Page:Poor White.djvu/97

 wheels must be broad to provide traction. I will gear from the wheels to get power for the operation of the mechanism," he said aloud. Hugh arose and stood in the moonlight in the cab- bage field, his arms still going stiffly up and down. The great length of his figure and his arms was accen- tuated by the wavering uncertain light. The laborers, aware of some strange presence, sprang to their feet and stood listening and looking. Hugh advanced to- ward them, still muttering words and waving his arms. Terror took hold of the workers. One of the woman plant droppers screamed and ran away across the field, and the others ran crying at her heels. " Don't do it. Go away," the older of the French boys shouted, and then he with his brothers also ran. Hearing the voices Hugh stopped and stared about. The field was empty. Again he lost himself in his mechanical calculations. He went back along the road to the Wheeling station and to the telegraph office where he worked half the night on a rude drawing he was trying to make of the parts of his plant setting machine, oblivious to the fact that he had created a myth that would run through the whole countryside. The French boys and their sisters stoutly declared that a ghost had come into the cabbage fields and had threatened them with death if they did not go away and quit working at night. In a trembling voice their mother backed up their assertion. Ezra French, who had not seen the apparition and did not believe the tale, scented a revolution. He swore. He threatened the entire family with starvation. He declared that a lie had been invented to deceive and betray him. However, the work at night in the cabbage fields on