The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-02
BY BELLE MANlATES
Copyright, 1905, BY P. c. Eastment

nippy little gait.
"Old Hundred didn't omit hts usual
bridge sprint" observed Lucille.
'Old Hundred! He doesn't deserve
such cognomen," observed Joan.
You will think so. He hasn't SET
tied down into his smallest pace yet"
"Geed-ap!" reiterated Mr.. Bates,
reused to effort by this insinuation
and smaruy .slapping the reins across
the steed's ample back.
HE doesn't 'geed-ap' very fast"
commented Joan.
"Do you earn your own living, tooT
asked the old man, turning to her
quickly.
II hope to-" she replied modestly. II
take pictures. expect to take your
whole country"
IT hope It brings you more than writ
Ing poetry" he said, with q glance at
Lucille. 1.-The Hedgeton Gazette only
pays for It in subscriptions and trade"
Joan gave an ecstatic laugh.
"But Lucille writes for big maya
zines. She Is paid by the word"
"You don't tell me! She must be
awful rich"
"But sometimes I SIT for hours and
can't think of q word" confessed Lu-
cile.
words are plenty enough" be de-
clared scornfully. "You can get them
out Of dictionary"
II never thought Of that" she re-
piled naively.
At nearly every. farmhouse en- route
Mr.. Bates "whoaed"s, to deliver pur-
chases. Now 1t was the farmers wife
who came out to the wagon and again
It was q bashful boy or giggling
girl. In every instance Joan's camera
was active.
The last commission was not deliv-
cred at house or in person. Mr.. Bates
stopped In front Of barn near the
roadside and there deposited g sus-
picious looking package. Farther on
they met a farmer who looked at them
inquiringly.
'Put it in the barn, Fred" said Mr..
Bates significantly.
.All right" Bestowing q knowing
wink upon bis purchasing agent Fred
FASTENED forward.
"How are the Locke girlsr asked
Lucille. "And do you all help them as
much as you did?'
MI. Bates then related pathetic
story of the misfortunes Of the Locke
girls" who had lived together for
seventy odd years In the little tumble
down house with it's sparse garden
patch. The mortgage had been fore
closed. Roxy's sight had failed her,
and she was unable to do the 'ptecing
and quitting by which they had helped
exc out their living.
The poorbouse was looming up In
their horoscope, though the neighbors
were preparing to give a harvest ball
and bestow the proceeds therefrom to
the averting Of this calamity.
By the time this narrative was fn-
ished they had reached the farmhouse
Of the Bates household, and Mrs Bates
came out to greet the "city folks" who
were shown to their bedroom of the
sitting room."
'The live stock seem TO be making
grand entrance" said Joan presently,
parting the curtain. Through the hole
In the screen door some chickens are
entering. On the stairs are a multi.
tude Of cats, and stray sheep-I think
1t Is sheep-bleats On the back steps.
Mrs Bates Is sending the dog for the
COWS. VIII he bring them into the
house"
Her thought was still of menagerie
when she awoke the next morning. con-
scious Of slight motion Of the house,
accompanied by most peculiar sound.
She awoke Lucille, who sat up to listen.
'Tt's an earthquake!" asserted Joan.
Unless the house is portable. I should
not be, surprised If we were all en-
route to the barn to do the chores"
Mrs. Bates!" called Lucille. "What
ails the house?"
Mrs. Bates answered the summons.
1.-The house isn't boarded up, you
know, and the hogs 60 under it when
they get out Of their pens. They