The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-06-12
( HIRAM'S LUCKY AUCTION )

OF SneerS, Dut dlIeaQy Snc naQ SOlQ
twenty glasses of soda at net profit
of eighty cents.
Her visitor of the morning drew up
again.
''My sister enjoyed the soda SO
much THAT WE WANT nore,' he Said,
with a smile. II see you have the
sign out.
made it with store blacking," said
Mira, proudly. II didn't have amy
paint.
lit does first !rate,'' he declared
Had any results p
''T41ls makes dollar SIXTY said
Mira. "That's MORE than I take i'm
usually in a week.
advertising is THE secret of suc-
cess" he pronounced. ''Keep lit up and
you'll be needing some assistance
soon'
It was several days before that pair
ticular auto stopped i'm FRONT of the
weathler-beaIten gate This time the
driver was ALONE He drank a glass
of ginger ale and asked for IA sand
witch.
| This was a new demand, but THERE
was part of chicken left from Sunday,
and presently Gertrude came in with
"a dairlty sandwich THAT brought fresh
praise from the visitor.
you'll 11awe to make new sign,"
he said, as he set down the empty
plate. with homemade bread, fresh
butter and chicken THAT never heard
of beef trust you've an article! THAT
CANT be beaten. Look HERE" HE added,
why don't YOU START "a real inn? There
are hundreds of aIl1tos i'm town The
road TO the falls is the best f1'er4eabout,
and there's mo chance Ito buy decent
| food. Put slomIe tables out under 1.-THE
trees. Put in stock of syrups and
a tank Of soda. Add some ice cream
and cake-and keep everything just as
home-like ais you cam -
| Gertrude c1apped her harl'ds well
do it, MOTHER she cried 'fCaf1t YOU
see what he means? Thank YOU So
much for your suggestion
"Look here" HE said. "That o1d
stump by the ga|te is NO use, is it?'
"We're going ito have it pulled when
Hiram gets the time,' said Mira, apo
| logetica1ly. 'We've been meaning lilo
do it ever since the lightning struck
it,"
"Don't do it," her patron almost
shouted. GIVE got bully idea. Let
me be the godfather Of the place and
I'll make sign out of the tree for
christening present"
He was back agai1 early the next
morning. He smiled appreciativelv as
l1e saw half dozen small tables SCAT
tered about under THE trees. The grass
had been moved and the place looked
fresh and inviting.
Under his direction a man HE had
brought with him began to hack ait
the tree
An ATTIC parity came up just then
and to'ok possession of or1e 'of 1.-THE
tables. Gertrude went off to wait ON
them, and by the time t11ey had taken
| their departure the wood carver had
completed his task.
The old stump, denhrded of its bark,
| stood spldr1Hered and torn, lbut with a
| smooth oval ON tits face
THAT doesn't seem ito be anyt11ing,'
said Gertrude, as SHE regarded his
| work
"1t will be a work of art before I
get Through with it" he explained, "or
nv name isn't Ernest Pavnter.''
is IT Are YOU really Mr. 'Pavnter.
the artist?" She asked, finding that fact
of greater interest than the sign.
BLESS nv heart" he exclaimed. ct
seemed to know you all SO we'll that
I forgot you did mot know nv name,
[ am ERNEST Pay1ter and very much
at vour service"
She extended her hand with A formal
'ift1e "G1ad to meet YOU. MIR. Pavnter.
that made them both laugh, and. still
| a'olding her hand, he drew HER ir1to
1xr11a ac1,o hi