Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-02-11

boastfui language there was something
appealing about him We returne,
presently with our minds, made up.
Wen take your offer. MIR" Jacl
commenced.
Jake. he Interrupted. mo mister
"All right, Jake, wen take youl
offer. When do we start, what do WI
take. and where do we GOT"
Jake looked interrogatively at the
morning sun. Then. Had breakfasti'
he demanded.
"No."
We'll. fiji up. You must be feelin
pretty well bored out after your trip
I'll start get the outfit together. !
got a team OF buckskins that's tougher
than Little Eva In an Uncle Toms
Cabin show, an a. democrat bone.
shaker that scuds across the prairie
like the shadow Of cloud" (He had
bis poetic turns. had Jake). II got a
tent. but you'll need your own blankets.
After breakfast we'll 60 over to store
an buy layout Q. grub"
How long will we be away?" 4,
well. naturally we have to fgger on
driving out good spell. Amt no free
land nowhere close to city, a
CLT-Y"-he spelled It out, with q
whimsical mixture of pride and ridi-
cule-"like this. Now I've a spot In
my mind think'l suit you boys right
down the calf Of the leg. It'll take us
ah0uf fhron dovS 70 90 ops a dov -
look it over, an, three days to come
back, which knocks the hell out O
week, don't it, An it might be longer"
"You see, we have our sisters here.
We have to give them some idea"
"Sistersp Jake exclaimed, evidently
In some panic. "They amt goin'
along" kz
mo. They'll stay here until we get
settled"
THAT'S all right, then" said Jake.
visibly relieved. well. you tell 'em
a week or ten days"
We related the mornings transac-
tons to the girls. who accepted the sit
uation with resignation, as 1t had been
agreed that they would stay in Regina
while we did our prospecting. They
would at once set about to find cheaper
lodgings, or couple of rooms where
they could keep house; they insisted
that they were quite able to shift for
themselves. They would leave word
Of their new location at the hotel.
The forenoon was well gone by the
time we had finished our arrangements
and bought our grub" which consisted
mainly Of canned goods and other
preparations that would not spoil u
the heat. The democrat was q two
seated affair. and the tent and sup
plies were bundled on behind, or laid
in the bottom. We noted that Jake
added rifle to the equipment Then
We started off, Jack in the front seat
with the driver, and alone behind
During the day we discovered that
our guide was something Of philos-
opher. He had many shrewd remarks
to make about immigrants, and home
steaders; and the business Of settling
up country. 1t appeared that he had
no very regular scale for his services
This came out In his account Of the
location of young Englishman whom
he described as Mr.. Spool.
HE had a carload Of baggage" said
Jake, with Western extravaganza of
language, 'and when / suggested that
he start up secondhand clothing
store he said, 'Ah, I'm afraid you're
spoofin' me- So named him Mr..
Spool, an he gets mail now addressed
that way"
Jake turned In to farm place in
mid-afternoon for water. We could
see the farmer seeding in his field; he
made no stop on our account, and If he
had wife she remained indoors. We
pumped as much water as the horses
would drink, and filed our water keg,
and then sat for while in the shade
of one of his buildings. chewing at
straws and gazing into the blank dis
lance. There was supreme satisfac-
ton, fine relaxation and relief. In
idling in such an hour. l was Inn
pressed with the off-hand way In which
we seemed to have taken possession
Of the mans farm, and his complete
Indifference to our presence.
Jake pulled his team out from the side
Of haystack. where they had been
feeding with as little concern as If the
hay were their owp, and presently we
ratified off down the trail again.
On account of our afternoon rest
Jake drove until almost shutdown. We
were now in slightly rolling country,
and suddenly he swung from the trail
and pulled up on the top Of a little
knoll. From this little vantage point
we could See the unbroken sweep Of
the prairies. miles and miles In every
direction.
SIS this the bald-headedY' I asked In
a low voice, as though touching on
something almost sacred.
"This is the bald-headed," he an
swered. solemnly. See, everywhere.
sky an grass-sky an grass. All.
there. there's an exception" fol-
lowed the line of his extended arm.
Far across the plains saw flashing
light, as of heliograph.
1.-THE window Of settlers shanty, |
twenty miles from here, IL it's foot"
he explained. "Look how green the