The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-04-02
CHAPTER x.
The Gamblers.

The Gamblers.
Harris found some difficulty in pro-
viding that affairs of the farm would
proceed satisfactorily during his alb
Sence, but at last they were arranged,
if not exactly TO his liking, at least in
manner that promised little less. Ii
was most unfortunate that Mary, In a
moment of headstrOng passion quite
without precedent in his experience or
her, had determined upon visit just
at the time when she was particularly
needed at home. If Harris had been
quite fair he would have remembered
that there had been nc. time in the last
twenty-five years when she had not
been needed at home, and the present
occasion was perhaps no less Oppor-
tune foE her visit than many others.
The hired man, in consideration OF
having no field work to do, finally con-
sented TO milk the cows and deliver the
milk daily to Mrs. Rifles. who would
convert itSinto butter-for n consider
alton of so much per pound. To his
good neighbors, the Grants, Harris
turned for assurance that should he
and Allan be delayed on their trip, or
should the harvest come in earlier than
expected, ample steps would be taken
to garner II.
So. with these arrangements COM
plete. the farmer and his son drove
into Plainville one fine bright morning
at the end of July. ready for their first
long trip into the New West. Indeed,
ii was Adams first long journey any
where; an excursion to Winnipeg at
the time of the summer exhibition had
been the limit of his experience Of
travel, and the hard work of the farm
had not yet extinguished the young
mans desire for novelty and excite
ment.
Harris got off At the railway station
to buy the tickets; Allan went to the
post office on the odd chance of any
letters awaiting delivery, and the
hired man turned the horses home
ward. The station agent was thread
ing his way through his car report, and
remained provokingly unconscious Of
Harris presence at the ticket window.
The farmer took no pains to conceal
his impatience, coughing and shuffiing
obviously. but il WAS not until the last
box-car had been duly recorded that
the agent deigned TO recognize his ex-
istence.
Nothing for you from" he said,
mentioning the mail order house from
which Harris made most of his pur-
chases.
well, j didn't expect anythin'," re-
| torted the farmer, although you're
just as likely to have it when l don't
as when / do. How much is a ticket
TO Calgary"
You got the land fever. too?" the
agent asked. as he consulted his tar
IFS. rifles went up the other day.
You'll be making a cleanup on the
cheap land, l suppose. But l tell you.
Harris If I'd farm like yours you
couldn't pry me off it with pinch-bar.
No more worries for little Willie, and
haven't got any-like myself"
Worry" snOrted Harris. "What
do you worry about? You get your
pay. whether it freezes or halls or
shrivels up with one Of these Dakota
scnrchers."
The agent thought Of the piles Of re-
ports on his table, but as he thumped
the stamp on the tickets he answered,
'Oh, l worry over the Monroe doc
trine." He left the farmer counting
his change, and turned to his reports.
Another money-grubber gone crazy
with the heat" he muttered. IF I'd
his wad wouldn't burn this wire with
one hot short sentencew
(TO BE CONTINUED)