Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21

do you suppose would be skunk
enough to do a trick like this?"
Have you counted the chckens?"
asked Bob. Have any OF them been
stolen?"
A quick check-up showed that
three of the fowls We're missing.
Just as / thought" said Bob. II
think this little stunt is the work of
that tramp we threw off the place
couple of weeks ago. Remember,
Mr.. Sauers, he vowed revenge"
Mr.. SAVERS clapped his fist into his
hand. by George, | believe you're
right, Bob. lie took along a few
TO eat, and killed the rest. Well, this
is too much. I'm going in and load
my shotgun and leave it in the ktch-
en-. and the first time l set eyes on
him, he's going TO stop A load Of buck
shot And as soon as the threshinG's
over I'll drive into Maplewood and
see Sheriff HiXon.'
At that moment a rumbling, putting
commotion in the road made them
all turn. Coming up the lane, putting
clouds of smoke above it, was the big
threshing machine.
"Wel, no time to moan over the
chickens now" said Mr.. Sauers. It's
me for the barn, boys, for I've got
big days work to do"
And we're right with YOU" cried
the four boys, and then they told him
OF their intention of helping him.
Vow groaned Bob, several hours
later, as for a moment he set down
his pitchfork and wiped the dust and
ft.nt, h Cfr l..
never knew what work was before.
My back feels like ii would break"
It's the dust that gets me" replied
Red. coughing. But come on. No
time to chew the fat now"
1T had been a busy morning. Unac-
customed to farm labor, the Conquer
Ors had picked bad way to be intro
duced to it. Mr.. Sauers' oat crop had
been heavy and there was much to be
done. Bob and Red had stationed
themselves in the NOW, where they
stacked the straw as it came from the
blower. They had to work fast, and
the sun, beating down on the roof
above them, combined with the dust
made their job bad one. Even the
handkerchiefS that they had tied
about their faces failed to keep the
fine powder out Of their noses.
POrky was having no easy time,
either throwing the sheaves down TO
Mr.. Sauers, who. with Bill, was toss
ing them onto the table, where the
huge knives got them and separated
the grain from the straw. Then there
was the grain to cart away to the
bins and water to he carried. Alto
gether, il was as active a morning as
they had ever spent, and when time
came for lunch they were very willing
to take a rest. Restored by the appe
tiZing meal that Ruth and her mother
had prepared for them, they went
back 10 their task, and by late after
noon the job was finished.
We'll. that was great job. boys"
said Mr.. Sauers as the huge machine
rumbled out the gate and away. It's
the best and biggest crop of oats I've
ever had. ] don't know what l would
have done without your help. Men
are hard 10 get around here. and the
Graham boys. who We're going to help
| us, are both laid up. You fellows were
life-saVers, all right"
The boys grinned happily. Their
backs We're sore, their faces and
bodies were covered with chaff and
sweat. but they were happy in the
knowledge that they had helped
| friend.
Mrs. Sauers insisted that thoy eat
supper with her, but first they went
down 10 the river and took Il swim
Then. feeling sor1eN nat refreshed but
still stiff and tired, they sat down to
) the table.
Mrs. SAVERS informed them that
her husband had eaten earlier, and
had Nyeadyff left for Maplewood 10