The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-08-27

Kissed It's crust OI 1ce
G which shone rainbow
hued and dazzling. Down
In the valley an automobile carrying
three passengers and the chauffeur
rolled easily along white macadam
road until, at the direction of the man
who occupied the front seat with the
driver, the machine came to a stop at
the crest of little knoll.
Get out, boys, and let's steal little
fruit. I haven't robbed an orchard
since I was a kid" spoke Doc Floyd
to Col. Bill Powley and Jack Cleland,
who were with him on pleasure ride
a few miles out of Los Angeles.
The Colonel and Cleland, while not
evincing so much enthusiasm as Floyd,
nevertheless followed their leader
through wide gate and up drive
way into one of Lucky Baldwin's big
orange groves, where the fruit, some
green, some yellow, hung temptingly.
"And now We can say when we get
back home that we picked oranges
while standing in plain sight of a
mountain covered with snow" re-
marked Floyd. Il haven't seen the
old man who owns this place since
he was racing his horses around Chi
cago."
Having satisfied their playful spirit
of larceny the little party stepped
back into the waiting auto and hur-
ried on back towards the city, after
having seen the closing of the racing
season In San Francisco. Spring had
come and the tourist season was at
an end. The members of the little
party were thinking of getting back
to the comforts of the High Rollers
club and the nightly game of bridge
with kindred spirits.
There has been some fellow here
looking for you two or three times
this afternoon" the hotel clerk in
formed Floyd when he called for his
key when he was once more back in
the city. "He didn't leave any card.
Said he'd be back this evening""
II have no idea who it could b."
replied Floyd. Il will be in my rooms
until dinner time. If he comes again,
have him phone up to me-"
The three friends parted company
on the floor of the hotel where their
rooms were located. Col. Powley an
nounced that he proposed to have his
forty winks" before dinner RS the
ride in the open air had made him
sleepy. Cleland went to his room to
wash away the dust of travel but soon
raped on Floyd's door, where he
found his partner making a somewhat
more elaborate toilet than his own
had been.
1--WE been thinking I'd like to take
run up through the mining towns"
announced Cleland, who was known as
the pessimist of the party owing to
the fact that he never became enthus-
iastic over any question.
THAT might not be bad idea,'
returned Floyd, "but I don't believe
the Colonel would care for the trip.
Well ask him and see how it
strikes him. I'm in no particular
hurry about getting back home, SO far
as I'm concerned. What is your idea
in taking the wild and woolly?"
"Oh, I don't know. l Just heard
that things were beginning to boom
again for the first time since the
panic thought If you'd like to take
chance we might be able to sell a
little order. Some of those mining
men may have too much money for
their own good"
well, It's worth considering, at any
rate, Jack, and I'll just sleep over it
tonight. I can't see that there is any
necessity for passing up any tricks.
BY the way, wonder who it was that
was looking for me while we were
out?"
AS If in answer to Floyd's query,
the house telephone bell rang and he
was informed by the operator that q
Mr.. Jackson wished to see him.
"All right, I'll see him here. Have
him come right up to my room," he
replied. 1T must be the fellow who
was looking for me this afternoon"
he continued to Cleland when he had
hung up the receiver of the phone.
Il don't know who Jackson is, though,
The only jackson recall is our friend
Howard Jackson, who died in New
York three years ago."
At the sound Of approaching steps
in the hall, Floyd turned and opened
his door without waiting for a knock
"Why, it's Towards kid brother" he
announced, as he grasped the hand
of his caller in friendly greeting. 81
was Just wondering who It could be-
he explained. This Is Jack Cleland
Tommy. He knew your brother Howard
almost as well as I did. We were
all shocked to hear Of his death when
that sudden spell Of fever took him
of. You were with, him at the time
weren't you?"
Eyes, I.was there. It was pretty
tough. He was only sick q week and
there were only the two Of US left"
And what are you doing way Out
here on the other side Of the world
Did you bring his racing stable out
here?"
mo. he only had one good horse in
his stable. They were all sold At auc
llOu Auu uluu UIAA8 WO10 AAVA0 soou
enough to square up his debts. wa<
never on the race track much, YOU
know. went to work K. in Z railroad
ONCE as soon as I got through high
school, came out here two year,
ago to take a place in the ONCE Of 4
western road"
Il nope you like the railroad bust
ness and are prospecting at It," wa.
':.,d,y intended remark of Floyd
*': his discerning eye told hin