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The Exeter Advocate, 1923-7-5, Page 7The Rom to Content . Corners BY C. COURTEN it was Still early in the morning of Dominion Day when Boyce Hewett turned his automobile from theernain s highway to the country roadthat led s to Content Corners. The sun was hot and Boyce had taken off his -coat and opened the soft collar of his shirt. He c looked much younger than his thoughts,. which were entirely of how cheaply he could buy and at what a s large figure he might be able to sell. It was all very familiar country to Hewett. He was born on a farm a mile away from Content Corners, lived there until after 'his mother's death, when hewent to the city where his rise in the business world was i almost spectacular. He was figuring, as he drove along, that while the Board of Directors had made him no outright offer, he believ- ed that they were thinking of asking him to represent them in Content Coreiers. Yesterday afternoon he had learned that the Directors had posh tively decided to build a branch of the railroad through to Content Corners; that was why he was hurrying to buy up as many land options as pos- sible before the farmers and small- town folk became aware of the for- 'tune that awaited them. Land in Con- tent Corners was going to be valuable, especially when it was known that the sole purpose of the men who were to build the branch railroad, was to take advantage of the water, .power from the hills and build severarmanu- facturing plants. He had planned his campaign has- tily but accurately, making mental note of, the places on which he wanted options. The prime site of all was the four or five acres of land where the two small rivers met. He wished the land did not belong to Betty, Of course, Mrs. Sawtell, Betty's mother, had often said that the land was not worth its taxes but just the same, he could not convince himself that it was AY SAYACL. 'It was a foul! Don't you know that you can't get nothing by playing a kin game? Play fair! Cheating hews re The game went on. Hewett' forgot business. His soft white shirt was rumpled and dirty, The crease was gone from his immaculate gray trou-. sets. He did not even hesitate to fide in hopes of making a base. He was in the game and the game was his. Presently a watch was consulted. "Gee 1 I promised to be home at twelve sharp," said one of the older boys.. "There's going to be big doings n town this afternoon and. I'm going to be there." "Yeah! Say, it's hot! I'm. all wet." "Let's go swimming let's!" A quarter of a mile away was a famous old swimming hole where the water was deep and clear, the thick hedge of trees and bushes shut out the rest of the world and the stream, was wide enough for a short race. "Sure! Come on—won't take but a few minutes—come on." The young- er lads sped off, shrieking with joy. The older boys undecided, looked at Boyce, feeling instinctive deference to a guest. The perspiration was rolling from his face and the back of his neck burn- ed where the hot sun had reached the tender skin. He looked at the pool and, grinned. "Sure! Come on r" he said, and five; minutes later 'they all splashed into the cool water. There is no sensation on earth quite akin to throwing off the gar- ments of civilization and drifting un -,hampered through water. It is free- dom, cleo nliness! Hewett lay on his back, floating, his eyes to the heavens. Presently, he raced half a dozen fel- lows the length of the swimming -hole and won, When he clambered up the bank toward his clothes, he was sing -1 ing an unknown melody of content that originated in his heart, When they were dressed, he offered a ride home to any who lived down toward the village. They climbed in happily and begged him to "let her out." As he drove over the bridge from which was visible the point of land caused by the meeting of the two small streams, he glanced quickly in its direction. He meant to look over that land very carefully, to be sure it was as good a site as he had imag- ined. There was no time now, how- ever, for he had telephoned early that morning to Betty and told her of his intended trip. She had made him promise to be their guest. He knew that all morning Mrs. Sawtell had been busy in the kitchen, just as his own mother would have been. Twelve was the universal noon meal hour for Content Corners and he wanted to be on time. He was hungry for what would come out of the kitchen—and other things. entirely fair to take advantage of. Mrs. Sawtell and her daughter. If he married Betty—well, that would be different. But was he going? to marry her? She was very beauti ful but a very simple little lady, after all. He was going to be so very rich,!, so very successful, that he wondered if he ought not to have a smart, up- to-date city? to bride? He shrugged his shoulders, shifted his thoughts and be -i gan to wonder if the Cummings' field' would be suitable for exploitation. The field was on a straight line with; the proposed railway and there were! two swift streams that joined the! river at that point. When he made the turn beyond the Cummings' farm- I house, he drew his ear to the side of the road and jumped out. The field was a large one, He climb- I ed the rather dilapidated stone wall, looked about and started on a tour of exploration. In the far corner of the field a, group of boys were playing baseball. f It may have been his business inter- ests that led him in their direction or j perhaps it was a sudden assertion of his own youth. He was only twenty- six, hardly out of the boy class him-' self. Certainly, one would never have imagined him to be a man of schem- ; ing business methods. He was of fair , height, with a broad forehead and clear, clean eyes. As he walked toward the boys there was a shout and his attention was di- rected to a ball, swiftly rolling along the ground near him. He picked up the ball and hurled it back. Once he had been a good player but now the ball fell short. To excuse his poor throw, he walked closer to the players., They were country boys of from fif- teen to twenty and they were playing "sides." "Hello, Boyce!" one of the older, boys greeted him. "Want a 'game?", He shrugged his shoulders, unde- tided. The game went on. It was I mostly a case of throw and hit, notl the fancy game of the high-priced ball park but rather the excitement of the I back lot. • Gradually the tingle of it ' crept into Hewett's blood. He barrow -1 ed a fielder's mitt and 'wont to a base to enter the game. It was fun. For an hour Boyce Hewett played ball. When he fanned the air and struck out, they laughed and so did he. When he hit with such force that his "side" scored three runs, they looked at him with pride and his heart swelled. When there was a dispute as to .whether a' ball had fallen fair or foul; he was called upon as deciding judge.. It was quite plainly a. foul, and this in spite of the fact that his decision was against his team. "Yeah, see!" one of the boys called, Betty was in the rather spacious garden of the well -kept cottage, a pretty picture in her soft white dress. She greeted him cordially, with a wistful shyness that made him sud- denly guilty that he should have stay- ed away so leng and his letters been so few, Mrs. Sawtell offered him the frank affection that Betty had been too shy to give him. She had always liked Boyce. She had no misgivings in her heart that some day he and Betty would marry. After dinner they all went to the village green, where there was to be singing and speeches. The speaker of the day was the local political lead- er, a rather forceful talker. Boyce listened half-heartedly. Within him, a battle was raging. This was such a big chance to make money; but was it square? A shout from the ball game seemed to echo to him—Play fair ! "Working for their fellow men," the speaker's phrase stuck in Boyce's mind. Well, after all, he would be doing a lot of good to the people of the town. However, he could not free himself of the forceful thought that while he was going to benefit them all, he would, at the same time, be tak- ing advantage of them. He wished he had never cows to Content Cor- ners! The call for a discriminating decision was not a isy to meet. A cross fire of emotions went on in his mind. One moment he berated himself for a sentimental idiot, the next the call of his blood, honest, country blood, came to him and, echo- ing down the years, were the tenets or statesmanship that had made this great national holiday a possibility. MEMORIAL CHAPEL FOR RIDLEY OLD BOYS Ridley College 1Vlemorial Chapel, the gift of Ridley Old Boys; dedicated on Sunday, June 17, at St, Catharines. The handsome structure forms a striking addition to the college buildings and represents an outlay of $125,000 entirely contributed by former RidlV College students. He glanced at Betty, sitting beside "You couldn't do that—you would him. Would she smile so sweetly if not have done that if you had the. she knew the truth? chance!" "They did their share in the making "I wonder! Well—I'm not going to of this nation." Boyce heard the do it. I'm going to do something else speaker again. "Now It is our time. instead. I see straight now. I'm going It may not seers that we ear. do a to tell the folks bow much their land groat deal, here in this tittle village will bring and not to sell it to the but if we live our lives so that we re- first land shark who reads the an - fleet the true spirit of Canada, then nouncement of the new road." we shall ,lise doing our share. We can't "Let's tell Mother," Betty said sud-) all be famous but we can all be clean, denier, She could not put her feelings upright men and women, working for into ' words --Mother would under - the good of the community and so for the good of the whole country. We can maintain that most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." An honest man! Boyce started men- tally, as the words hit him. Mentally, he hit back. He was honest! What he proposed to do was quite within the law. Within the law, yes—but playing fair? He thought of the base- ball game of the morning and how the boys yelled for fair playing. The hole world seamed to be thinking of s an every Ing. "Yes, but first, dear, there is some-, thing I must tell you," and he drew her close to him. "Betty, the Board of Directors will probably want me to represent the railroad interests here at the Corners. I'm going to try to be the type of man. the speaker was talking about to -day —a good, honest, hard working citi- zen. I want them—and you—and— , Mother to be proud of me. I know we've never really been engaged but, Betty, you know—" • "BE PREPARED," A GOOD The Motorists who are going on tour this summer should consider the Boy Scouts', motto: "Be Prepared." It Is a good idea to checkup on items that may be needed: Have a special corner' in the garage' or closet in the house where various things can be collected. While the automobile of to -day is a pretty reliable vehicle, It should be remembered that a tour often takes one to out-of-the-way places where service stations are scarce and where the driver is more dependent on his own resources than usual, In ease any- thing goes wrong with his machine. The tourist- who goes by auto fully prepared for the emergencies which may arise is not likely to have his va- cation marred by unhappy experi- ences. A little engine trouble will cause no consternation in his mind. Bad weather will not delay his pro- gress. In fact, there is nothing that can take the joy out of life as he pro- ceeds calmly on his way. SPEED ELIMINATES JOT. The speed hound knows nothing about the pleasure of touring, and the fellow who is always worrying lest he may not arrive at a certain point at exactly a certain time might better have stayed at home, if it Is pleasure he Is seeking. Such a person spends so much time watching the clock on the dash that the beauties of nature laid out for him to see are entirely lost in the shuffle. To him the memory of the trip will be largely about so many meals and so many beds. The man who is starting out for a motor trip with a new ear, which has been tried out enough to be sure it is in condition, need only know he has with him the things most likely to be needed far an emergency But if the car has been in service for several months or more, he ought to give it a thorough inspection before starting. One of the things he has to attend to is the refilling of the gear cases. Both the transmission and differential cases should be drained of oil and washed out carefully with kerosene. At the same time the gears should be examined closely to see if they are in good shape. One may find a tooth or two clipped though not broken enough I to make the condition known by sound.' The material may have been too hard in the first place, so the break may . not have been the fault of the driver. At any rate it should be replaced, for it is likely to give trouble at any i time. When cleaned, the cases should be refilled with an ample amount of { new lubricant,"but not too much. If 1 oversupplied it will work out and scat- ter over the car and probably get on the brake drums, causing them to slip. The crank case of the engine should be drained and cleaned out with kero- sene 'and fresh oil should be put in. If the oiling system is working prop- erly, it is best to let it alone except to see that it is well filled with the proper quality of lubricant while on the road. TILL THE GREASE Our. Of course, the grease cups should be filled and all points which are lubri- cated by oil from a squirt can should be taken care of. All the wheel bear- ing should be examined to determine their condition and to see that they are properly lubricated. If very dirty, they should be cleaned ani' fresh grease applied. It is well to carry an extra gallon of engine oil in the car, also a small can of grease. Sometimes an accident occurs which causes a loss of the main supply of oil, making it impossible to drive even girdle without an extra supply. Likewise, if the gasoline tank is not provided with an emergency tank or chamber, an extra gallon of gas should be carried. Convenient emergency tanks for this purpose may be secured at any necessary store. Both sets of brakes should be care- fully examined to see that the lining is not worn too thin and that the dif- ferent pinsand devises of the brake linkage are not worn so as to be weak and likely to give way in touring under extraordinary pressure. Often in touring one comes upon unexpected grades, some of them miles long, and the tourist should be prepared for. prolonged and extraordinary service on the part of his brakes. Where prolonged service is required it should be possible to use the two sets of brakes alternately. In this connection it is well to keep in mind it—hurling it at him. "I know," she breathed softly, "I When the exercise were aver, he know!" and she might have said more walked silently home with Betty. If he had not kissed her. "How would you Iike to be rich?" Before Content Corners went to bed he asked suddenly. that night, the news of the coming of "I don't know," she considered.; the railroad had spread. Men and wo- "There are lots of things nicer than men brushed away the tears at a lot of money. It doesn't buy a real- thought of boys who had gone away ly happy time nor health, nor—" she to work and who would be coming hesitated. "I guess it's more apt to back. The young people swelled with. get one into trouble," she added. i the pride of opportunity. In their "Well, anyway," he said, "I've come dreams they saw progress, comfort, about business. The railroad has de- luxury, coming to them on rails of cided to build a spur into Content steel. And everywhere the name of Corners. It's coming right up the, Boyce Hewett was mentioned with valley and they're going to make a pride. It had been a great Dominion hustling little town of this place." Day. "Really?" Late that night, Boyce Hewett, "Sure as you live. And that piece driving back to the city, looked out of property where the two rivers across the dusk and smiled. He felt meet, that—" he stopped. mentally, morally, as he had felt A great revulsion of feeling swept physically in the water of the swim - through him. He saw ! ming -hole that afternoon— clean. "Betty," he said softly, "Betty, I've Honor—that was the height he had a confession to make. When I carne gained, the honor for which Can- adians died. Then, too, there was Betty—and Betty was Love! Honor and Love! what more could any man want? It had been a great Confed- eration Day, here this morning, I was going to do a very rotten thing." She looked up quickly, startled. "Irou—?" "Yes. I'm sorry. I must tell you. Before any of you people knew of the new road to Content Corners, I was going to get long options on all the best land and then sell it to the rail- road. I—I planned to make a lot of easy money. By more or less cheat- ing my friends." Useful Peanut. An Alabama experimenter with pea- nuts so far leas found that 145 differ- ent ifferent food products • and otherwise use- ful articles can be derived from them. HAVING A JOB "My task, it is 'hateful," you plaintively sob; you ought to be grateful that you have a job. You ought to be thankful; when payday arrives you'll have a tin bank full of X's and fives. "The wood I am sawing is too tough to burn; the wage I am drawing is half what I earn; the ax and the wedges my shoulders have lamed; no wonder man hedges when labor is named. I'd like to cease splitting and sawing the logs; I'd cut out my knitting and 'platy with the dog&" I hear you: complaining, you're weary of toil, of striving and straining and digging the soil.. But when you deliver the honest old sweat, you ride has your flivver,.arid you're out of debt. Your wife has a mantel, a lid that is. new, on payday your aunt'il be wearing one, too. Your kids are all flossy in worsted and silk, your brindled cow, Bossy, is furnishing milk. Your home is a haven where you may repose; why croak like a raven and catalogue woes? Just lose 'the employment that wor- ries your heart, and all the enjoyment of life will depart. You ought to be grinning since you have a job; heave smiles that are winning and cut out the sob. WILL , THIS IS F, NICE. TIME. TO DE. COMING HOME.,, DAD DUmBUNNY ! WHAT HAVE YOU ' QQT Tq .SAY Pops IN RABBITBORO 'WHY - YOU 33.E , I STARTED HOME EARLY, HE SAID HIS WIFE v AW �L NERVO AN' 'CAUSE. A FOX HAD 8EEN PRoWLIN' A- ISOUNP THE HOW ALL DAY,AN' HE ASKEP ME, To COME OV .R AN' STA" TILL HER FATHER-ARRIVEl3 ., ......,.. AN' THEN WHEN HER FATHER ARRIVED I CAME RIGHT HO6°�'IE.. ! I HOPE_ THAT EXPL^N:g'flON 1S SAT IS FACTORY SLOGAN FOR AUTOISTE. that on long grades considerable breaking may be done by cutting off the ignition 'and allowing the car to turn over the engine In high' er inter- mediate ,gear. Keeping the car down to a rather law .speed in this manp,er will also be found to' cave burning up the brake lining. It is of utmost importance to keep the brake drums free from oil. When the car is driven out Into ilea country the crown of the road tilts the car over, so that If there is too much oil in the differential case it will., work through the axle housing to the brake drum on the right side. BEWARE OF CARBON. If the engine shows a, tendency to knock when going up hill it would be well to have the carbon removed be-' fore going on tour. It is disagreeable to have to take a hill on second speed that ought to be taken on high. The car should begone over sys- tematically to be sure that all nuts are tight and properly supplied with cotter pins or lock workers. All parts should be carefully scrutinized to see that there are no cracked or badly; worn parts that are likely to give out under the strain of touring. The compression of this engine, should be tested and if found to be' weak in any cylinder the valves should be ground in. Spark plugs should be made perfectly clean, magneto inter- rupter points should be cleaned and, adjusted to gauge, high tension dis.. tributor cleaned out and battery teste ed. The commutators of the gener- ator and starting motor should be examined and tuned up if badly scored, In addition to' the usual tools the tourist should take at least one set of electric bulbs for the car, a couple of extra spark plugs, one or two extra tires carried em the rims, a couple of extra inner tubes and patches of cement for tire troubles. Also include a fire extinguisher, tow rope, spool of annealed wire, a pair of side cutting pliers and a roll of tape. If the stor- age battery is depended upon entirely for ignition a set of dry cells should be carried so that in case of entire failure of the storage battery ignition' and lights may be had for a short time even though the engine has to be cranked by hand. His Services Needed. Waffle (listlessly) — "Time mends everything." Hubby—"I wish you'd hunt him ' up and get him to go to work on these socks:" Stamp. Behold the postage stamp, my son.; Consider its real worth; Though modest it can make its way To any place on earth. Just bear the postage stamp in mind; 'Twill help you turn the trick; You, too, can win 'to any goal, If you will only stick. —Edgar Daniel Kramer.; Enormous Siberia. In Siberia iscomprised one -ninth of all the land surface of the globe. The, 'United States, Great Britain and all Europe, except Russia, could be put into Siberia, with a ,big corner to spare. Rooks Live to be 700. Classical writers tell us of ravens which lived for 240 year% But even. these birds may be said to have died young when compared with the 700... year-old rooks which Pliny mentions in his writing% Buoyant Stuff. "He talks and talks, .but never works --how does he keep afloat?" "Hot air IT is MORE THAN ATI5 f= :C1"ORY' P !S INSPIRED H' 4 w I N r 41 I a 1 RI a v 1 a • r 4 1 11 I r I d I v 1 d al 1 i 1 I I �I r.