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Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16377, 23 November 1918, Page 10

Sandy MacPherson was a dour Sootchman, as his name implies: he could no more help' being dour than, he could help being Scotch, and in point of facb his name wasn't Sandy MacPherson ab all, bat for the purpose of the story it will serve. He was pretty careful with the bawhees was Sandy, and, although a pushful salesman might unload on to him some well-tried-out farm implement, he wasn't having anything in new-fangled ideas, not even in whiskey with an attractive label. It is an open secret that life at home was only moderately enjoyable: Mrs Sandy couldn't get heh> and her nerves sometimes got? the better of her, especially in the hot weather, for the work was heavy, and Sandy, metaphorically, wore blinkers « the house, so he didn't see much. Bruce, his younger, son, a boy of .19, had been doing two men's work for <' son's wages, and was openly contemplating seeking something with union hours and union pay attached. Gordon was in France serving his country, and acquiring laurels to such an extent that Sandy feared for his settling down^on' the homestead again to the slow , old tune, and Gladys, the only daughter, just finishing school in the city, and * enjoying the good things of life at a. breakneck pace.Jjefore she got into harness. So Sandy scratched nfs head, to the imminent danger of the few hairs that remained, and lit his pipe bo many times that he nearly wasted a twopenny bos of matches before the light broke on him. He resolved on a plunge, a headlong plunge for him, though his neighbours had taken it long ago. He would bring that homestead right bang into line, and those youngsters _of his should marvel at his foresight; his wife, too, should admit that he knew a good thing when he saw it, and he plumed himself under his waistcoat because the scheme would pay him good interest; ib was an investment, and he could cut down the hired help and the insurances. He absolutely chortled within himself; he hardly slept that night for chortling; if his wife hadn't been over-tired una couldn't have slept through it. Sandy was away next morning before tho household awoke: he strutted round 1&* a schoolboy who has secretly infallible football Boot that would the ball exactly as he wished. • By noon he had accomplished his purpose. It was quite simple once his mind -jf® made up. The Farmers' O»op. had undertaken that tho DelcoJiight insfau* I lation should be completed inside a fort- } night.