s written by
a man who would much more gladly have defended you--you can recognize
regret running through every line of it--forced to believe against his
wish by apparently conclusive evidence. Otherwise, he would have ended
with the first sentences. I should like him from this letter, and should
be pleased to meet your cousin. In any case, apart from the discourtesy,
you can't send the money back; from what you told me you are not certain
even that it was a present. Better write and explain the whole thing, then
if he doesn't answer leave it to time."

I can still see Harry standing wrapped in his long fur coat looking down
at me with kindly eyes. In due time I learned that he gave me very good
counsel, though it was much against my wishes that I followed it.

We worked hard for Jasper that harvest from the clear cold dawning until
long after the broad red moon swung up above the prairie. Day by day the
tinkling knives of the binders rasped through the flinty stems, and the
tossing wooden arms caught up the tall wheat that went down before them
and piled it in golden sheaves upon the prairie. This one machine has done
great things for the Western Dominion, for without it when wheat is cheap
and labor dear many a crop that would not pay for the cutting would rot
where it grew. Jasper, however, possessed one of the antiquated kind which
bound the sheaves with wire, and occasionally led to wild language when a
length of springy steel got mixed up with the thrasher. Every joint and
sinew ached, there were times when we were almost too tired to sleep,
but--and this was never the case with Coombs--wherever the work was
hardest the master of the homestead did two men's share, and his cheery
encouragement put heart into the rest.

Then, drawn by many sturdy oxen, the big thrasher rolled in, and the pace
grew faster still. The engine, like others in use thereabout, shed steam
and hot water round it from every leaky joint, and kept Harry busy feeding
it with birch billets and liquid from the well. There were sheaves to
pitch to the separator, grain bags to be filled and hauled to the
straw-pile granary, while between times we drove wagon-loads of chaff and
straw bouncing behind the bronco teams to complete that altogether western
structure. Its erection is simple. You drive stout birch poles into the
sod, wattle them with willow branches, and lash on whatever comes handiest
for rafters; then pile the straw all over it several f