The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-12-09
CHAPTER V-Continued. .

We'll hurry up the blowing Dad,
and run west before the harvest is ON
u.s." Allan said as they rode home
through the darkness. I'VE can file
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 there?"
That's what they used to ask when
we came TO Manitoba" said his fa-
Their. "And there were years when l
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 thing'll happen out there. and
we might as well be in the game"
To do him justice. 1t was not alto
gether the desire for more wealth that
prompted Harris. 1t 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
quarter Of a century, but was still in
his blood, waiting only suggestion of
the open spaces, Whit from dry
grass on the wind-swept plains, the
zigZag of wagon-trail streaking afar
into the horizon, to set it tingling
again.
SO this morning father and son were
especially anxious that not moment
of their blowing weather should be
lost, and II was particularly aggravat-
ing when the hired mans long delay
resulted in a bubblng sputter followed
by dry hiss from the injector, warn
ing the engineer that the water-tank
was empty. Allan shot an anxious
glance down the road TO 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 to get every ounce of
advantage from the expansion. But
the water went down, down in the
glass, and still there was no sign of n
further supply. Allan again cut the
air with his whistle, and at length,
with muttered imprecation, he
slammed the throttle shut and jumped
from the engine.
Keep a keen eye on your fire." said
Harris, "and I'll go down and see
what's wrong with him." SO the farm
or strobe off across the plowed field.
The delay annoyed him, and he felt
professionally cross with Travers. As
he plodded on through the heavy soil
his temper did not improve, and he
was talking to 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 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
can't make steam with sorrow. What
have you been foolin abOut?"
II haven't been fooling. As to what
delayed Newell you're delaying me
now. Better jump on and ride up
with me-"
$50 you won't tell me. eh? You
think you can do what you like with
my team and my time, and It's none
of my business. Wen see whose bust
ness 1t is"
Harris came threatenlngly toward
the wagon, but was met only by the
uncomfortable smile of his hired man.
lie thrust his foot on spoke Of the
wheel and prepared to spring onto the
tank but at that moment the horses
stirred and his foot slipped. Seeing
that the farmer was about TO fall
Travers seized him by the collar Of
his shirt. but in so doing he leaned
and lost his own balance, when the
weight OF tho falling man came upon
him. and the two tumbled onto the
grass in each others arms.
Allan, having satisfied himself that
the engine would take no harm, had
followed his father, and came over
che crest OF the ridge above the coulee
Just In time 10 see Jim apparently
strike his employer and the two strug-
gvng on the grass together. In an In.
slant the young mans hot blood was
~ his head; he rushed forward. and
lust as Jim had risen to his knees he