The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-03-26
CHAPTER VII-COntinued

"a mans job" Jim said de-
cisively. 1.-THE white-wash is for
the fence" he added, mot to dec
crate the landscape or those new
overalls. Don't let it splatter."
Tommy departed, wearing the
suffering expression of prisoner
exiled to Siberia. He worked in
dustriously for an hour. After that
he dipped and splashed with en-
thusiasm only when Jim was near
at hand. Jim, amused and sympa-
thetic, raised his voice or called
direction when he approached the
new recruit. It wasn't to be expect
ed that Tommy should overcome
his natural dreamy Incidence in a
moment. Besides, Jim had Tommy
on his conscience. He might have
lifted the burden of anxiety from
the suffering exile's mind.
Susan, too, frequently visited the
scene of the new operation. She
arrived in the truck driven by Will
fred's father. She coaxed Jim to
take her back with him in the small
second hand roadster, supplied
by Mr.. Vaughn on those days when
it was possible for Jim to return to
the farm for lunch.
why do you want to go there?"
Miss Parker asked, more than once,
trying to keep her at home.
cts fun!" Susan would attach
herself like burdock to the small
secondhand roadster.
''Sue likes activity" Jim would
remark.
"She likes to tag after you," Miss
Parker said once, exhibiting I'M
characteristic penetration. And
very often, "But I'm afraid she'll
get hurt. She told me she was on
the stable roof yesterday helping to
nail on shingles"
"Jin's stronger than anybody"
Jim overheard her boast to a languid
youth from the village, indifferently
swinging a scythe. 'He could do
that with one finger. You're not
very strong, are you? Or maybe
you aren't feeling well"
Jim smiled and groaned. She
was bossy and always under foot
and he was afraid she would break
her neck. He was unable, however,
to resist the appeal in her wide
hazel eyes or to hurt her feelings
by sending her home. There were
times when he regretted his thor
ough conquest of Susan.
No, he had not escaped the
Vaughns. Cecily came to the riding
academy, too. The moment of Ella
ton which Jim felt the first time he
saw her ride in through the open
gate on 'Lady" was followed by a
feeling of depression. He had
thought that the new job would re-
move him from any contact with
Cecily. If he didn't see her dozen
times day, he would stop thinking
of her.
She was friendly and interested.
She wanted to see the stable and
the jumps and the practice oval in
the meadow. Jim called man to
hold the horse and went with her
on a tour of investigation, closely
Swallowed by Susan.
''You should cut another window
in the harness-room, Cecily said,
making her way through shavings
and old shingles, saw-horses, dis
carded beams, sea of litter and
debris. Green blankets, Jim. The
shade you are going to paint the
roof. That nice moss green, !
think"
Whose job is this?" Jim asked,
pretending to be injured, pigeon
holing the suggestions for further
consideration.
"Yours and you're doing it SPLEEN
didly." Her amber eyes were ad-
miring. "But I'm interested, too"
"Jim!" Susan called shrilly. "Jim
look at me walk on the beam! jim!
Wait for me! want to 60 with you,
tool"
Yes, there were moments when
Jim deeply regretted his conquest
of Susan.
Cecily's interest continued. After
her visit she came frequently, rid
ing Lady" or driving her car.
Cecily's interest was pleasant but
it was disturbing as well. Jim did
not stop thinking of her. He found
himself watching for her, actually
going to the gate and looking up
the road. If she didn't come, he
felt depressed and out of sorts. If
she did appear, he felt depressed
and out of sorts after she had gone.
One morning a shower came up
while she was there. They ran for
shelter into the house. The air was
musty, suggestive of spiders, cob
webs, mice. Jim raised windows
and opened shutters. Subdued light
replaced the gloom. They explored
the house, exclaiming over the fire.
place in the kilchen, the stairway,
the chimney nook and the waSnscot-
ing in what might have been the
dinsnp-roorn