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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1928)
■«—■ -ii' ’ TIJVE CREEK. RAJVCH Aft $ Harold bindloss <f§| 2 CHAPTER XXVII The Breaking Strain The hard day was nearly over and a blue haze crept across the plain. The sun was down behind a bluff and all would soon be dark, but the thrasher clanked and rattled and a long black plume of smoke floated above Che tossing dust. Wheels crashed in the stubble and Lawrence pulled out his watch. He could hardly see the dial and his cramped shook. “Can you put through another load?” he shouted. A man on the noisy separator waved his hand, and his voice faintly pierced Hie din. ■“♦Sure we will! Bring the stuff along. You can’t crowd this hunch.” » The engine’s throb got louder end Lawrence jumped on his wagon. For a minute or two he would not be wanted, and he looked about. The wheat was gone, and the stooked sheaves, glimmering in the blue dusk, dotted the wide field. The out side rows were broken, and beyond them an empty belt of Jlubble streaked the fading plain. Jn western Canada wheat, is not stacked. One thrashes in the field and as soon as possible the gram goes to the elevators. The Swtil to the railroad however, was long, siuee his teams could not yet carry all, Lawrence used the prairie. A long spout like a crane jib went up from the separating mill m*!*l from its top short, beaten struw poured down on a yellow wound. In the mound was a central cavern where sweating men stowed the wheat hags; and when the hole was full the stream from the elevator would build a yellow pyramid above the grain. Chaff and dust and cinders blew about the machine, and at one spot a noisy jet, of steam pierced the tossing cloud. The thrashers were paid by the bushel and drove their engine eavugely. On the plains winter is long and when one loafs uhout a boarding house one’s money cnelts. ..Lawrence himself had labored for 12 hocxs. llis back hurt, his arms were stiff, and his skin was blanckened by sweat and soot and dust. For all that, when the thrasher’s foreman signalled he began to throw the sheaves in bis wagon across to the separa tor. Dusk was falling and all got indistinct, but when he stopped another load must be in tlie bin. After a few minutes he turned bis head. In the dust, two men lifted a bag nf grain across a short stick. One staggered and let go his end; the bag fell and burst. The man reeled against the wheat bin and sat down in the straw. Lawrence jumped from the wagon and ran to the spot. A four bushel bag of wheat is a heavy load. Georg# resting limply against the bin, gave him an apologetic glance, but his mouth was crooked and his face was lined. “My log!” he gasped. “A sciatic wrench; I think that’s all. My back has bothered me since morning, but I meant to hold on.” “You ought to have stopped,” said Lawrence. “Let me help you to the house. If you can wait until we’re through, you can go in the wagon.” “Mend I’ete. You must see the load put up and I expect I can can make it,” George replied, and seizing Lawrence's hand,’ got up awkwardly. Lawrence called a man. and when George limped off, me chanically resumed his labor. He was disturbed; for some time <!eorge bad been slack and tired, n>t hough he refused to rest. Lawrence, however, dared not When .Mind Work* He.t. „ Yrom the Boston Tr«nscript. When U your mind at its best? Do 'fou chouoe the early morning hours W> prepare for your quiz or to c om p<j*v your masterpiece* > Or do you chum* the late afternoon or nlglitr In all probability your answer will be “early morning after a good night's >Uecf> ' That Is #hot we have been brought up to believe but are we right’ Wr mast admit that all minds do mm lunctton alike and that no hard and loot rule will fit ell roses He that »s it may, a rather startling dis eovery was made not long ago which s # stop. Two or throe men and teams were at the railroad, all at - the farm were needed, and somebody must superintend. At length the engine stopped, the dust rolled away, and in the cool dark the tired men crossed the crackling stubble. Lawrence got a bath and put on fresh clothes. To do so was something of an effort, but he must not be gin to be negligent. When he had inquired about George he joined his men in the kitchen, lie had engaged a Chinese cook for harvest and supper was a Homeric feast. The men ate like giants and the big room rang with the clash of knives on thick plates and the rattle of heavy cups. Muscular hands seized the dishes the hurrying crnflc brought, brown faces flushed after hot drink and food. For about 10 minutes all were sternly quiet, and then the plates were thrown back and the lioarse jokes began. In the morn ing two teamsters and their wagons would he back and the field gang undertook to crowd the thrashers and choke the mill. Lawrence went to the other room. Millieent was cheeking some groeery bills and George was on the couch. Now Law rence thought about it, his brother had used the couch in the evenings for the last two months. “Are you easier?” he asked. “So loner as I keen mv leer straight. T don’t feel much pain. Lifting the last bag made the trouble. The stick slipped and the weight was thrown on the sore spot in my back and hip. I expect the wrench stirred up th(> big nerve. However, if I lay off f<rr a day or two, I ought to get about again, and I’m sorry 1 was forced to quit.” “You ought to have gone easy two or three weeks ago,” Law rence rejoined. “Anyhow, I’d like you to take a holiday. I’d try a week at Winnipeg and then go on to Oanora. You might camp by the lake and get some fishing, and perhaps some shoot ing. from a canoe.” George smiled and Millicent put lip her bills. Lawrence knew they had been talking and he •lighted a cigaret. Since he took control he had borne some strain and after the binders rolled into the wheat he had used all the effort flesh and blood could make. At length, however, the load lie had carried was getting light. The crop would pay all debts but Orthwaite’s and then leave a larger sum than he needed when he sowed again in spring. To some extent, he admitted he ought to be content. All for which he had planned and labored would soou be his, but so far he had concentrated on the struggle. In fact, lie dared not look in front. Now, how ever, he might be forced to do so. The wheat would soon be sold, and his brother and sister had rather obviously been pond ering. “Unless my leg is worse than I think, I hope to see you through harvest,” said George, and glanced at Millicent as if for support. “When the last bag of grain is shipped off I may quit tor good." Lawrence gave him a dis turbed glance, and George re sumed : “We won’t bother about politeness, Larry; let’s try to weigh facts. I can drive a straight furrow and handle a team, but an uptodate farmer needs qualities 1 do not think are mine. Then at Fairholin you are boss, and although I’m the older brother, you ought to have got the farm. I know you’d willingly carry me along, but I’d hate to load you up, and after all I’d. so to speak, sooner use ray own feet. • There’s another thing. Western j tnav upset the notions of a lifetime and revise our daily programs. Dr. Johnson of i* lion tiuUtute. Pttuburg. has reccr. .y been engaged tn making «ome rr rkable teaU as to the effect of air i on tha human brain. Tills haa bf *n done by meas uring the aoundnet d sleep with an ! metrument which r nvwhat rearm bin an earthquake reglairrlng seis mograph Twenty c:m atudenta of Pttuburg university vere the subject* upon whom Dr Jot' taon experiment ed After having th ; • deep measured, they were given ie»u at different time* »f day to d< ’■rmine the vari ation of Jheir mrn'al alert nr «a. and 1 it waa dlacovetrj that their nunda farming’s sfrer«ue;i°, .sml it’s evi dent I cannot stand iur much muscular fatigue. In fact, 1 must look for a softer job." Lawrence turned to Millicent. “I don’t know if the plan is yours, but 1 imagine you agree.” “I am forced to agree. George’s weak leg is an awk ward handicap. Besides, you are a lirst class farmer, and he acknowledges be is not." “Not long since I was a cot ton manufacturer," Lawrence remarked dryly. “The important tiling is, I was luckier than George, and when all goes as you calculate, to farm is not hard. The bad years broke him; a large crop helped me." Georg/smiled. “Your object’s good and we know your modesty, but you must be logical—” “Very well. I nm the junior partner. You inherited Fair holm; it’s properly yours." “The drawback was, I could not hold the farm,” George re plied in a sober voice. “Let’s face things. I have bad enough and I want to quit. Besides, Lamond wants me to jon him. Although lie’s a stranger, his business goes ahead; I can use the machines he sells and the boys know me. Anyhow, lie’s rather keen about it and implies that he’d take me for partner on favorable terms. In the cir cumstances, to raise the sum I’ll needs might not embarrass you, but nothing will be fixed until the wheat is sold. When I know all particulars, we’ll talk about it again." Lawrence pondered. George had borne the strain of the bad years and it had cost him much. Now the tide had turned, to let him go was shabby. Yet Law rence saw he was resolved, and Millieent remarked his knitted brows. “You mustn’t worry about George." I feel lie takes the proper line,” she said. “When he goes, I go with him. We . have got an option on Marvin’s house.” “Marvin’s house fronts the dusty street and has not even a garden lot. The sidewalk’s up against the front, and the eleva tors are but 50 yards off. After the quiet and space at Fairholra, j'ou will not like it, and anyhow the settlement is a dreary spot.” “Ah,” said Millieent, “3'ou are like father—you must have space and freedom! In a way, you know, he was something of an aristocrat. He hated the traffic; he hated pushing, greed\T crowds. I think he was feudal, but per haps he dated farther back and his type was the old Greek shepherds’ type. Me must rule 1)3* strength rather than cunning, he was willing to labor, so long as he was in the frost and sun, and whenfhe looked about he liked to feel all he saw was his.” “On the whole, the portrait’s accurate, but it’s not my por trait, and I don’t see that it has much to do with, your going to the settlement.” “Where you would he happy, I might not,” Millicent rejoined. “A woman’s point of view is different; as a rule, sire likes a crowd, and sometimes in winter Fairholra is deadly quiet. Per haps the settlement is not attrac tive, but the men it satisfied are vanishing. The new lot are keen , and ambitious; they want a wider life, and the railroads and machinery will make it possible. Then the harvest has given the farmers freedom, and when they prosper the prairie towns leap ahead. We are going to plant shade trees and lay out a park. The men are planning nobler buildings; the women talk about musical societies and social guilds. In a few years you’ll see an opera lfouse and a stone post office. Where all is moving T expect to find my occupation.” “It’s possible,” said Law rence. “You are the sort they want to give the rest a lead. Well, perhaps I’m selfish. But what about met” “You mean to he nice; hut when Benrge is gone, the worn nn who rules at Fairholm ought to be your wife. T think you know the proper girl.” “The drawback is. I know her father.” Lawrence remarked moodily. I worked with 10 per cent greater ef ficiency at night than early tn the morning after eight hours cf sound aleep. The deduction reached from these Investigation* is that fatigue poisons the system and acts much as certain narcotics do. first exciting the Drain for a period and then causing drowsi ness and sleep. It Is true that on first awakening the mind may be alert and able to function satisfac torily for a short time, hut It Is un easy and no! capable of concentration until It has bren stimulated tr* fa tigue. strange as that may seem that Is why rigorous setting up exercises or other energetic action °n arising “Ah," said Millicent, ‘‘Ogil vie is old. but Margaret and you are modern. You have done with all that’s $one; your busi ness is to look in front and push forward. If Margaret agrees to help, I expect you'll make some progress.” Lawrence knitted his brows. “1 don’t know if she will agree; so far, I dare not urge her. A dry summer and autumn frost might have forced me to take a hired man's post and at one time I thought I must go broke. The wheat is not yet on the ears, and when the lnsft load’s hauled away T’ll know I’ve won. Then I'll ask Margaret.” “If you persuade her. I'll b' happy,” Millicent replied. CHAPTER XXVIII Ogilvie Cuts ills Loss The night was dark and a cold wind shook the window shades in Lawrence’s room. He was tired, but all his bodily fatigue his active brain disturbed his sleep. In his dreams lie heard the .engine throb and wagon wheels crush the stubble. Some body shouted tHat the gang was waiting and Lawrence whipped his team. The mill must not stop. The wheat was not yet thrashed and the days got short. lie jerked his head from the pillow" and knew his akin was wet by sweat. Recently the strath he must bear since day break did not slacken much when he went to bed, and in his sleep he stubbornly faced some fresh obstacle. Now he was awake he frowned. If he wanted to hold on until the wheat was threshed, he must banish dreams like that. The strange thing was, he did hear wheels and rattling harness. In the dark a wagon plunged noisily along the homestead trail, and after a few' moments some body shouted. Lawrence jumped for the window. The wagon was at the porch and two or three in distinct figures were on board. “Come down, Larry. You’re wanted,” one called. The voice was Spiers' voice, and Lawrence pulled on his clothes. Wheil he reached the poreli he saw Helen, Geoffrey, and Heath. George, on the floor above, pushed up his window and inquired why they disturbed tired folks. “Ogilvie’s in trouble,” Spiers replied. “Looks as if his home stead burned and Helen thought we ought to start—” He saw Lawrence and resumed: “She imagined you w'ould like to know.” “The crossing gang is pretty numerous,” George remarked. “I doubt if all are eager to help. My lot were not.” “It’s possible,” George agreed. “Well, to get out of bed bothered me, and since I cannot _t _.4. ~ t 4^ w J. illUOb UL. ■» admit it’s not very hard.” He shut the window and Spiers laughed. “I expect George is justified, and anyway lie’s sick. Heath stands for my gang and I be lieved he joined us mainly to in dulge my wife. But we mustn’t loiter. Are you going, Larry?” Lawrence ordered him to wait, and jumping down the steps, shouted for his harvesters. “I want one or two good hands to fight a fire at Ogilvie’s he said. “That’s all we can carry, but if some more would like to come along, you can harness up a team.” It did not look as if anybody was remarkably willing. The men were tired, and they knew Ogilvie had cut his harvesters’ pay. For all that, one or two stepped forward, and Lawrence sent them to the wagon. When the party was on board Spiers started his horses. “Sometimes economy is oxtra vngant,” he remarked. “Where Ogilvie imagined himself pru dent he was very rash. I wonder how the old fellow likes to meet the bill.” “After all, he is our neighbor, and you ought not to joke about his misfortune,” said Helen. “Xot long since we needed help.” (TO UK CONTINUED) helps to prepare the mind for its mornin" tasks. As the day ndv anr *s. the mind responds more and more to the stimulation of these fatigue pois ons. 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