---
---IZ --
CHAFFEE
of
ROARING HORSE
BY ERNEST HAYCOX
“In town. He's to be judge
of the rodeo to-morrow. Went
early to arrange things. That’s
what he said, but I know
Sntterlee. You’ll prob’ly find
him in the Gusher playin’
poker.”
“Ain’t you afraid of Jjim
gamblin' like that? drawled
Jim, smiling again.
“Why should I be? parried
Miz Satterlee. “He always
wins.”
Chaffee gathered the reins.
“Imagine me forgettin’ it’s
rodeo time. I’m the original
old man from the hills. I
reckon I’ll have to introduce
myself all over again. So long,
Miz Satterlee.”
The mistress of the Stirrup
S watched him canter through
the yard, her bright eyes
raised against the sun. And
she sighed. “Chaffee don’t
know how good lookin’ he is,”
she opined to herself. "Well,
It’s nice to be humble about
yourself, but it ain’t nice to be
downright dumb about it.
They'll be some girls sprucin’
up their caps from now on, I
vow.”
The rodeo in Roaring Horse
town explained the empty
Stirrup S yard. Everybody
would be crowding the county
seat, primed for the morrow’s
excitement. Jim Chaffee grew
eager to be among old friends
again e.3 he paced down the
broad and hard-beaten trail.
Left and right'lay the leagues
of Stirrup S range. In the fore
ground browsed a scattering
of Dad Satterlee’s white
faced cows—feeder stuff
drawn in to weather the win
ter. The trail was the same,
all down its winding length;
far off was the outline of
Melotte's Circle Open A home
quarters; the twin pines still
guarded the bridge by Chick
man’s creek; Roaring Horse
town threatened the southern
reaches, sharp building points
breaking the sky. And about
three of the afternoon he
entered the place, stabled his
horse, and set forth toward
the bank to wind up the last
sorry details of his bankrupt
homestead; and feeling a
great like Rip Van Winkle
coming back to a different
world.
He naa cauea nimseu u
6tranger. Yet twenty times or
more in the short interval be
tween bank and stable he was
called by his name and
stopped to swap gossip. He
was struck resoundingly on
the back; he was hauled about
and threatened with violence
If he refused to enter and tip
up a convivial glass; he was
called those sort of names that
are not carelessly passed
around except among fine
friends. The gravity left his
lean face, and a sparkle in
vaded his deep eyes. Down by
the Gusher’s front he bumped
into a solid delegation of
Stirrup S hands, all old-time
cronies, and they closed about
him hilariously. One shrill,
united yip split the street.
“Hi—look at this lean slab
o’ bacon!’
“Don’t talk to the damn’
nester. It’s him what’s been
butcherin’ our beef!”
“How could a man eat fat
Stirrup S beef and still be so
peaked around the gills?”
"Well, mebbe he’s been
eatin’ mutton, then.”
Jim Chaffee built himself
a cigaret and grinned at the
pack. “Boys.” said he when a
lull arrived, “take the advice
of one that’s a-father to you
ail. Never stray far from a
steady pay check. Honor your
parents, cherish the little red
schoolhouse, speak respect
fully of all our great institu
tions—and don’t try to run a
Jack-rabit ranch like me.”
“Feel poor?” demanded one
of the party.
"No, I’m too numb to feel
poor,” drawled Jim. “I’m froze
Danes Make It Go.
From Detroit News.
Denmaik th.nks it has had a bad
year agriculturally. The land eco
nomic bureau of that country re
ports a general falling off in agri
cultural production for the lasl
year, but the substantiating figure:
are interesting.
The gross yield per acre for al
agricultural products is reported a:
valued at about $90, a slump o:
about 25 cents per acre from tha
of the previous year. There ha:
been a decline of about 50 cent:
per acre in the production value o
cereals but an Increase of abou
; out. I’ll be back toppin’ horses
for the outfit when I get
rested up. Where’s Mack
Moran?”
"Somewhere lookin’ for a
I scrap. You know Mack. He’s
been a-mournin yore absence,
Jim. Yuh know how he
mourns, don’t yuh? It makes
him so weak he’s got to have
a brass rail to rest his foot on
and a bar to lean his elbows
against.”
"He’ll mourn my presence,’'
said Jim, grinning with anti- j
cipation.
"Goin’ to ride in the rodeo,
Jim?”
"Forgot how.”
A terrific clamor met this. ;
Then a woman’s voice, clear
and musical and slightly
amused, said: "If you please,
gentlemen.” Stirrup S, to a
man, moved convulsively off
the sidewalk. Jim Chaffee,
wedged in the center of the
group, looked over the shoul
der of a friend to see a vision
passing by. Her face was half
hidden under a gay and wide
brimmed hat of the period;
but her hazel eyes met him
for a moment with a kind of
curiosity in them, seeming to
ask him: "What kind of a man
are you that all these
punchers should make so
much noise about you?” The
next moment she was gone,
and he saw the flash of her
dress down by the entrance
i of the hotel. Something hap
! pened then and there to Jim
| Chaffee. He muttered, “I’ve
; got to go, boys. Let me out of
this stampede.”
"Theodorik Perrine’s in
town, Jim. He’s ridin’ to-mor
row.”
They had all been rollicking
and easy humored. Now they
were very sober, watching
| Chaffee with the close in
spection that a friend is alone
able to give another friend.
Jim Chaffee’s attention
centered on the speaker. His
lids drooped. "That’s interest
in’. Maybe I will ride. Now I’ve
got to hustle off to the bank.
| See you later.”
He shouldered through and
walked past the hotel. The
girl was at that moment
climbing the lobby stairs. One
quick sidewise glance told him
that. Going on, he entered
the bank and tried to main
tain a cheerfulness of coun
tenance he was by no means
feeling. Mark Eagle, the teller,
raised a full-blooded Umatilla
Indian face to Jim and spoke
pleasantly. “Hello, Jim. I saw
Mack Moran two-three min
utes ago on the street. He was
wondering if you’d come in.”
“I’d better find him before
j he tears something apart,”
replied Jim Chaffee. “You’re
puttin’ on fat, Mark. Better
' take some time out hunting.
| Craib in his office?”
Mark Eagle ducked his
round cheeks. Chaffee walked
to a far door and opened it
without knocking. Josiah
Craib sat stooped over a plain
pine desk, his finger trailing
along a small map; he looked
up with the air of a man about
l to speak disapproval. But that
changed when he saw his
visitor. Jim said, “Hello, Craib,
I’m surrenderin’ the last legal
relic ’o my ranch. Here’s your
key and God bless you. I’m
busted.”
Craib’s bald and bony head
glistened under a patch of
light slanting through a high
side window. “Shut the door,
Jim. I’m sorry, Sit down.”
“Why be sorry?” countered
Jim, throwing the key on
Craib's desk. “A banker can’t
afford to be sorry, can he?”
“I would like to give you
another year—” began Craib.
But Jim Chaffee broke bluntly
into the other’s talk.
"I’d be just as poor next
year as this one. It takes three
seasons to get a herd started.
I banked on that. I lost. It
25 cents per acre in animal prod
| ucts.
But the figures for net profits
will most impress those accus
tomed in this country to the plea
that there is no profit in farming,
particularly for the small farmers,
j On an average the net yield, ac
cording to the Danish report, was
$15 per acre, representing about 5.8
per cent on invested capital. Small
farms have begun a sort of spe
cialization in the production of ba
con and poultry products and have
increased their profits satisfactorily
over those of last year.
An astonishingly successful peo
ple are these Danes in making the
would take me another three
to get back where I began. I
! can’t do it. There’s another
; tough winter hidin’ up behind
J the peaks.”
Craib seemed a clumsy
figure for his profession. His
lank legs were too high for
the space beneath the table*
his spare chest towered above
| it. Everything about him was
i bony—fists and cheeks and
nose. He owned a narrow,
overlong face, acros which the
skin lay tight, holding his
features in a kind of cast. Ana
because of this physical pe
culiarity he was an enigma in
Roaring Horse county after
twenty years’ residence. Some
times, as he strode along the
street with his chin tucked
against his chest and his i
clothes flapping on the
awkward frame, it appeared
as if he was a man smothered
beneath solemn thoughts.
From season to season there
was not a shade of variance
in the set expression; he
talked very little, he had no
friends and no family. The
country made up strange and
contradictory stories about
him—he was as hard as flint,
he was just; he was fabulously
rich, he was poor and on the
verge of bankruptcy; he was I
credited with a scheming, !
brilliant brain that lusted
after power in the county, and
at the same breath people
spoke of him as nothing more
than a dull and plodding man
who never rose above the
pettiness of penny shaving.
Nobody fathomed him, and
now as he faced Jim Chaffee
there was nothing on his
parchiment face that indi
cated what he felt about the
former’s misfortune.
“I would like to give you
another year,” he repeated,
as if not hearing Jim. “But
unfortunately I am not in a
position to do so. This has
been a bad season. I cannot
afford to hold paper. I’ve got
to take yours over Jim and
realize on it.”
‘ May the Lord have mercy
on you,” drawled Jim. “I don’t
know how you’ll get anything
out of it. There she lies, idle
and profitless.”
“I have a man who is buy
! ing it,” said Craib in the self
same, even, expressionless
tone.
That stirred Jim’s curiosity.
“Now who’s foolish?”
“I’m bound not to say,” re
plied Craib.
Jim got up, smiling. “The
man must be ashamed of his
lack ’o discretion. All right,
Craib. Sorry I’ve been a poor
customer. But I’ll be tryin’
again somewhere and some
time. After I get a rest.” He
opened the door and looked
out, wistfulness clonding his
eyes. “By George, I hate to
lose that little place. Won’t
ever find another like it.”
Craib rose, knocking back
the chair by the force of his
unwieldy legs. “Can’t loan
you any of the bank’s money,
Jim,” he said, “but if a per
sonal loan of a hundred dol
lars will help any I’ll be glad
to let you have it. No note, no
security.”
It was so unusual a proposal,
coming from Craib, that Jim
Chaffee was plainly aston
ished. “Well, that’s handsome
of you, Craib. Maybe I’ll take
the offer. Let you know later.”
“All right.” grunted Craib,
busy again with his map.
Jim left the office, nodding
at Mark Eagle. The teller’s
eyes followed the rangy cow
puncher all the way to the
street. And long after, Mark
Eagle tapped his counter
! with an idle pen, squinting at
some remote vision.
Within twenty paces Jim
Chaffee confronted three en
tirely dissimiliar gentlemen
whom he knew very well.
Mack Moran, Dad Satterlee,
j and William Wells Wool
I fridge, who owned an outfit
adjoining Satterlee, broke
through the crowd. Mack
Moran threw a hand over his
face at sight of Jim and ap
peared to stagger from the
shock of it. “Oh, look at the
stranger from the brush!
Mama, there’s that face
again!” He came forward,
most of their natural resources.
Primitively, their location was most
forbidding. Large areas of their
I country were originally almost un
! inhabitable in part because of ster
I ile, drifting sands and in part be
cause of encroachments of the sea.
They fenced out the sea with dikes
and planted forests upon the sands.
And they preserved the rights of
the largest number possible to land
holding, by forbidding combining
small holdings to make larger.
Hence, the entire country is divided
into farms of a few acres, each sup
. porting its owner and his family.
With extraordinary genius, ener
gy and frugality, the Danish people
haye brought their aaricultural in
Irish countenance split from
ear to ear. “How, Jim!”
“You're drunk.”
“I ain’t drunk,” was Moran’s
severe retort. “I ain’t even
intoxicated. Been lookin’ all
over hell’s half acre—”
Satterlee, a stout old fellow
with iron-crusted hair rum
bled an abrupt question.
“When did you get in?” Wool
fridge contented himself with
a bare nod and found some
thing else to interest him, Jim
shook hands with his old boss
and before he could answei
the question Satterlee shot
another at him. “Enterin’ the
buckin’ to-morrow?”
“Shore he is,” chimed Mack
Moran. “And there goes yore
hundred dollars first money.’'
“I don’t know,” said Jim
“Ain’t rode for an awful long
while. Dad.”
“Get in it,” urged Satterlee
“Theodorik Perrine’s ridin.”
All three of them watched
Jim with considerable gravity
He reached for his tobacco
quite thoughtful. “I have
heard the name before,” he
murmured. “Maybe I’ll ride.’
Satterlee grunted and moved
on with Woolfridge. But Mack
Moran had, as he said, found
the answer to a maiden’s
prayer and placed a great
hand through Jim Chaffee’s
arm.
“We’ll settle this right now
Yore ridin’.” He took off his
hat and rubbed a tangle of
fire-red hair; he looked up to
Jim—for he was a short and
wiry bundle of dynamite, this
Mack Moran—and chuckled
to himself. ““I been like a
chicken minus a head all day
By golly, I’m glad to see yore
homely mug. Let’s do some
thin,’ let’s drink somethin’,
let’s rip up a few boards.”
Jim stopped, attracted by a
fresh sign painted on an ad
jacent building front: “Roar
ing Horse Irrigation and
Reclamation Corporation.”
He pointed at it.
“How iong's that been there?
What is it?”
“I dunno. Some new fangled
outfit come in here a few
weeks back. They’s a dude in
charge that calls himsell
secretary. In plain words, a
pen pusher. What’s behind it
I ain’t able to state. They been
buyin’ land and doin’ a good
business at that. Tough year
Small folks are sellin’. What
does the aforesaid corpor
ation \yant with land that
ain’t worth four bits an acre?
I dunno. Here’s where you
sign up.”
He led Jim into a hardware
store, where all the contes
tants applied for places in the
next day’s rodeo. Jim signed
But when the gentleman in
charge asked for the custom
ary ten dollars he stared
rather blankly at Mack “I
forgot that. Ain’t got ten dol
lars.”
“I have,” said Moran, and
peeled the sum from his
pocket. He slapped it down
“And I’ll state I’ll bring a
hundred iron men back with
it to-morrow night.”
The gentleman behind the
counter accepted the ten but
not the comment. He looked
curiously toward Chaffee
“Theodorik Perrine’s ridin’.’1
“The name,” replied Jim
“is not altogether strange tc
me.”
The partners went out. Mack
suggested it was time to humoi
the inner man, and thej
started through the crowd
bound for the restaurant
“Jim,” was Mack’s abrupt
question, “have you seen
Theodorik yet this aft’noon?”
“Ain’t had that pleasure foi
a great many months.”
“Well, he’s ornerier than
ever. If you could cross a
skunk, a grizzly, and a snake
you’d have a combination half
as mean as Theodorik. Most
men step growin’ when they
get of age. Theodorik just
keeps gettin’ bigger and
meaner.”
(TO B> CONTINUED)
Striking Similarity.
From Tit-Bits.
Visitor: There’s nothing the mat
ter with this country. All it requires
is a better type of settler and a
descent water supply.
Resident: If you come to think
of it, those are the only drawbacks
to Hades.
dustry to be a model for the world
Their agricultural co-operative so
cieties claim in membership nearly
the entire agricultural population
Their products suffice for their own
support and meet competition in
the greatest markets of the world
The Danish agricultural report in
deed shows an off year, but the
woes of the Danish farmers are
nothing to cry over.
Hereditary.
From Answers.
“Do you know, that if you keep
on doing naughty things your chil
dren will be naughty, too?”
“Oh, mummy, now you've given
1 yourself away.”
SEES IMPROVED
SWINE MARKET
Oakota Specialist Advises
Farmers to Increase
Hog Production
Brookings, S. D.- -Predict
,ng price increases next season, W.
P. Schnaidt. extension marketing
specialist at South Dakota State col
lege, suggests that farmers of the
state expand their hog production.
With the hog breeding season at
hand, the prospect for hog prices
during the fall and winter of 1931
1932 is of pressing interest to farm
ers. In Schnaidt's opinion, “indica
tions point to decidedly stronger
hog prices at that time, with a pos
sibility that feed costs may continue
low enough to leave a nice profit
for the successful hog producer.’’
Outlook Favorable
Because this industry is adaptable
lo a large number of farms through
out the state, the marketing spe
- ialist explained, the favorable out
•ook for ihe hog enterprise •“seems
o offer an unusual opportunity to
ncrease the South Dakota farm in
:ome.”
Taking the country as a whole,
le believes any general increace In
he number of sows bred for next
ipring’s farrowing would be surpris
‘ ng. Alw’ays in the past, short corn
crops have been followed by short
rig crops.
“A similar reaction may take place
'his year,” Schnaidt said, “especial
ly with the price of hogs dropping
just at breeding time. Furthermore,
a large area of the country which
normally produces a considerable
portion of the hog supply of the
United States is decidedly short ol
feed and will undoubtedly curtail
its hog production.”
Feed Prices Factor
Another phase of the situation
which the marketing specialist said
will appear later is the prospect foi
feed prices next summer and winter
when the new hog crop is being fin
ished for market. Indications are
for a period of relatively higher
feed prices next spring and summer,
but should the country, next sea
son, raise a normal corn crop, or
better, corn and feed prices will
likely be strongly favorable for hog
production.
South Dakota produces about 6
per cent of the total United States
hog supply. Even a large increase
in the South Dakota hog crop would
have little effect upon the country
as a whole, Schnaidt said.
“It is understood, of course,” he
warned, “that the risks of agricul
ture apply also to the hog enter
prise. It is possible that the fa
vorable situation may not develop
Losses by cholera may wipe out an
ticipated profits, even with favor
able prices.
The expected recovery of business
activity, with its favorable effect on
employment and consequently on
purchasing power of consumers, may
not develop. Crop failures may again
reduce feed supplies and cause high
feed prices. All these are possibili
ties that need to be considered.
c leclemL
FARM
FACTS
Soil surveys taken by the United
States department of agriculture
and its field agents are proving
valuable to farmers. Maps compiled
from results have aided in the reg
ulation of crops in various parts of
the country and in application of
correct fertilizer on wanting soils.
The ideal farm community, in the
opinion of Dr. C. J. Galpin, sociol
ogist of the United States depart
ment of agriculture, is composed of
1,000 rural families. This number is
necessary, he believes, to adequate
ly maintain and support rural
schooL, libraries, hospitals, parks,
playgrounds, churches, fire com
panies and the like.
Stockmen, dairymen, feeders,
butchers, packers, hide dealers,
tanners and manufacturers of
leather goods lose from $50,000,000
to $100,000,000 annually as a result
of the ravages of the grub, or heel
fly, in cattle.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
I happened in at school last year,
Twas on a closing day;
Next day all lessons would be dona
And text books tossed away.
The study hall was hushed and dim.
I watched the falling snow.
And heard in corridors beyond,
Soft footsteps come and go.
Then all at once, far down the hall,
And echoing along,
I heard young voices, clear and
sweet,
Ring out in happy song.
“Oh Little Town of Bethlehem,”
The lilting voices sang;
A pause, then right outside the door
The great "Adeste” rang.
The Christmas carols I’ve heard
sung.
Were ne'er so sweet before.
As when I heard them from that
choir,
That passed from door to door.
—Sam Page
Right Rack at Him.
From Pathfinder.
Lawyer (tauntingly): Were you
ever in jail?
Witness: Yes, once.
Lawyer; Ah! For how long?
Witness. Just long enough to
whitewash a cell which was to be
occupied by a lawyer who had
robbed dozens of his clients.
And What He Got!
From Answers.
"A Durglar broke into my house
real late last night.”
“Did he get anything?”
“Rather! You see, my wlfa
thought it was me.”
INDIGESTION
GOES-QUICKLY,
PLEASANTLY
When you suffer from heartburn,
gas or indigestion, it’s usually too
much acid in your stomach. The
quickest way to stop your trouble ia
with Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia. A
spoonful in water neutralizes many
times its volume in stomach acids—
Instantly. The symptoms disappear
in five minutes.
Try Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia,
and you will never allow yourself to
suffer from over-acidity again. It la
the standard anti-acid with doctors.
Your drugstore has Phillips’ Milk
of Magnesia, with directions for use,
in generous 25c and 50c bottles.
Time Is Great Healer
"What’s the cure for the seven-*
year itchasked an inquisitive one.
“I don't know,” replied the other
one, "unless it is seven years of
scratching.’’—Cincinnati Enquirer.
An Eminent
Physician
Prescribed I
I this Tonic
--
A S a young man Dr. R. V. Pierce
practiced medicine in Pennsyl
^ vania. His prescriptions met
with such great demand that he moved
to Buffalo, N.Y. and put up in ready
to-use form his well-known tonic for
the blood, Golden Medical Discovery.
It aids digestion, acts as a tonic,and en
riches the blood—clears away pimples
and annoying eruptions and tends to
keep the complexion fresh and clear.
This medicine comes in both fluid and
tablets. Ask your druggist for
Dr. Pierce’s
Golden Medical Discovery
Start Life With It
“Seems to be a great deal of un
rest.”
“Can’t be helped.”
“Eli?”
“All babies have it.”
More and More
“Do you want more turkey?”
“Yes,” answered the truthful child;
“more than I had the first time.”
INSIST ON
THE GENUINE
• 11
tired
every,
morning f
Get poisons out of the system with
Feen-a-mint, the Chewing Gum Laxa
tive. Smaller doses effective when
taken in this form. A modern, scien
tific, family laxative. Safe and mild*
FOR CONSTIPATION
Octopus Has Wide Rang*
The octopus is found in nearly alt
seas, even Arctic and Antarctic wa
ters.
Dorit Nedlect
Your Kidneys/
If bothered with bladder ir
ritations, getting up at night
and constant backache, don't
take chances! Help your kid
neys at the first sign of disorder.
Use Doan’s Pills. Successful for
more than 50 years. Endorsed
by hundreds of thousands of
grateful users. Get Doan’s to*
day. Sold everywhere.
□OANS,
Pius®»:
A WURETfC
FOR
THE K/DMEVS
PARKER’S
HAIR BALSAM
Remove! Dandruff-Stop* Hair failing
Imparta Color and
Beauty to Gray and Faded Hair
60c and SI .00 at Druggist! -
liircox Chem. Wkv., Patchognc N Y
TON SHAMPOO —Ideal for use in
connection with Parker'a Hair Balaam.Makes the
hair aoft and fluffy. 60 eenta by mail or at druir
Kiata. Hiacox Chemical Works, Patchogua. N.V.
The Ideal
Vacation Land
Sunshine All Winter Lony
Splendid roads—lowering mountain
ranges—Highest type hotels—dry in
vigorating air—elear starlit nights—
California’s Foremost Dasart Playground
Writ a cram A Chaffay
aim f»priiiig
CAI IIOBMA
