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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1928)
3 CHAPTER XXIX Spalding's Return Spiers’ tired horses went •lowly, and now the strain was over Lawrenee felt that all was flat. The night was cold, his clothes were wet, and he was dull with fatigue. He hated to think he must soon resume his labor in the harvest field, but the thrashers would not wait and the noisy mill must be supplied. Although his party had per haps saved the homestead, Law renee reflected dry humor that their return was not at all trium phant. In fact, he did not think the others knew they went. The Ogilvies were not a hospitable lot, and Lawrence doubted if the old fellow bad bothered to thank Spiers. lie certainly had not thanked him, and when the fire Was conquered the party, so to •peak, stole away. Well, Law rence had not reckoned on much gratitude, and Margaret had carried the magazine. In the smoke and raining sparks she had nohlv seen him out. Her pride to some extent perhaps ac counted for her rashness, but Lawrence imagined it did not ac count for all. Where they cut the Fuirholm trail Spiers stopped his team, and the hired men pot down, but he idid not let Lawrence po. ■“After my rather unusual ef forts, l cannot relax, and al though I’m cold and tired, I don’t want to go to bod,” he •aid. “If you feel you cannot •loop, come on over to my place end Helen will give us some cof fee I'd like to show you a let ter T got from a grain broker at Winnipeg.” Lawrence agreed, and by and by a window glimmered in the dark. Helen, with some surprise, remarked the dull illumination. “It’s queer,” she said. “Some body is carrying about the small | hand lamp.” After a few moments the light vanished, and when Spiers took the homestead trail Mrs. Heath crossed the field. “A stranger got down an horn back, and tied his horse,’’ she said, “lie wouldn’t tell me who he was, but he lighted his pipe and said he’d wait. As you wasn’t expecting anybody, I thought 1 wouldn’t go to bed.” Spiers sent off Heath with the horses, and the others went to the house. When they were at the door somebody asked: “Who’s with you, Geoff?” “My wife and Lawrence Elliott.” “Then you can come right in.” the other replied. “Thanks! I believe the house is mine,” said Spiers, and get ting a light, exclaimed, “Spald ing!” Spalding shut a window at the back and gave Helen an apolo getic smile. l •* •* V 1 li 1 1 iuu mt, 1 uasscn t i<ihF chances, ma’am, and mr horse is saddled. He has carried me 30 miles since sundown. T reckoned you’d sooner I came along in the dark.” “The plan has some advan tages, Tom,” Spiers agreed. “However, to begin with, we’ll put your horse in the stable.” They went off and ffolen frowned. “It’s too bad, Larryl We risked something for the man be fore, and now we're winning out, I wish he’d left Geoff alone!” She rather impatiently put the kettle on the stove and got tt/aie plates and cups. After a o few minutes the others cuifte back and Lawrence studied Spalding. The fellow’s clothes were good, he ivas fatter, ami bin pinched, hunted look was gone. In fact, although he had used caution. Lawrence sensed returning confidence. Helen gave them coffee and slabs of frlwn Ubw, from tlie Indianapolo News 60 diversified turn private industry become that prison labor Iuu few outlets for Its product* In commer cial markets, if U is to avoid comm* into competition with commodities made outside penal iiulltutlons The broad principle that free workmen arc entitled to <otuideratlon in dr term Inina (he use of convict man power U accepted tnii-raily and to valid but thl* dor* not obscure the fact that to permit imprisoned per sona to spend their urn* tn mm paratlv* It! true** to a detriment both in them and society. To inculcate habit* at Industry to to etuourad* 0 cold pie, and Spalding began to narrate his adventures. “When I got across to Dakota I hit a job at a liverystable. The boss was pretty good sort, and although the settlement wasn't a long ways from the frontier, I reckoned I’d stay. You see, if the police made good a claim for extradition, they’d get me any how. Besides, if I was near the boundary, I might get some news. W’hen I quit, the red coat boys had not found Hart.” “Nobody has yet done so,” Spiers remarked. “Sure they have not,” said Spalding with a smile. “Now I’ll tell you something! Hart isn’t dead. He was at the livery stable three or four days ago!” “By George!” said Spiers, and although Helen said nothing, her relief was obvious. Spalding turned and gave her a deprecating glance. “Now you see why I bothered you this time, ma’am. I had to get going, and my friends are roughnecks nkp me. i ney u loan me a norse and cover my tracks, but that’s not all I want. Well, your hus band is sure a sport and Mr. Elliot’s his partner. When you got to think up a touch proposi tion you can bet on Larry.’’ Lawrence thought Helen’s face wen. red and he frowned. Spiers laughed. “Comparisons are embarrass ing. Suppose you go ahead?” Spalding resumed his narra tive. When he cleaned some harness one evening two strangers arrived at the livery stable and ordered a team to go back three or four miles for their ear. The trail was sandy and at a steep pitch she took the bank and something broke. Lawrence nodded. Cars were not yet much used on the plains, and he knew prairie trails that bothered a good team. Spalding said the strangers were annoyed about it and one told the livery man they had planned a trip to Canada. His voice puzzle! Spalding, who imagined he had heard it before, but he was some distance off and when the boss called him the fellow had gone to the hotel, Spalding harnessed a team and he and the other went for the car. While his companion experi mented with the engine lie saw some small illustrated folders on the seat and lie picked up one. The Pamphlet stated that a live man willing to invest $1,000 could soon get rich by speculat ing in a Canadian farm. “We know the stuff,” Spiers observed. “The Canadian North west is not yet a farmer’s para dise, and when you eannot pay the interest the land company takes hack the mortgaged block; but I imagine the Dakota men do not expect too much. The American farmer carries a heavv load.” Lawrenep agreed and lighted a eigaret. He was not bored by the particulars Spalding rather generously rainer generously supplied. As a rule, emigration is from Panada to the United States, but sometimes a sort of reflux from Dakota and Montana flows aeross the fertile prairie belt, and American settlors had begun to buy Canadian farms. Lawrence knew one or two; hard, sternly frugal men. whose wives were worn hv household eares. Spalding’s eompanion was obviously a real estate speculator nnd perhaps thought to work up a boom. “Go on. Tom.” he said. “I expect you made some inquiries about the fellows!” Spalding had done so. The real estate house was a pretty good house and the hotelkeeper reck oned they were putting through n big deal in Manitoba, One fellow was very mnd because I they might he forced to use a I reform and to b?prfu the people by reducing a drain on the pubUc treas ury for penal purposes The Indiana law, subl, ct to several restrictions. permits th • state refor matory stair prison ar4 state farm to manufacture article' and dispoae of lurptuses not requit'd for use by the ln*Uiuttona thrmsr.r**. One of tli# nuerpruw'* of th* state farm u the manufacture of md floral bas kets When it was star d the under | standing was that no ; mat# manu larmier of the product existed in 1 tut.ana but a cotnpsu., la now in the field and bat brought utt at tireen • r t4. enj-sn state t 'irtty of that sort The rontemkn u that the team; it looked as if lie did not want to remain across the boundary long. Anyhow, he had ordered the blacksmith to bust the blasted machine if he could not make her go. Spalding’s curiosity was ex cited. but the real estate men en tertained some farmers in their room and he was forced to wait. All the same, he found out where they were going first, and at length the mended ear rattled noisely up the street. Spalding was then at the pool room, and he ran for the hotel. The night was rather dark and when lie was 50 yards off, the strangers got in the ear. A beam from the lamps touched one's face, and Spalding pushed savagely through the group at the steps. The fellow was Hart. He did not know if Hart saw him, but the ear went ahead. Somebody pulled Spalding back and he was left to storm in tlv? tossing dust. Now he asked Spiers to picture his emotions Hart certainly was not dead. The brute had cheated him and sold his farm, and afterwards used their fight to help him make his getaway; Spalding began to think somebody in Canada, a creditor perhaps, was on the blrjned hog’s track, which might explain his unwillingness to he long on British soil. For all that, he was going to exploit some suckers who wanted to sell land, and very possibly to rob the ivmerjt'Hn real esiaip Mouse. The livery stable keeper was a good sort, and when Spalding gave him his confidence he loaned him a horse. Tn Canada Spalding sent back the animal and borrowed another, on which he started for Pine Creek. ITc did not know what he ought to do, but lie reckoned Lawrence might put him wise. For one thing. Hart did not use his proper name and was a clever crook. Suppose he did rob his American partners and vanished another time? The police might not believe Spalding’s romantic tale; all they would have to go upon was his statement that the land agent was Hart. In fact, Hart must not be allowed to re cross the frontier. Well, the others knew all Spalding knew, and be was very tired. In the morning Lawrence might think up a plan. Spiers fixed a bod for him with the har vesters, and when he returned to the house lighted his pipe. “We are very tired, but the gang starts at daybreak apd to keep the mill supplied will oc cupy all my thinking powers. We ought perhaps to arrange our program before we go to bed. What are you going to do about it, Larry?” “So far, I don’t sec much farther than Spalding sees,” Lawrence replied. “To begin with, T believe Hart is a crook, and it’s very possible he had an object for vanishing, although nothing indicates whom he feared. There’s another thing that supports Spalding’s sur mise; when ITart thought he could not use the ear he was savagely annoyed. Since he was keen to travel fast, the implica tion is, for him to stay long in Canada might be dangerous. Well, when he recrosses the frontier, to get on his track might baffle us, and in the mean time the police want Spalding. Hr _A* • _ ...AA A 1 iU » IIUIH'II 1^, » t. t I V IU mill the man Hart is afraid to moot.” TTolon looked up and her eyes sparkled. “I believe T know— Not Ion? after the hailstorm. Ogilvio came aeross and talked about Geoff's lending somebody a horse. He tried to bully me, but I said nothing about Spalding and at length he asked if Hart had got the horse. T told him I hated the brute, I lhink he believed me, for lie went. T thought it ipieer. but now I begin to see a light. Ogilvie did not mind if Spalding escaped; lie wanted Hart and doubted if be was dead.” “By George!” said Spiers. “You have solved another puzzle. All the same, our line is not yet very obvious.” “Perhaps yours is not.” Helen rejoined with a smile. “In the morning I’ll go over to Ogilvie’*. If Hart 1# in Cnnndn, I think the state farm does not require reed floral baskets tn it* conduct. and that, therefore, thev are twun made for commercial trade ah nr. In viola tion of the law. What the merit* of the row plaint are we do not know The latr r as pect* of the altuation are c!ea> how ever. An outlet for prison labor U not only desirable but tmpera ire. If the general welfare la to be ad vanced We do not purpose to say In what direction It can be found without encroaching on other legiti mate interests, both tn the *ay of free labor and capital invr iment Penologists thrmaetvf* hold « Jfertng new*. Troublesome and dlff ult a* old fellow will find him.” Lawrence got up. “Since yoa are going to help us, I mustn't meddle, and now 1 think about it, I ought to get home.” They let him go and he lan guidly crossed the harvest field. The long rows of stooks were melting, and when he reached the high wheat bin he stopped. He was worse tired than he had thought, and when he sat down the straw was soft. For a few minutes he would weigh Spald ing’s narrative ami Helen’s con clusions. To begin with, he had rather vaguely felt that the small farmer's independence was threatened. When lie arrived Fairholm was mortgaged, Spald ing’s farm was sold, and Hart had meant to seize l’ine Creek. Moreover, Lawrence knew others. . . . Methods were changing and pluck and muscle could not compete with gasolene and steel. To use modern ma chines. however, implied the sup port of a good bank roll. In fact, it might imply the con solidation of capital and central management. But Lawrence’s brain was dull and he had pondered something like this be fore. He did not want to in dulge in abstract speculations about agricultural economy. The important thing was, the new forces gave the rich man fresh power, uml it looked as if unninhnilv h:wl iihmmwl to lISft the * power for his neighbors’ ini poverishment. Well, llart was greedy and unscrupulous, but Lawrence doubted if he had the talent and imagination as big consolidation scheme required. Yet he might be an agent, em ployed by another who plotted to crush the small men and seize their land. Lawrence’s back was sinking in the straw and his head bent, but he suddenly braced up. Mrs. Spiers had solved the puzzle that had baffled him for long. Margaret’s father was the man! Well, nature had beaten the plotter; the noble harvest had broken his power and given his victims freedom. Although they had pinched and sweated, now they triumphed. But Margaret was Ogilvie’s daughter and she was loyal. Lawrence began to see her pride sprang from humiliation. She doubted her father and was ashamed from him. Her lover’s business was to give her liberty and break the old fellow’s domi nation. Well, when Lawrence knew he had made good, he would try to do so. CHAPTER XXX The Loser Says In the morning Helen went to Ogilvic’s and waited for some time on the shady porch. Ogil vie was in the field, but Margaret sent for him, and at length he arrived. Although Helen im agined him unwilling to be dis turbed, his look was inscrutable and hers was not at all apolo getic. “I have got about 10 minutes, ma’am,” he said. “Thank you,” said Helen tran quilly. “Then minutes is enough; but I doubt if you will go back to your harvesters afterward. Well, some time since you asked if my husband lent Hart a horse. It looked as if you knew he was not dead. Let’s be frank. Did it 1 A 9 9 you rtuiiiy miuw i Ogilvie knitted his brows, but ho did not. hesitate. “Spalding stopped TTart hv the bridge, and it’s pretty ob vious he thought he knocked him out. I allow I was not quite sure.” “Perhaps you had some grounds to doubt!” “Suppose you go ahead; I’ll wait.” said Ogilvie dryly. “Then, you imagined Hart might he willing for you to think him dead? In fact, the fight gave him the chance he wanted to steal away?” “You are clover, ma’am. One begins to see why Spiers makes good,” Ogilvie remarked. Helen’s .color rose. “Geoffrey is a hotter farmer than vou im agine. hut I wnnt to talk about something else. Hart was afraid I ofytwf** _ (TO UK CONTINUED) the issue U, the time Is fast anpro9',h Ing v.hrn a etc r out and u ..alta ad justment ta essential. Prison* were no*, built to encourage loafing. Were I Ike It. From Puss'll* Show. I.imtin. **Oh. mother, may I go to the mas querade tomorrow an a milkmaid f ‘ No. you are too small - "Then may 1 go as a condensed milkmaid?" • • —-u*g Indefinite. From the Il.^iun Transcript Mr May ! kia* you? She— I should s«y naif Me-I know But what do you sar? 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