The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-10-20

dropped from one OF those apple trees
above the bank. Hurry, felaows!"
As they climbed the bank the cal,
was repeated, sounding very near. A
few moments later they found an old
mar lying down upon his buck under
the first tree.
much hurtY" asked Catlin solicit
susly.
"N-no, l guess not" slowly and with
a long indrawn breath of pain. Just
shook up considerable, l think, with,
out any bones broken. But ! expect
you follows will have to help me
home"
"Of course" OatliR looked around.
A short ladder was leaning against the
tree. ''That'l do very nicely" he said.
Here, fellows, gather up all these
empty sacks and spread them on the
ladder to make it more comfortable.
Now, sir" when all was ready, we'll
lift you as gently as possible"
"Oh, l don't mind a little pain,'' the
old IA answered, grimaclng, however,
when they lifted him to the ladder,
ITS the apples that's worrying me
most. I've beer sending them of to
one firm. at about this time, for forty
nine years. This would make fifty"
THE firm will certainly overlook the
slip, then" said Catlln consolingly.
The old mans face creased into a
smile. II know, know" he replied.
"They won't mind. and the money part
does not matter. But when a man has
done a thing forty-nine years it's hard
for him to miss the fiftieth. 1 don't
suppose 1 ought to have tackled the
apples alone. Hello, there comes Ger
ty. She heard me call, l guess"
A tall girl, with her face hidden by a
sunbonnet, was h%urrying through the
orchard toward them.
ooh, uncle" she cried, with vssy
much distress in her voice, st Is veal
thought l heard a cry, but was ut
sure. Isis it very badr"
Not so very, l think" the old man
answered. Just a shakeup. Foeoa-
nately these young men were near.
They will carry me to the house,
As she bent over hin the girl al
lowed her sunbonnet to fall back. Cat
lin was directly in front of her, and he
caught his breath IL little at what the
act revealed. The girl was not merely
pretty, as he had at first thought; she.
was beautiful.
An hour later the three were stand
Ing out under one of the trees on the
lawn.
II tell you. fellows Catlin was say
Ing, its our duty to stay and pick the
apples for the old man. It's too bad fer
him to miss the fiftietl year"
TOO bad for vol to miss mother
chance of looking into Miss Gerty's
eyes, you mean,''' suggested Burke.
Perhaps" composedly. They are
certainly worth looking into. But we
can pick two days and still have time
to reach Aunt Beuiah's on the date set.
The trout fishing doesn't NATTER"
All right, Catlin." Burke laughed.
Il don't mind staying. But you had
better keep Your mind on the multi-ess
and leave me to talk with Miss Gerty."
Two days later they stood under the
same tree. The apples had been picked
and barreled and shipped. Two bicy-
cles were leaning against the tree, APP
parently ready for departure. The
third was missing. Catlin looked cool
and composed; the others were plainly
annoyed.
You can give that letter to Aunt
Beulah,' Catlin was saying to Burke. :
1T tells her the multi-ess business is.
OFF. She will look after you all right
and give You the good time as sched-
uled. You might add of your own &C
cord that you left me we'll"
IN ten her YOU are working on -
farm ass comlnon laborer," grumbled
Burke. But. first, I've got a good
mind to go i'll n tell the old man and
Miss Gerty just what you area wolf
IN sleeps clothing
"Oh. no. YOU haven't" smiled Catlin.
i've known you too long. Burke. You
couldn't do a thing like that if you
tried. Well. goodhy!!"
-Four days later, a, letter came to- Cat
lin. 1t read:
MY Dear Boy-You're a fool. And after
the way 1 raised. you too. But it doesn't
iholsei HOW. MISS CtaEln VIII
not come for several weeks. You will get
we'll by that time.
Catlin's letter in answer a week aft
erward read:
NY Dear Aunt-There's no chance what
ever or my getting well. 1 haven't spoken
yet. but 1 begin to see it in her eyes. Ger
y is the sweetest girl in the. world. Ina,
stopping with her uncle, Richard Parks
but perhaps Burke told you.
Six days later:
Ny Dear Bos-You're a prodigy, with a
cats faculty of sticking on your feet. +
MISS Clat1in,s name is Gertrude, and her
uncle is Richard Parks, She wrote that
he had met with some kind of accidep.
and that she would remain with him
few weeks longer.