GREAT SHORT STORIES OF THE \7ORLD

THE LEADEROF THE PEOPLE JOHNSTENBECK/ TED STAIES UN

,U STt'-j,^*,..1^On Serunor.r ArrERNooN Bitly Buck, th ranch hand, taked t,rgether lastof rhe old year's rhe haystack pitchedsmallforkfuls and ,rverrhe wire fencero a few mildly interested cecde. High in the air 'rn.rll cloudsliLe pufrsof cannonsmokeweredriveneastwatd rhe by rlrrch q'ind. The wind could be heardr'lr/:ing in rhe brushon rhe r,lge crests, no breathof ir penermted but down into the ranchcup. 'fhe lirtle boy,Jody,emerged ftom the houseatinge thick piece ,n burrered bread. sawBilly working on the lasrof the haystack. He rramped down scufing his shoesin a way he hrd been told J,rly $.rsdescructive good shoelearher. flock of whire pigeonsflew to A ,r r of the black