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For a moment the girl seemed on! the point of speaking to him still morel angrily, and perhaps of bidding him to leave her for good. She quickly “I can't go out wi’ you this after- noon, andâ€"and but there, I’m ofi.n “Ay, but you’re to meet Alice Lister now, and that is why you can’t go wi' me.” Evidently the girl was very angry, and a look of jealousy flashed from her eyes. Still there could be no doubt that she was very fond of Tom and meant if possible to cap- ture him. The girl’s eyes flashed angrily. “Look here,” she cried, “you are still sweet on Alice Lister; I thought you {lad given up all that Sunday-school ot.” “Well, I have noan been to Sunday school," said Tom. “Oh, with no one in particular I nlpst kgqp it.” “I just called to say I couldn’t come for a walk with you this afternoon,” he said, looking on the ground. “You see I have an a pointment.” “Appointment.” cried the girl. “Who with? “Jim Scott was here half an hour ago,” she went on; “he badly wanted me to go with him, but I wouldn’t.” Tom looked more uncomfortable than ever; he remembered the purpose for which he had set out, and was sorâ€" ry that he had called at the Thorn and Thistle at all, even although the girl evidently favored him more than any of her other admirers. “Anyhow I am free till half-past five,” she went on. “I don’t know what father and mother would say if they knew I was walking out with you; but I don’t mind. Do you like my new dress, Tom?" Tom looked, at her admiringly: there was no doubt that, after her own order, she was a striking-looking girl, and her highly colored attire was quite in a_c_cord_ with her complexion. “I couldn’t get away before,” re- plied Tom. Evidently he was not quite comfortable, and he did not return the girl’s glances with the warmth she desired; mean to be." “I was thinking you weren't coming at all. Some young men I know of wouldn’t have been late if I’d said to them what I said to you on Friday night.” Then she looked at him arch- Iy. _ The weather was gloriously fine, for a wonder the air in the heart of the town was pure and clear. That was accounted for by the fact that it was Sunday, and the mills were idle. Throughout the week-days, both in summer and in winter, the atmosphere of Brunford is smoke laden, while from a hundred mills steamy vapours are emitted which makes that big manufacturing town anything but a health resort. Tom was making his way up the passage towards the bar, when the door opened and a buxom, bold-eyed, red-cheeked girl of about twenty-four stopped him. “You’re late, Tom,” she said. “Am I_?”Nreplied Tom. “I didn’t CHAPTER I. The Brunford Town Hall clock was 'ust chiming half-past thiee as Tom ollard left his home in Dixon street and made his way towards the Thorn and Thistle public-house. It was not Tom’s intention to stay long at the Thorn and Thistle, as he had other plans in view, nevertheless something drew him there. He crossed the tram lines in St. George‘s Street, and, having stopped to exchange some rus- tle jokes with some lads who stood at the corner of the street, he hurried across the open space and quickly Isltood on the doorsteps of the public- ousa. Ngfififi?” Shoe Polish “Nugget.” does not put on a surface shine that disappears in an hour. “Nugget” feeds the leather. PAENT YOUR SHOES ' FEED them " Keeps your shoes soft, makes’ them waterproof and gives a brilliant shine that will last all day. Ask for “Nugget” at your dealers. BLACK, TAN, TONEY RED, DARK BROWN. 10c. per tin with “TAKE CARE OE‘ YOUR SHOES." ; only Tom Pollard was typical of thou- sands of lads who dwell in the manuâ€" facturing districts of Lancashire. His father and mother had been weavers, and while his mother had ceased go- ;.ing to the mill, his father still earned ’his thirty shillin s a week behind the looms. They id not belong to the best class of Lancashire operatives, and Tom’s home influence was not all it might have been. That was why, .years before, many wondered that lTom promised to turn out so well. He was not particularly clever, but he possessed a large share of the prover- bial Lancashire sharpness and common sense; he had an eye to the main chance, and dreamt of becoming some- thing better than an ordinary weaver. For that reason he had attended some “And I thought we might have such a nice time, too,” she said, following him. â€"' “But never mind, you’ll be back this evening. Ay, Tom lad, tha doesn’t know when tha’art well off.” [And she gave him her most bewitch- i ing smile. Tom hurried up Liverpool Road with the sound of Polly’s voice in his ears and the memory of the flash in her great black eyes in his mind. “She is a grand lass," he reflected, “and she’s fair gone on me too; and what’s more she’s not so finickin’ as some lasses are. After all, why should I be so strait~laced7 She’s a lass as loves good company, she likes a lark, andâ€"â€" andâ€"” After that Tom became thoughtful. There could be no doubt about it that, to Tom, Polly Powell looked very alluring. She was rather older than he, and her beauty was of a highly colored order. At that moment Tom’s mind was much distracted, neverthe- less as the sound of the deepâ€"toned bell in the Town Hall tower died away he determined to take his leave. Again anger flashed from Pally’s eyes, but still controlling her temper she said: “Ay, but you’ll come back this evening! won’t you, Tom? Jim Dixon’s coming to tea, and if you're not here, and he wur to ask me to go out for a walk with him to-night, I shouldn't have any excuse for refus- ing-I’ The Town H511 clock chimed the three-quarters, and, much as he want- ed to stay with Polly, he moved to- wards the door and said, “Well, I must be goin’ now.” “Father’s saved money,” replied Polly eagerly. “The Thorn and Thistle’s a good house and we have good company; and if father liked a lad, especially if I recommended him, he could easily find money to start a small mill. But there, I suppose you are__only thinking 0f_ Alice Lister.” lIAy, he did, only “But I have no c rather sadly. “Art’a really fond of me Polly ?” asked Tom, evidently pleased by Polly’s confession. “I'm not goin’ to say any more,” re- plied the girl. And then she laugh- ed. “I was thinkin’ that after we’d been to Scott’s Park’ you might come back to tea. I don’t believe father and mother would mind. Father wur sayin’ only this morning that you’d got brains. You took three prizes at the Mechanics’ Institute last winter, and he said that if you got manufac- turing on your own, you’d make brass." “Did he say that? erly. altered her mind, however, and see ed determined to use all her blandi ments. “Ay, Tom,” she said. “Tha’rt too good to throw thyselfaway on the goody-goody Alice Lister sort. Tha’rt too much of a man for that, else I should never have got so fond of fl}le Lper.” “Dearer Than led by Hoddm- & ‘ondon and Toronto ,owever, and seem- this morning.” apital,” said Tom asked Tom eag- “Yes, the doctor said you could start taking solids to-day, but you must be- gin slowly,” she said. Then she held out a teaspoonfu] of tapioca. “We must only advance by degrees,” she added. He sucked the spoon dry, and felt more tantalizingly hungry than ever. He begged for a second spoonful, but she shook her hear, saying that every- thing at the start must be done in similarly small proportions. Present- ly he summoned her again to his bed- side. The knives should all be sharpen- ed and in readiness. These things should be particularly attended to this year. Help is scarce, production is needed, and if crops are to be saved with as little loss as possible good management must prevail. It is good business to be ready for the harvest season. Do it now. “Nurse,” moaned the convalescent patient, “can’t I have something to eat? I'm starving.” Clean out the oil cups and oil all running parts of the machinery a few days before it is to be used. This will allow the oil to penetrate to the bear- ings, and permit the machine to quick- ly get into smooth running order. Time May be Saved“ at Harvest by Being Prepared. Time is money on the farm at har- vest time. Now is the time to repair the mowers, binders and rakes which will very shortly be required for ser- vice. All machines should be inspect- ed now and, if any parts are broken or missing, they should be obtained immediately. It is much better to se- cure what is needed now than to risk having to make a special trip to town during the busy season, thus causing a serious delay and, possibly, extend- ing the harvesting of the hay or grain crop into wet weather. It is also an excellent plan to keep on hand a few extra pieces or parts which need fre- quent renewing, such as knife sec- tions, canvas slats, reel ‘slats and braces, rivets, etc. These are conveni- ent to have and will often save time and annoyance. It is not much trouble to keep apart the best portion of the crop for seed. It would even pay to give special care to a special lot or small field from which to obtain seed for the following season's crop. There is, perhaps, no- thing on the farm that will give a more profitable return than the time spent in securing a supply of good seed. Plan now to save the choicest of this year’s crop for next spring‘s seeding. technical classes at the Mechanics’ Institute, and, as Polly Powell had reminded him, had only a few months before taken prizes there. Young as he was, he had already been promâ€" ised a Tackler’s job, which meant that he would be a kind "of foreman, and have the oversight of a small part of a mill. This, Tom was sure, would open the way to a more responsible position, and then if he had good luck he might in a few years start manuâ€" facturing for himself. Many of the mill-owners in Burnford were, a few years before, poor men, while now, owing to a great boom in the cotton trade, they Were quite wealthy men. During the last few months, however, Tom’s best friends had not been quite so hopeful about him. He had been a frequent visitor at the Thorm and Thristle; and he had altogether given up attendance at Sunday school. This was considered a bad sign in Brunâ€" ford, where the great bulk of the re- spectable young men attend one of the many Sunday Schools in the town. (To be contmued.) Select the Best Part of the Field and Give it Special Attention. Of 400 farmers visited in Dundas County, Ontario, by the Commission lof Conservation, during the summer 10f 1916, only three were found to be Ifollowing a really systematic selection lof their seed grain; only 23 per cent. were saving the best part or parts of their fields for seed. Practically all of the farmers visited stated that they cleaned their grain for seed, but it was found that 74 per cent. cleaned it only once through the fanning mill. It is quite plain that sufficient attenâ€" tion is not being paid to the seed grain. It has been shown, time after time, that, other things being equal, the best seed will produce the best crops. It is, therefore, surprising that not more than 23 per ,cent. of the farmers were found to be keeping their best grain for seed, and that 74 per cent. cleaned it only once through the mill. If the grain from the best part or parts of the fields is stored and then graded or fanned until all the small and inferior kernels are re- moved, the quality will be greatly im- proved. By improving the seed "the net profit on a grain crop can be greatly increased, such action increas- ing the yield a little without increas- ing the cost of production. GEA READY THE MACHINERY. “Nurse,” he said, “bring : ‘e stamp; I want to read.‘ PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR’S SEED. He Wished to Read. me a post- All He Was Fit For. In an Irish court house recently an old man was called into the witness box, and being infirm and just a litâ€" tle near-sighted he went too far in more than one sense. Instead of go- ing up the stairs that led to the box he mounted those that led to the bench. The judge gooa-naturally said: ‘ it a judge you want to be, my man “Ah, sure your honor,” was the re~ ply. “I'm an old man now, an’ mebbe it’s all I’m fit for!” VTheriJudgie raised his spectacles. GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR Thrift that brings Comfort ins‘tead of Sacrifice THRIFT, the paramount national duty, applies to time as well as to moneyâ€"to small personal outlay as well as to larger family expenditure. Applied to the daily shave, thrift means the use of a «(It The world’s supply of wheat is cer-u‘l tain to be dangerously short this year, and this shortage will undoubtedly: greatly affect corn prix; to the bene<'. fit of the grower. Iâ€" J. POTTS, 1710 Royal Bank Bldg. TORONTO wmo for my Illustrated 3001:1513 shone-â€" DIAMONDS? --It'll PM