The Connecticut labor press., 1920-12-11
CHAPTER v-continued.

l "WeIl hurry up the blowing, Dad, and run west before the harvest is on us," Allan said as they rode home through the darkness. we can file l our land and get back for the fall work. Then we will go out for the l winter and commence our duties. The only question is, can they grow any thing on that land out thereT' That's what they used to ask when we came to Manitoba" said his fa- 1 ther. And there were years when I 1 doubted the answer myself. Some 1 parts were froze out year after year, 1 and they're among the best in the coun- try now, and never think of frost. The same thing'n happen out there, and we might as well be in the game" l To do him justice, it was not alto gether the desire for more wealth that 1 prompted Harris. It was the call of new land the call he had heard and answered in the early eighties; the old l appetite that had lain dormant for quarter of a century, but was still in his blood, waiting only suggestion of the open spaces, a whfff from dry grass on the wfnd-swept plains, the gigzag of a wagon-trail streaking afar Into the horizon, to set it tingling again.
 So this morning father and son were especially anxious that not a moment of their blowing weather should be lost, and it was particularly aggravat- ing when the hired mans long delay resulted in bubbling 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. Seizing the whistle cord. he sent its peremptory summons into the air. Harris looked up from the blows, 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 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 keen eye on your fire" said Harris, "and I'll go down and see what's wrong with him." So the farm CT strode off across the plowed field. The delay annoyed him, and he felt unreasonably cross with Travers. As he pIodded 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.
 'sWhat kept you?" 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, MT. Harris
 ."That ain't what asked you. You can't make steam with sorrow. What have you been foo1in' about?'
 "I haven't been fooling. AS to what delayed newell, you're delaying me now. Better jump on and ride up with me-"
 "So 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. We'll see whose busi- ness it is."
 Harris came threateningly toward the wagon, but was met only by the fmperturbable smile of his hired man. He 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 the 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 the crest of the ridge above the coulee lust in time to see Jim apparently strike his employer and the two strug- gling on the grass together. In an in- stant the young mans hot blood was in his head; he rushed forward, and just as Jim had risen to his knees he struck him a stinging blow in the face that measured him again in the grass.
 It was only for an instant. Travers sprang to his feet, q red line slowly stretching down his cheek as he did so. Allan came upon him swinging tremendous blow at the jaw; but Jim guarded skilfully. and answered with smash from tae shoulder straight on the chin, which laid his adversary's six feet prostr6te before him.
 Allan rose slowly, sober but deter mined, and for n moment it looked as though a battle royal were to be fought on the spot, both men strong can. elgid, hard as iron, and quick as
 |