Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-06-24
CHAPTER ".


busy ones for Gladys and Ma
bel. The apple blossoms faded
and the petals fell, leaving tiny
apples in their places. And down the
rows of trees stretched smaller rows
of cabbage plants-thOusands of them.
The girls kept the cultivator going tire
lessly. The weeds had not been kept
down very well the season before, and
the ground was so filled with seed that
1t often seemed us though the cultivat-
ing only made two weeds grow where
one grew before. But by dint Of all in
exhaustible supply of stick-to-it-iveness
they kept ahead. and at last the weeds
gave up. The fight was too hot for
them, and they succumbed and allow
ed the cabbages to grow to unmolested
maturity.
One day in early August as the girls
We're helping their mother set the din
ner table their father came in with n
letter in his hand and worried look
on his face.
Its Lon" he explained in answer to
his wife's inQuiring look. He got his
leg broke in runaway. Carrie wrote
for me To come awhile If | could.
There isn't any one they can get to do
things. and with all those cows to
milk
"Of course you must GO broke In
Mrs. Sanders. 1.-The girls and l will
look after things here"
"Yes: do go, papa" spoke up Gladys.
aid like to try my hand at running
this farm awhile"
Mr.. Sanders smiled. "Isunning a
quarter section is bigger proposition
than running an acre. he said. But
1 guess you'll have to try 1t for few
days"
Mabel WIS picking up some wind
falls one hot afternoon couple OF
DAYS after her father left to take care
Of his brother when well dressed
stranger drove up to the fence and
called to her.
"A fine crop of apples you have
here" he remarked as the approached,
"a little the finest of any I've seen yet.
/ understand that you and your sister
are the best apple growers In the
neighhOrhOod."
Mabel flushed with pleasure. Il don't
know who could have told you that
she said. "This is the first crop Of ap'
Piles we have ever raised"
81 didn't need to be told. The or
chard speaks for itself. You haven't
sold them yet, have you?' he added.
"Sold them?' said Mabel inQuiringly
"Why, they won't be ready to sell for
month yet"
"You mean they won't be ready to
pick for a month yet" corrected the
stranger. There's nothing to prevent
your selling them now, is there?'
'N-no, suppose not only it seems
queer to sell apples month before
they're ripe"
"Not at all Lots Of business Is
done that way. I'll tell you what I'll
do" he went on. "You have a fine lot
Of apples here, and If you'll agree to
let me have all that you have to sell
I'll see that you get $1.5O a barrel for
them"
"a, dollar and @ half barrel isn't
much for apples. is it?' said Mabel
doubtfully.
at is when they are as plenty as
they are this year. Why, I'll bet
thereIl be 10000 barrels in this coun-
ty alone"
"Well," said Mabel, "I'll ask father
about it when he comes home"
"But can't wait" objected the man.
"By the time your father gets home
I'll have contracted for all the apples
can use and you'll have to sell yours
for a dollar q barrel or less. Just
figure moment. Here's at least fifty
trees
Thirty" corrected Mabel.
"Well, thirty, then. There'n be
about ten barrels to the tree. or $1s
worth. That will be $3.50 from the
whole orchard Not bad, eh?"
Mabel opened her eyes in astonish
ment. -Four hundred and fifty dol
lars." she cried. "I'lp'-
ooh, no, you won't, not till you tell
me about it," said voice behind her,
and she turned to see Gladys standing
beside the half filed apple basket. Her
face was stern.
'"Tell her about It," said Mabel, turn
ing to the stranger, and he once more
explained his proposition.
Gladys smiled quizzically. "Then
you'll give us $3.50 for our apple crop"
she said inQuiringly.
"Well, not exactly, but I'll agree to
give you $3.50 barrel for all you de.