I wonder if youd take it all right if I told you a joke on Bayliss?
I expect I would. Claudes tone was not at all eager.
You saw Bayliss today? Notice anything queer about him, one eye a little off colour? Did he tell you how he got it?
No. I didnt ask him.
Just as well. A lot of people did ask him, though, and he said he was hunting around his place for something in the dark and ran into a reaper. Well, Im the reaper!
Claude looked interested. You mean to say Bayliss was in a fight?
Leonard laughed. Lord, no! Dont you know Bayliss? I went in there to pay a bill yesterday, and Susie Gray and another girl came in to sell tickets for the firemens dinner. An advance man for this circus was hanging around, and he began talking a little smart nothing rough, but the way such fellows will. The girls handed it back to him, and sold him three tickets and shut him up. I couldnt see how Susie thought so quick what to say. The minute the girls went out Bayliss started knocking them; said all the country girls were getting too fresh and knew more than they ought to about managing sporty men and right there I reached out and handed him one. I hit harder than I meant to. I meant to slap him, not to give him a black eye. But you cant always regulate things, and I was hot all over. I waited for him to come back at me. Im bigger than he is, and I wanted to give him satisfaction. Well, sir, he never moved a muscle! He stood there getting redder and redder, and his eyes watered. I dont say he cried, but his eyes watered. All right, Bayliss, said I. Slow with your fists, if thats your principle; but slow with your tongue, too, especially when the parties mentioned arent present.
Bayliss will never get over that, was Claudes only comment.
He dont have to! Leonard threw up his head. Im a good
customer; he can like it or lump it, till the price of binding twine goes down!
For the next few minutes the driver was occupied with trying to get up a long, rough hill on high gear. Sometimes he could make that hill, and sometimes he couldnt, and he was not able to account for the difference. After he pulled the second lever with some disgust and let the car amble on as she would, he noticed that his companion was disconcerted.
Ill tell you what, Leonard, Claude spoke in a strained voice, I think the fair thing for you to do is to get out here by the road and give me a chance.
Leonard swung his steering wheel savagely to pass a wagon on the down side of the hill. What the devil are you talking about, boy?
You think youve got our measure all right, but you ought to give me a chance first.
Leonard looked down in amazement at his own big brown hands, lying on the wheel. You mortal fool kid, what would I be telling you all this for, if I didnt know you were another breed of cats? I never thought you got on too well with Bayliss yourself.
I dont, but I wont have you thinking you can slap the men in my family whenever you feel like it. Claude knew that his explanation sounded foolish, and his voice, in spite of all he could do, was weak and angry.
Young Leonard Dawson saw he had hurt the boys feelings. Lord, Claude, I know youre a fighter. Bayliss never was. I went to school with him.
The ride ended amicably, but Claude wouldnt let Leonard take him home. He jumped out of the car with a curt goodnight, and ran across the dusky fields toward the light that shore from the house on the hill. At the little bridge over the creek, he stopped to get his breath and to be sure that he was outwardly composed before he went in to see his mother.
Ran against a reaper in the dark! he muttered aloud, clenching his fist.
Listening to the deep singing of the frogs, and to the distant barking of the dogs up at the house, he grew calmer. Nevertheless, he wondered why it was that one had sometimes to feel responsible for the behaviour of people whose natures were wholly antipathetic to ones own.
Chapter III
The household slept late on Sunday morning; even Mahailey did not get up until seven. The general signal for breakfast was the smell of doughnuts frying. This morning Ralph rolled out of bed at the last minute and callously put on his clean underwear without taking a bath. This cost him not one regret, though he took time to polish his new ox-blood shoes tenderly with a pocket handkerchief. He reached the table when all the others were half through breakfast, and made his peace by genially asking his mother if she didnt want him to drive her to church in the car.
Id like to go if I can get the work done in time, she said, doubtfully glancing at the clock.
Cant Mahailey tend to things for you this morning?
Mrs. Wheeler hesitated. Everything but the separator, she can. But she cant fit all the parts together. Its a good deal of work, you know.
Now, Mother, said Ralph good-humouredly, as he emptied the syrup pitcher over his cakes, youre prejudiced. Nobody ever thinks of skimming milk now-a-days. Every up-to-date farmer uses a separator.
Mrs. Wheelers pale eyes twinkled. Mahailey and I will never be quite up-to-date, Ralph. Were old-fashioned, and I dont know but youd better let us be. I could see the advantage of a separator if we milked half-a-dozen cows. Its a very ingenious machine. But its a great deal more work to scald