Evening star., 1923-02-04

But they'll quit when 1t turns cold.
II you're going TO stay through the
winter we'll have to figure out some
way to get q little money for groc-
cries and tobacco. just about man
aged last year. when there was only
Dad and me-"
He thought this over deliberately.
There wasn't anything salable at the
Duncan farm. Except for the weedy
hay which would barely winter the
COW and horse. and a few bushels OF
corn, the place had yielded no crops.
Tie guessed that 1t would not have
yielded even these II Retta had not
done most Of the work.
II could work up some wood and
sell It in town, I guess. " your
father'd help with the cross-cut--
She shook her head. Hes too old.
And he wouldn't. anyway. No use
trying to make him. l could help saw,
I've done IL before: We could get out
few cords and sell IL TO McLain-
he'd haul 1t with his own teams. And
we could take the money and rent
Psterson's drag-saw, ] guess. He's
through with II by this time. There
must be three or four hundred cords
up there. Good hardwood. too"
Something in that. Let's stop at
Peterson's now-I guess I can handle
him. all right" He was puzzled at his
sudden eagerness. II he could show
Nathan Hobart that he was prosper
ing
Peterson. driving a little touring
car. overlook them before they
reached his farm, and Stephen stopped
him. He was = slow. thrifty man Of
sixty.
I never was much OF q hand to rent
TOOLS" he said. He met Stephens eve.
Hear you licked Thad McTague this
mornin'. Did your
Stephen grinned at the memory. He
said So"
HIN! Always nggered Thad was a
flghtin' man. Guess you can take the
saw. II you'll use her right"
fought to clean up five hundred,
anyway" Stephen said. as he drove
on.
and fx UP the old wagon so we could
do our own hauling" she suggested.
"And we'd have the team for the
blowing. como spring. too
That's right" He meditated. TOO
bad. the way that bottom lands gone
back to scrub. Good money in the
farm. II It was run right"
Dad never would farm" she said
II guess he wasn't cut out for It, But
he wouldn't sell. either. Nathan Ho-
hart's tried to buy the place dozen
times"
well, IL he wants to buy 1t now
he'll have to bid high for IT." Stephen
chuekled. "Retta, we're going to give
him . happy winter, watching us!"
u ETA DUNCAN lifted questioning
N brows ~ Stephen came to the
screened doorway. He was mildly
angry: and yet below his irritation,
he observed a change in her. She was
softsr, somshow-mors like other
women than the girl who had found
him hiding In the fence corner.
whats tho mattsrT' Her voice was
abrupt. Did Dad run of againT'
He grinned. "Sheaked the first time
turned my back, the old rascal! And
that hays got to be under cover by
tonight. Guess you're elected. Retta." :"
"All right" She unfastsned the blue
apron. "1'll have to get on some old
clothes frst. Well have bread and
milk for supper-that's ALL"
He nodded carelsssly. With Retta
l. Il hA "a he ha
hay drawn. and the rain which he ex-
pected by night would be money in
his pocket. He thought of the pota-
toes In the thirty-acre field along the
creek. He'd been right about that
soil; farm 1t right. and 1t would pay
better than even Nathan Hobarts
land
Va ~rJnps "A an fhA mama cana iato