Evening star., 1932-03-27


body. The face was boyish with an
innocence that might almost be
simple. His smile was ingeniously
alluring. His legs looked like two
kegs supporting a barrel for
body, a pumpkin for a head and neck, unnec-
essary Sunburned between the freckles, he
looked to be built for labor. Just the kind
of henchman for whom Rainey Kerrs had been
looking to do a large job Of woodchoppng.
Kerrs made this inventory as the boy ambled
toward the farmhouse Seeing two men seated
on the porch the stranger stopped took OF
his battered hat and drawled:
''I kin work, mister"
what can you do?" To be impressive Kerrs
snapped this.
Chores most any kind"
Get paid for working?" Kerrs tried to be
facetious for the benefit of his guest. sitting
beside him. =.
SCOT SO cents oncet.". =, ~..t -f.. .s..-".
.'what did you do with it," ;+sr, =. q,
Got it yit-" G71seiet $3.50 - ss.t4.s. &
."Let, me see?. ..-t-- s,.-: s.1es ,~a. -,
SHAW YOU might wanta take it I'm me-"
That is how: Rainey Kerrs and Judd Hoon
met Rainey as always, looking for a bargain
in labor and Judd strictly on the defensive.
The other man. with the Van Dyke beard and
the riding costume, was disapproving spec
tator of the meeting. He was friend OF the
young farmer and his wife and slightly older
than either In the city hospital where Mrs
Kerrs had put in four years at nursing school,
he had been physician To the young nurse
he had been very attentive until she married
the chum of her country school days. Since
then, apparently he had been the friend of
both
In his opening, feint-and- parry conversation
With Kerrs the youth with the giants body
paid no attention, more than sidelong glance,
to the doctor on the porch. Much like good
dog who seems. instinctiyely, to know the dog
lover from the man who gives dogs kicks. The
distrust seemed to be mutual for the doctor
showed disapproval when the farmer invited
the youth to eat in the kitchen.
4 ARS. LEFTY KERRS, the farmers wife,
FVt saw to it that the newcomer got washed
up at the kitchen sink, which seemed quite
natural to the boy. Yellow soap did not dis
may him and he accepted towel with grace
With pondering. wistful eyes, like those of
6-month-old baby, he watched the woman as
he dried himself.
whats your name?" she asked.
Judd Judd Hoon the chore boy
.. from Hoon Hollow"
Her countenance was unmoved but laugh
ter rippled within her and her eyes danced.
She wondered if all giants had simple minds.
With a face as unmoved as her own, he ex-
ploded:
you're good lookin :. an kind 81. :.
like my dawg had plenty ears an no tail
-, wagged his ears when nAb be LATED :. my !,
daWg did" i, ~, ~ :. -, t.., ,....
He moved to the table and ate, prodigiously
Without a word as TO wages he began to make
bSnsen at home, helping the woman to clean
up and wash dishes after dinner over for
the family. He seemed to take it for granted
they needed him.
Rainey Kerrs had just come into his own
His father had died two years before leaving
diapidated farm and competence in securities
and cash to his only son, after misery life.
He had driven the boy hard as he drove
everybody and everything under him This
had given the young man a distaste for farm
drudgery. Young Kerrs had modernized the
place since he took command and his gentle,
young wife had loosened up his idea as to tight
purse strings The niggard trend did not come
naturally but was imposed by the cheap way
in which his father rated him in wages while
he slaved- He clung to his money because he
thought it the only thing giving him power
to avoid what he disliked
His wife Lefty was country bred but her four
years in a city hospital had polished her and
the male surgical ward had acted as q wire
cutter ON the barbed entanglements every
maiden puts up, at first before man. Her
body had a compactness suggesting strength,
with skin soft and clean as the petals of
aSrhing glory in the risen SUM- The sheen of
ripe wheat glowed In her hair which canopied
eyes like two of the blue bells of Scotland.
From rather a large mouth came firm, clear
voice, muted by days and nights of seeing
quiet" on the risers' Of hospital steps and
silence" on the lintels of ward doors. A beck
oning voice toward which men leaned, and
especially DR.. Bruf Graeber since he first
heard it in the throat of young nurse.
Young Rainey Kerrs suspected nobody and
permitted Graeber the freedom of his house
and farm and Graeber took it, But the weak
mouth, veiled by the Van Dyke, had whispered
more than once, that such surroundings were
no background to the woman who was mistress
of the farm Her beauty charm and talents
were meant for other places to which he could
lead her and where he would care for her I'm
. beftting manner i.ie - p 1."a> .5