yo,
heard" says I. "and from the look
OF the ground 'neverything. | should
judge that the Harbor Hills Exp1or
ing and Excayating Co. had been max
ing a night raid on our property"
"Pooh.' says Wee. Il never heart
of such a company But if there il
one. why should they come here?"
"Oh. just prospectin', l expect.
says I.
/ For WHAT" demands Wee.
For stuff that the eighteenth amend
ment says they can't have" says I
"Gettin' down to brass lacks. for cast
| Of dry GIN"
Even that don't satisfy Wee. Sh
demands why they should dig for an,
such thing on our land.
/ "They might have heard some ru