d seeing, for his
part, that his host was inspired with a genuine interest and not
curiosity, he gave him all the information in his power.

"But a plant like that is going to cost some money, ain't it?"
asked Red.

"Too much for me, I'm afraid," replied Lettis. "I have five
thousand to put in, and I suppose I could borrow the rest, but
that's saddling the business with too heavy charges right in the
beginning. Still, it may not be as bad as I fancy."

Red drummed on the table, thinking. "I wouldn't mind getting into
a business of some kind, as long as it was making things," he said.
"I don't hanker to keep store much--suppose I go along with you,
when you look up how much straw is raised and the rest of it?"

"Would you?" cried the young fellow, eagerly. "By George, sir, I
wish you could see your way clear to take hold of it. Could you
stand ten thousand, for instance? Excuse the question, but I'm so
anxious over this----"

"Lord! What's the harm of asking facts?" said Red. Then with a
gleam of genial pride, "Ten thousand wouldn't break me by a durn
sight".

Lettis' boyish face fairly glowed. "It was my good angel made me
stop in front of your fence," he said. "I saw you all eating in
here and you looked so jolly, that I thought I'd stop, on the
chance you might be the man I was looking for; now I'll go right on
and see Mr. Demilt and find out what he wants to do in the matter."

"Wait for the waggon and you can ride," said Red. "Boy's gone home
to see his dad about working for me this afternoon; in the
meantime, it you're not too proud to take hold and help us with
this dod-ratted fence, I'll be obliged to you."

"Bring on your fence! I'm ready," said Lettis.

"Come on, boys!" said Red, and the party rose from the table.
Later the waggon came up.

"Well, good day, Lettis," said Red. "If you can't get quarters
anywhere else, come on and help me hold the barn down."

"Do you sleep in the barn? Then I'll come back sure. Tell you how
it is, Mr. Saunders. I've been stuck up in a three-by-nine office
for four years--nose held to 'A to M, Western branch,' and if I'm
not sick of it there's no such thing as sickness; to get out and
breathe the fresh air, to see the country, to be my own master!
Well, sir, it just makes me tremble to think of it. I hope you
find the straw-board what you want to take up."

"I shouldn't wonder if it would be," answered Red. "We'll make a
corking team to do busines