Middletown transcript., 1908-08-15
TCoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

oPCSo VI o huohOo poA VI ANt5S ~
where Frank Crowbeach was al
ready tying his horse. Without
other greeting, the impulsive
girl plunged at once into the
subject.
7 must tell you, Frank! I
cannot keep. it to myself any
longer !
Bless me, Allie, what is it ?
You are all excited, said Frank,
as they walked toward the ham,
mock.
Something that Steve would
forbid me to tell if I asked his
leave. And yet 1 feel that you
ought to know. It may do good;
and as things are now, you won't
enter the contest. anyway. Oh,
l don't know what to do! and as
she finished, she sank back in
the hamm with little catch
in her voice.
There, there, Alice, said Frank,
swinging the hammock gently,
you are all wrought up. Try
and calm Yourself, You know
how ready I am to listen and to
sympathize.
Well, it is just this, went On
Alice. Stephen wants to go to
college and send me to normal
school. Father has promised
him thousand dollars if he can
get the wheat cut. That is why
he is working to get up the con-
test.
Why, bless you, little one,
everybody knows how crowded
your father is and why Stephen
is getting up this contest. AS
for the thousand dollar arrange
ment, that is between Steve
and your father.
But that isn't all. 0 Frank,
you won't be angry, will you?
said Alice, beseeching him with
eyes and voice. I'm sure you
wouldn't be if you understood
how much it means to all of US.
Why, I'm not a man to get
angry easily. What is it ? said
Frank, gently.
He is going to enter the Prairie
Queen binder in the contest him
self
So that's the solution of the
mystery Frank cried, in sur
prise.
Why, what about it? asked
Alice.
Now here is q secret you must
keep, little one. 1 haven't en-
tered the contest because my
firm wouldn't agree to it. They
wrote me that they were unable
to find out who was to represent
the Prairie Queen here. They
say it stands a good chance to
win in any field trial, and they
are trying to get it into the hands
of agents that handle their vi
orators, so as to avoid complica-
tions. So they directed me to
compete only in case there was
a likelihood of my being able to
secure the agency for the Prairie
Queen. Now Stephen won't
want to handle it after this fall,
if he's going to college, and I
guess he will use his influence
to turn the agency over to me.
So of course now I will compete.
o Frank, that is lovely! cried
Alice. I'm so glad [ told you !!
I'm sure Stephen will only be too
glad to give you the agency.
Oh, I guess Steve won't be Civ
ing things away for nothing, but
now that I know he is my man,
l can manage to grind my own
little ak. We shall do business
in a business way, Steve and I.
My goodness, Alice, I'm glad you
told me! But you mustn't tell
Steve that I know. L give you
my word that I'll help him all
l can.
When Frank at last drove away
he left Alice as happy as only
one can be who is capable of
being extremely miserable.
Early the following morning
Alice went home for her usual
Sunday visit.
I've got such news to tell you,
Steve! whispered Alice, as her
brother helped her from the
wagon. But it was some time
before brother and sister had an
opportunity to be alone together,
under the shade of the big box
elder.
Now, what is the news? asked
Stephen.
Frank is going to enter.
He is2 said Stephen, ungra-
ciously. He might have said so