The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-02-12
CHAPTER V-Continusd.


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. 1--WE 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 IA
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, it 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 i'm the early eighties; the old
appetite that had lain dormant for
quarter of a century, but was still in
his blood, waiting only a suggestion of
the open spaces. a Whit from dry
grass on the windswept 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 a moment
of their blowing weather should be
lost, and 1t was particularly aggravat-
ing when the hired mans long delay
resulted in a 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.
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 a
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
er strobe off 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 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 you" he demanded
when he came within rod Of the
wagon. Here's the. outfit shut down
waiting for water, and you"
"fm sorry. Mr.. Harris"
"That amt what asked you. You
can't make steam with sorrow. What
have you been foolin' about?" t
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, Ell? 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 IL Is"
Harris came threateningly toward
the wagon, but was met only by the
lmperturbable smile of. his hired man.
He thrust his foot on a 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
lOlOWtu ldtuCi, anu CdITe over
the crest of the ridge above the coulee
just In time to see Jim apparently
strike his employer and the two strug-
Cling on the grass together. In an in
slant 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 singing blow In the face
that measured him again in the grass.
1t was only for an instant. Travers
sprang to his feet, red line slowly
stretching down hts cheek as he did
so. Allan came upon him swinging a
tremendous blow at the jaw; but Jim
guarded skilfully. and answered with
a smash from the shoulder straight on
the chin, which laid his adversary's
six feet PROSTATE before him.
Allan rose slowly, sober but deter
mined, and for a moment 1t looked as
though a battle royal were to be
fought on the spot both men strong.
Ian. rigid. hard rs iron, and quick ~