ilas had put his
team on the binder and Patsie was free for use on just such errands as
this. The machine had just been driven up to where Hugh could ask for
water also. John crossed over and laid his hand on the lines.

"Here, you take the horse and go for the water. I forgot the jugs; You'll
have to go clear home after them."

"Why don't you do it?" Hugh asked.

John Hunter looked him over rather sharply and replied:

"Because I'm going to drive this binder to-day. I don't like your voice
very well since I got home, Hugh."

"You won't hear very much more of it if I can get away day after
to-morrow," Hugh replied, smiling at the turn he had given to John's
sympathy.

John Hunter grinned back at him, but kept his hand on the lines, and Hugh
got down.

"You can't start day after to-morrow, for we won't get this rye done, and
you won't start then, my boy, with such a note in your voice as that. I've
spoken to Jake about it and he'll go. I don't propose to have you that far
away when you are not well--it ain't what we want you for. Go on and get
that water," he added when he saw the expression of protest in Hugh's
face.

Hugh went without argument, but his determination was as strong as ever.
Instead of going around the road he drove across the field to the fence
between the two places, and, tying Patsie, walked through the cornfield to
the pasture and on toward the house.

The hot sun blazed fiercely down on his thinly clad back, and he noticed
as he struggled through the tasselling corn that the leaves were already
firing about the roots. Rain was essential, but he reflected that enough
rain to do the corn any good would ruin the small grain now ready to cut.
"Kansas luck," he muttered as he crossed the deep ridges thrown up by his
own cultivator a few days before. Not a breath of air was stirring, and by
the time he had reached the house he was hot and tired. Reflecting that
John had taken Elizabeth to Chamberlain's, he decided to rest before he
started back with the heavy water-jugs. He stopped in the kitchen for a
drink and took a small bottle out of his pocket.

"Two, I guess, this time," he said as he poured the tablets into his hand.
He dropped his finger on the other wrist a moment, and then swallowed both
pellets.

Elizabeth heard him settle himself in a rocking chair with a long-drawn
breath of comfort. She was giving Jack little pats to ease him off to
sleep and the house was very quiet. She decid