■«—■ -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. Dr. Johnson claims that from 2
o'clock on to midnight or later the
brain 1s at its highest point of effi
ciency for sustained mental effort.
— — - • ♦- —
Q Are warships, other than Brit
ish. allowed to use the Sues Canal?
j. r.
A. By convention of October 28,
1888. “the vessels of all nations
whether armed or not are to be al
lowed to pass through the Bum
I canal In peace or war/'
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All Serene
“And you saw Jean’s wedding, dear?
Who gave the bride away?”
“Oh. nobody said a word!”
Doctor Found What is Best
for Thin, Constipated People
As a family doctor at Monticello,
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kin.
-- . . ■■■ ■ ■ ■ — i ^
..1 11 ^
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