AN IRISHMAN'S FORTUNE- 

 STONING THE LAND 



ON the morning after Victoria Day Roddy 

 McMahon introduced me formally to the Irishman, 

 whom he addressed as " Pat." 



" I guess he must be pretty badly broke," he 

 explained. " He come up to me just as I was 

 leaving the picnic and asked me to ask Jack Leader 

 if he could sleep in his barn. I said, ' I guess you 

 must want a job all right.' ' I do that,' said he. 

 ' I can put you straight on to the trail,' said I, ' if 

 you some along back with me right now.' I told 

 him I guessed you would be willing to give five 

 dollars for the first week certain, and a better offer 

 if he was worth it at the end. I guess he's a good 

 man all right on the land, and come July I must 

 be getting some hay up for the winter. Maybe he 

 would stay on here then and do your chores and 

 get up the hay. I'll come along and run the binder 

 through harvest, and he can stook." 



I cheerfully assented to the proposal, and the 

 two went off together. 



At the end of the first day Roddy McMahon 

 came in to supper first, and in most cheerful spirits. 



" Pat's worked fine," he said. " I can't think 

 why a chap like that should be taking a job at twenty 



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