The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-07-27

the valve was closing, shutting off the
condensing portion of vapor while three
OF four gallons of the original water
charge remained in the upper tank.
The machine would run through the
next day-perhaps through still an
other period of darkness? Never had
it performed as we'll.
The promoter-engineer was occupied
at this time with a crooked patent law
yer. Together they were about to
launch another of their stock-selling
ventures. Stratton had forgotten about
the childish perpetual motion machine,
though some day when he thumbed
through his notes of prospects he would
loo again at the drawings, perhaps.
Out of wild-eyed inventors like this
fellow Odom he coaxed dollars-later
he got thousands of dollars from gull
lible investors.
The Alabama sun rose on another
morning. Without waiting to borrow
Sam Barrett's mule, Cass Odom was
up, disregarding breakfast, and walk
ing in to Blackjack.
No stranger had arrived. With hope
fading, Cass waited for the eight-fifty
AAyCA 4AOAAA ClVC IN OIA, Ul1C11, Dc 0L4 at.
ton did not put in an appearance, the
woodsman tramped slowly up the hill
and homeward, his set face inclined
toward the red clay road, and despair
relaxing every fiber of his being.
1t was not until two weeks later that
a telegram arrived, mailed from Black
jack, and that was no more than an
evasive come-on. Stratton really
thought that some time he might get
down toward Mobile, but it was doubt
full that this fellow Odom had any
money, anyhow. Of course, he did not
say that.
Some days earlier, with his sun ma
chine running almost Unfortunately
with no n but himself to see-Cass
Odom stood and cursed it, with tears
in his flinty eyes. That evening, with
odd tenderness, he saw Nancy tucked
in bed. Then he walked over to Sam
Barrett's place and confessed his theft
of the milk.
The planter was not angry. He
frowned to hide the expression of pity
that came to his features, then shrug-
ged. -
"Wel-1'm glad you told me, Odom,"
he said. "You are welcome to go ahead,
for the girls sake. I didn't miss the
quart, anyhow. How about hiring out
to me? I need a good hand full time
ten hours. Two bits an hour. The
milk I won't charge for"
It was clinched, q good enough bar
gain for both. This was standard rate
for white labor, but an ordinary plant
alton hand could not work like this
steel-thewed giant. And besides, Cass
Odom did not have to be fed. He went
back to his own shack for meals.
The arrangement for steady labor
out Of sight Of the tin tower helped
Cass Odom somewhat, though it made
Nancy more lonesome than ever. The
two had heard nov that Jessie was
fighting her way slowly back to health.
but with a vista Of weeks in the charity
hospital before she could leave. Her
first brief letter begged Cass Odom
to send her a few mor dollars, thank
ing him from the bottom of her heart
for the postal money order he had sent
earlier.
That night Odom stumbled home,
passing his hands before his eeys. ANY,
thing he looked at he would see plain
ly enough, yet somehow there always
was this headache and that vagueness
Of vision lurking behind.
What was that thing Gid Mccall
had told him when he had been s.
busy? o, a doll. Nancy had wanted
her dolls. Poor baby! Well, he would
have to send up this first money to
Jessie, and could not hope to get the
other dolls out Of the CHESTNUT why
not make one? He had nothing to do
with his skilled, ingenious hands, any
more. Nothing but handle plantation
tools. And he still had a file, his jack
knife, and many scraps Of odds and
ends in the tool shed.
He got up from supper, making no
explanation, and went out to the shed.
Nancy, shutting her blue eyes as she
did when another lonesome, heart
breaking evening was a certain pros
pect, said nothing.
Cass Odom lit a lantern and blum
dered around, a stick of pine in one
hand, and the keen jackknife in the
other. Materials for a doll? Aye. They
lay all about. He had never seen a doll
nearer than a shop window.
He cogitated for twenty minutes,
turning over and yer the chunk Of
soft pine. Then his eye alighted upon
the old telephone switchboard He
reached down, pulled out a plug, thrust
it back into its slot. A grim smile tug
ged for an instant at the corners of his
mouth. He leaned back and started
with the knife. A long curl of pine
rose from the blade.
Next morning Cass Odom had to be
called from the tool shed. He came to
the shanty, eyes red trimmed and steps
evidencing fatigue. He had not slept.
In his hand q present for the wonder
ing, half-scared little girl who had pre-
pared his breakfast was q fearful and
wonderful contraption he intended to
explain. He felt rather sheepish now.