The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-12-30
CHAPTER I-continued.


of other women in the government i'm
migration building while he set out to
find, if possible, lodgings where she
might live until he was ready to take
her to the homestead country He
must first make a trip of exploration
himself, and as this might require sew
eral weeks his present consideration
was to place her in proper surround
ings before he left. He inquired at
many doors for lodgings for himself
and wife, or for his wife alone. The
response ranged from curt announce
ments that the inmates "ain't takin'
bOarders" to sympathetic assurances
that If it were possible to find room
for another it would be DONE but the
house was already crowded to suffoca-
ton. In two hours Harris, notwith
standing his stout frame and his
young enthusiasm, dragged himself
somewhat discOnsOlately back to the
immigration building with the infor-
nation that his search had been fruit
less
At the door he met Tom Morrison
and another, whom he recognized as
the teller of Indian stories which had
captivated the children of his car.
And what luck have We had?' asked
Morrison, Selling the young man by
the arm. Little, I'll be thinkin', by
the smile ye're forcin' up. But what
am I thinkin' of? Mr.. McCrae is from
way out in the WakOpa county, and
an old timer on the prairie"
''Aleck McCrae," said the big man.
1--WE leave our 'misters' east of the
Great Lakes. An Ah'm not from Wa
kOpa, unless you give that name to all
the country from Pembina crossing to
Turtle mountain. Ahm doing bust
ness all through there, an no more
partial to one place than another"
What is your line of business. Mr..
McCrae?" asked Harris.
"Aleck, I said, an Aieck it is
"All right" said the other, laugh
ing. what is your business, Aleck p
MY business is assisting settlers to
get located on suitable land, an exc
ing out my own living by the process.
Tom here tells me you're hunting a
house for the wife. All know Emerson
too we'll to suppose you have found
one"
81 haven't, for a fact" said Harris,
reminded of the urgency of his mis-
sion.
Its out of the question" said Nc
Craze. Besides. it's not so necessary
as you think. What with the bad
time our train made. an the good
time the stock train made, an the
fact that they started ahead of US.
they're in the yards now. That's a
piece of luck, to start with"
But 1 can't put my wife in stock
lcar % protested Harris.
There's worse places" McCrae an
severed, calmly worrying a considera-
bile section from plug of black chew
ing tobacco. Worse places, All should
SAY. Alive seen times when a good
warm stock car would have passed for
heaven. But that amt what All have
lin mind. Well all turn in an get the
stock unloaded, hitch up the horses,
pack load, an get away. Alive been
making a canvass, an All find We have
six or seven families who can be ready
to pull-Out this afternoon. My team
will go along, with good tent an
SOME cooking outfit. Everyone has
bedding, so we're all right for that
Now, if we all hustle we can be start
ed by o'clock, an out ten or II MILES
before we pitch camp. How does ii
suit you?"
what do you say, Mr. Morrison?"
81 think Alexis plan is best. I've
my wife and the two girls, and there's
no roof for their heads here 1t suits
me-"
IF it's all settled" continued Nc
iCrae, who had the leaders knack OF
Isuppressing indecisiOn at the psyche
logical moment, well all turn in with
the unloading of the stock"
Harris ran to tell his wife thai
they were to join a party for ''the
front" that very afternoon. She re
-ceived the news joyOusly.
In a few minutes all hands. botf
men and women. were busy at tht
cars. Many hands made the WORK
light, and by mid-9fternOOn six sleigh'
were loaded for the journey. All the
women and children were to go witt
the party; Morrison and one or two
hired men would remain in Emerson
complete the unloading, and tak'
charge of the effects until the team:
SHOULD return from their long journey
lMcCrae, on account of his knowledge
of the town and of the needs of th'
Journey, was chosen to secure the sup
piles.
Each settlers sleigh carried tina
which seemed most Indispensable
First came the settlers family, which
large or small, was crowded into tn,
deep box McCrae made them pacl
hay in the bottom of the sleigh boxes
and over this were laid robes ant
blankets, on which the immigrants sal
as thickiy as they could be placed
More robes and blankets were lai
on top, and sacks stuffed very full o
hay served the double purpose Of cush
Joining their backs and conveying foo
der for the animals.
Morrison came up to Harris sleigh
and gave 1t an approving inspection.
'sYou will all be fine" he said. IAN
a great deal better than wearyin' abou
here. Besides. you're just as well t
be away" he added, ia somewha