The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-31
CHAPTER x
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 loss. 1t
was most unfortunate that Mary, in a
moment of headstrong passion quite
without precedent in his experience Of
her, had determined upon q 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 no 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 for 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 it into butter-for a 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 it.
So, with these arrangements COM
! plete, the farmer and his son drove
| into PlainvilIe one fine bright morning
at the end of July, ready for their first
| long trip into the New West Indeed,
1t was Allan's first long journey any
where; an excursion to Winnipeg at
the time of the summer exhibition had
hn Of n 5c NJ
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 Iicket window.
| The farmer took no pains to conceal
| his Impotence, coughing and shutting
| obviously, but IT 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.
'WeIl, I didn't expect anythfn'," re-
torted the farmer, although you're
just as likely to have it when I don't
as when I 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 q cleanup on the
cheap land, I suppose. But tell you,
Harris, If I'd a farm like yours you
couldn't pry me of it with a pinch-baT.
No more worries for little Willie, and
I'd leave the free land to those that
haven't got any-like myself"
"WorryI" snorted Harris what
do you worry about? You get your
pay, whether it freezes or halls or
shrivels up with one Of these Dakota
scOrchers."
The agent thought Of the piles Of re-
ports on his table, but as he thumped
the stamp on the tickets he answered,
| ''Oh, 1 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- eff I'd
his wad wouldn't burn this wire with
one hot, short sentenceT''
| ITO BE CONTINUED