HOW ONE MAN CAME TO WRECK 



He now paid the semiannual interest on 

 the $800, nominally 12 per cent, on that 

 amount and really 14 per cent, on the $702 

 that he had received. The threshers came 

 and must be fed as well as paid for, and he 

 was again in sight of the lee shore when at 

 last he was able to load his wagon with wheat 

 and start for the nearest elevator. It was 

 in the little station town of Jason ^and 

 bore on its brown front white letters that 

 read, *' Arctic Elevator Company." 



The elevator man came out, thrust a prac- 

 ticed hand into the wheat, and flipped off, as 

 if by magic, the formula of examination. 



"Pretty badly shriveled, ain't it.^^" he said. 

 "No. 4 is the best I can do for you on that." 



"No. 4 nothing!" shouted Evans, hotly. 

 "That's as good No. 1 wheat as you ever 

 saw in your life. Just look at it! Plump, 

 hard, smooth, good color — if that isn't No. 1 

 there never was any." 



"No. 4," said the man. "That's what 

 they hold me down to in Minneapolis. You 

 know if I overgrade this stuff they come back 

 on me. No. 4 is what it will grade for down 

 there and No. 4 is what it will have to be here." 



"You're crazy!" said Evans. "You never 

 saw better wheat!" 



" Suit yourself," said the man, easily. " You 

 know there's another elevator over there at 

 Brownsville. Why don't you try that?" 



27 



