Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-13


squares of scarlet silk.
He stood upon rise of ground in big field.
pattern oyer e thick grass There was
of red clover and bees at their self-apponted task,
twangled like tiny vols.
But Johnstone not bothering himself much with
the picturesqueness of the spot stones-throw dis,
tant, rose a hock, and beyond it lay another field
shut off at its farther side by high hedge.
81 believe 1 make the hedge to-day, he said to
himself.
knoll cleared the end of it with a long jump and gided
Like huge tropical bird he sped through the air
to the second knoll He felt his feet swish through
the high grass, and he chuckled as the machine kept
up its speed
Halfway across the second field the summer breeze
died down, the impetus OF the aerop lane sackened
Then the hedge approached Johnstone raised the
front planes Bit the wings lifted in last squirt, and
he topped the highest bit of the hedge, giving 1t
tremendous kick as he passed over, and the scarlet
wings sunk gently to earth depositing Johnstone at
of opera glasses and stared dsbelevngly.
beg your pardon" said Johnstone.
looking for bee" said the girl.
az must have frightened you," went on Johnstone,
Thank you" said the girl taking them. " Are you
are you on your way-anywhere?"
farther each day. To-day 1 tried to make the hedge"
The girl had been staring m him. Hff dds brown eyes
Suddenly she sank to the ground, buried her face in
her hands and rocked to and fro
81 have frightened you half to DEATH" cried john
stone remorsefully.
He tugged at the straps that held his wings but the
girl looked up and waved at him small protesting
Oh, don't please don't take them off, she begged
chokingly "Ill not laugh any more She searched
wasn't really funny, only I'd never any before
close to. Theyres loveyl And it's such nice way to
She rose wiping her eyes. Johnstone had the
planes off; they lying two big stretches of scar
let, the ground The girl pointed toward them :,
" Oh, would you, will you please let me try them!
She raised an adorable little face Johnstone, who
hardened his heart and looked upon her codly
Certainly not! - he said.
No woman might laugh at Johnstone with impunity.
You angry said this suddenly sott-eyed, be,
seechng person And don't NTH bame ,yesd you But But
@ bee?" questioned Johnstone.
Eyes, l am bee-huntng. But what are bees COM
Bees are fying-machines," argued Johnstone
"Oh yes of course. And you are sure, quite sure?'
As she asked the question she nodded her brown
head toward the scarlet on the ground.
'Yes quite sure replied Johnstone, very decidedly
The girl sighed, then walked a few steps away and
picked up brown box from the grass She looked
Il must have dropped the operaglasses, again again" she
Johnstone returned them to her for the second time
u shall tell father that have seen aeroplane and
4 man hying it," she said. He will be interested.
"What is the box for7" asked Johnstone
"There is honey in it A bee goes in, and then out
again You follow the bee. Good morning"
That is where you need the wings, said Johnstone,
"Tbey would be convenient" admitted the girl.
"But one can walk after bee very easily. When you
lose him, you wait little-and always another bee
She looked at Johnstone speculativey.
"Good-by" she said again.
I" How far dc, you follow themF
1T depends"
=" On what? p"
The girl sank down on the soft grass again, and laid
You must know she explained patiently, that
bees store their honey in tree .1.,A4 >,
"Wild bees" still with an air Of patience Then
YOU find the tree and cut it down.
simple and natural process commented MT aall J1nn
worth of honey"
The girl rose to her feet
1t isn't such exciting sport as flying" she said,
but after ALL no hurts the bee, and one can al.
ways use the ancestral oak in ones ancestral fireplace
Her sunburned freckled face looked pleasantly on
tombstone A fried sunbonnet hung at her neck and
her brown-checked gingham dress was open a bit at
the throat She held the garbox carefully under one
tanned halfbare ARM the abused glasses hung care
1essly from slim brown fingers.
OF sudden it seemed to tombstone, inventor by
choice and professor of mathematics by education
that personally conducted bee hunt was the one thing
he craved. 49, ~ :.
T won't be in your way" he paused.
The girl looked startled for moment Then her
solemn eyes-eyes that beled the mobile mouth-took
on soft shining. ,
"Of course there's really no reason why you should
be in my way. The fields are wide enough, there are
plenty Of cigar boxes, and as for the bees
- You know mean may / go with you! he said
The brown little face flushed under its tan, but she
looked gaany into Johnstones face.
"Why not? she asked
:" let me take the cigarbox" said Johnsone.
"Perhaps it had better be the opera-glasses, re-
turned the girl
On shaded knoll they rested after a time. The
cgar-box with its seductive contents was set to lure
some passing bee into its depths But the bees dron
ing mild uninterrupting sound and several bees
had their fill while this conversation went on.
And you really invented it yourself?
DWELL no. not exactly I've improved old
idea think in time I'll get it SO it will be practical
I'm sure you will. And you're really the man who
lives in that dear little troley-car house? Father and
/ have often wondered who had had the ingenuity to
make use of that stranded 1t must be very de
iphtul to do quite what you want to do. Now, can
never do quite what want to do or, can, it is only
for a very short time
Poor child! thought Johnstone, she longs to