Homesteading 



to advantage from the shock should be able to 

 thresh an enormous quantity of grain in a day — 

 that is, if the price charged were reasonable, say 

 seven cents for wheat. 



On the other hand, if he charged at a rate that 

 would pay him, it was ruinous to the grower, 

 even if he had the money to pay ; and he added 

 sardonically : " That's what a lot of them won't 

 have — this year, anyway." 



" Don't you know the saying, that when a 

 man buys a threshing outfit there goes his farm ? '* 

 he asked ; adding : "I fear it is true of a good 

 many, for most of us who have them are heavily 

 in debt." 



" Anyway, there's no chance of a job with you 

 now," remarked Tom. 



" That's about it," said Mr. S , and went 



on : " I've a hundred acres in shock myself, and 

 may try to knock it out later for pig-feed, but 

 I doubt it would pay me better to put a match 

 to each shock and be done with it." 



" Do you think we can get a job with a gang 

 anywhere ? " I asked. 



"Well," said Mr. S , "Jerry B , about 



four miles east of here, has a little outfit, and 

 I guess he has to try and do something with it, 

 or he may lose it, and perhaps his homestead 

 too ; you might try him." 



134 



