The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-04-24

Twas the only thing she had to send,
and she worked terribly hard to get it
finished. The one that took the prize
wasn't better than a dolly"
Virginia flushed The load in her
pocket and the one on her conscience
seemed to be growing at the rate of a
pound a minute
Il was sure too," the woman con-
tinued, that Grandma Morse would
get something on her strawberries.
She makes the best spiced strawber-
ries I ever tasted. The Judges went
by the looks, and never opened the
bottle"
still, you can't blame them" was
the reply. ''They had ninety-seven
glasses OF crab-apple jelly, they say.
Twould probably kill 'em if they tast-
ed everything. I didn't get anything
on my strawberries, either
The unwilling listener rose hastily
and changed her seat She did not
like the neighborhood. The new one,
however, proved no better, for she had
seated herself beside a girl Of about
her own age, who was trying, but vain
ly, to soothe younger girl sister sob
b1ng against her sleeve.
''What's the matterY' asked Vir-
ginia, sympathetically. elias Susie
been hurt?''
She didn't get any prize on her
dolls wardrobe said the girl "She
did every stitch herself, and there's
little fecks of blood all along the
seams, where she pricked her fingers;
but there were two other dolls. I
81 L.
good deal older girl, though"
It certainly had been dressed by an
older girl. Virginia's path, clearly, was
strewn with victims. 1t had not oc-
Cured to her that she was robbing
other persons in that wholesale fash
ion. The weight in her pocket was
becoming uncomfortable. How could
she wear a blue-silk waist purchased
at such price?
Suddenly Virginia frightened. Get
ting Up hastily, she wormed her way
through the crowd, walking swift
along the board sidewalk, and ran up
the steps Of the administration build
ing. AS she had hoped, she found Gil
bert practically alone, for the ener-
get1c secretary, worn Out with his la
borS. was sound asleep, with his chair
tipped back against the wall
Gilbert said Virginia, hastily
scribbling the names of her victims
on scrap Of paper, IT want you to
take back part of this money, make
out premium checks for these four
persons, and tear up the corresponding
cnes issued to me-
That isn't quite regular" replied
Gilbert, but I've had several app1ica-
tons OF this sort, and there's way
to fit it"
What happens when people fail to
claim their premiums ?"
oh, the money stays in the treas
ury. See that box?' said Gilbert,
pointing to tin box with a slot in the
top Some folks exhibit just for the
good Of the fair, and put their pre-
MUM slips or their money in there
Have you seen the balloon go up?"
asked Virginia, abruptly changing the
subject.
mo. Haven't had a: chance. Fa
theirs kept me hustling.''
It's fne,'' said Virginia. Go to the
door and see if it isn't going up now.
he man was getting it ready when
| came in. I'll sit here in your chair
and keep house for you"
he unsuspecting Gilbert rose with
alacrlty Virginia waited until he had
rounded the corner before she dropped
her remaining dollars, one BY one, and
as gently as possible, into the tin box.
They made a horrible clatter, how
ever. The sleeping secretary opened
one eye, but seeing what Virginia was
doing, closed it again.