Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-09-08
How Joan Took
the Country
BY BELLE MANiATES
Copyright, l!o6, by =. G. Eastmcnt

Copyright, I", by J.. Z. faStncht 4
When Joan Williams. who had taken
first prize in the school of photography,
and her friend Lucille King, stepped
from the platform of the little station
near the farm where they intended to
spend the summer. they ut first saw no
one waiting for them.
.IDan'S quickly moving eyes covered
the whole scene in appreciation. The
colliding and joStlnG of incoming and
outgoing passengers, the frantic haste
Of bclatcd travellers contrasting with
the cXaSpcrating leisure of the ticket
agent, the jogging pace Of the man be-
hind the baggage truck, the voCiferOuS
voiced driver of the bus, heSicging pas
SCngcrS to ride to the PullCt House; the
passive micned driver of the one shah
by hack. formed Il series of most real
iStic pictures which made Joan touch
the button many times.
\ peculiarly fashioned horse attached
to Il two seated democrat now drove
up. Joan was somewhat in doubt at
first as to the gcnuincncSs of the ami
NAL, which seemed to her to have 4
homemade aspect. The driver was gaz-
ing into space, with no manifest inter
est in the arrival of the train.
Again she touched the button. while
Lucille. who had spent the summers OF
two years in this vicinity. went quick
ly up to the newcomer.
'Why. how do You do. Mr. Bates?
This is my friend. Miss Williams"
The girls occupied the back seat of
the vehicle Mr.. Bates uttered n mild
"Gccd-ap." and the horse made n for
ward movement tearing away in clum-
Sy gallOp across the long bridge, ut the
end of which he settled down into Il
nippy little gait.
"Old Hundred didn't omit his usual
bridge sprint" observed Lucille.
"Old Hundred! He doesn't deserve
such a cognomcn." observed Joan.
You will think so. He hasn't set
tied down into his smallest pace yet"
"Gccd-ap" reiterated Mr.. Bates,
reused to effort by this inSinuation
and smartly SlappinG the rcins across
the strrd's ample back.
"IIc doesn't 'gccd-ap' very fast"
commented Joan.
"l1" You earn your own living, too:'
asked the Old man, turning to her
quickly
nope TO, she replied moucStly.
take pictures. expect TO take your
whole country
Il nope 1t brings You more than writ
in% poetry. he SAID with n glance at
Lucille. "The lledg"ton GAZ"tt" only
pays for it In subscriptions and trade.
Joan gave an ccstatic laugh.
"But Lucille writes for big maga-
zines. She is paid by the word
"lou don't tell me! She must he
awful rich
"Rut sometimes l sit for hours and
cant think of word,' confessed Lu-
ellie.
words are plenty enough" he de-
clarcd Scornfully. You can get them
ont of dictionary
Il never thought of that she re-
piled naivcly.
At nearly every farmhouse on route
Mr.. Bates "whoaed' to deliver pur-
ChaScS. Now it was the farmers wife
who came out to the wagon and again
ii was baShful boy or giggling
girl. In every instance .Ioan's camera
was active.
The last commission was not dcliv-
cred ut house or in person. Mr.. Bates
stopped in front of n barn near the
roadside and there deposited a suS-
picious looking package. Farther on
they met Il farmer who looked at them
inquiringly.
Put it in the barn, Fred" said Mr..
Bates significantly.
'.\ll right" Bestowing Il knowing
wink upon his purchasing agent. Fred
fastened forward.
"IIOw are the Locke girlS?" asked
Lucille "And do YOU all hclp them rs
much as YOU did?"
Mr.. Bates then related n pathetic
story of the miSfortuncs of the Locke
girls" who had lived together for
seventy odd wears in thc Httln tu,uIIn
down house with its sparse garden
patch. The mortgage had been fore.
closed Roxy's sight had failed her,
lao