THE STRIKE AT SHANE'S, 51 



birds, and work the horses to death ; and Mr. Tracy 

 thinks the same thing, for Cora told me so, and I'm 

 going to have a talk with papa about it." 



"It is quite useless to annoy him about it," said 

 Mrs. Shane. "His mind is made up, and he will not 

 change it." 



This reply did not settle the matter with Edith, for 

 she was determined to talk with her father about the 

 matter, but she did not expect the opportunity to come 

 in the manner it did. 



The days slipped by and the corn was coming up, 

 but the difficulties on the Shane farm had not improved 

 any. The horses were still not fit for use, and Hodges* 

 could not tell when they would be. 



"I don't believe there's anything the matter with 

 that bay Dick," said Shane, "and I'm not going to 

 fool with him any longer. He eats as hearty as ever, 

 and I saw him down in the pasture trotting around as 

 limber as any horse. I'm goin' to hitch him up an' 

 make him work or break his neck. Here's the corn 

 comin' up an' some of the horses have got to go in the 

 field pretty soon." 



Having come to this conclusion, he said he would 

 hitch Dick up to the cart and drive him to town, and 

 see if he couldn't limber him up under the whip. 



"Do be careful," said Mrs. Shane, "you know that 

 horse has a bad temper." 



" Oh ! I guess Dick knows me by this time, and he 

 knows I won't stand au}^ nonsense. If he's as lame as 

 he pretends to be, it won't be much trouble to handle 

 him." 



