The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1922-04-13

sober-eyed cows had no thought of be-
ing easily deprived Of their feast, and
il was some time before they were all
tnrned back into the pasture and the
aence temporarily repaired behind
them.
81 can't thank you enough" Beulah
was saying. ''You just keep piling one
kindness on top of another. Say, Jim,
honest, what makes you do it?"
But at that moment the keen blast
Of an engine whistle came cutting 4
through the ARA long clear note, fol-
lowed by series of toots in rapid sue
cession.
y Il guess they're running short OF
water" said Jim. Il must hustle. So
saying he ran to the ford of the creek
where the tank-wagon was still stand
ing, and in minute his strong frame
was swaying back and forth to the
rhythmic clanking Of the pump.
Meanwhile other things were trans
piring. Harris had returned from
town the night before with the fixed
intention of paying an early visit to
the Farther West. He and Rifles had
spent more time than they should
breasting the village bar, while the
latter drew a picture of rising color of
the possibilities which the new lands
afforded. Harris was not man who
abused himself with liquor, and Rifles.
too, rarely forgot that indulgence was
expensive, and had to be paid for in
cash. Moreover, Allan occasioned his
father some uneasiness. He was young,
and had not yet learned the self-con-
troll to be expected in later life. More
than once of late Allan had crossed
the boundary of moderation and John.
Harris was by no means Indifferent to
the welfare of his only son. Indeed,
the bond between the two was SO real
and SO intense that Harris had never
been. able to bring himself to contem-
plate their separation, and the boy had
not even so much as thought Of estab-
fishing a home of his own. The idea
Of demonstrating together assured fur
ther years of close relationship be
tween father and son, and the younger
man fell in whole-heartedly with it.
wen 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
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 we're years when 1
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
sgether the desire for more wealth that
prompted Harris. 1t was the call of
new land; the call he had heard and
answered in the early. eighties; the old
appetite that had lain dormant for a
quarter of century, bur was still in
his blood, waiting only suggestion Of
the open spaces, Whit from dry
grass on the wind-swept plains, the
zigzag 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 moment
of their blowing weather should be
lost, and it was particularly aggfayat-
ing when the hired mans long delay
resulted in bubbling sputter followed
by a dry hiss from the injector, warm
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
| erl 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 your" he demanded
when he came within rod of the
wagon. Here's the outfit shut down
waiting for water, and YOU.
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