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.