Putnam patriot., 1910-06-17
CHATTER "


 and the petals fell. leaving tiny apples ln their places. And down tue rows of trees stretched smalier rows of cabbage plaHts-thousands of them The girls kept Che cultiYator going tire lessJy The weeds had hot been kept down very well the season before. and the ground was so filled with seed that f often seemed as though the cultlTat iHg ohly made two weeds grow where ege grew before Bui By diht of an in exhausfible supply of stiek-te-itsiFeness thet Eept abead and ii last the weeds gate up The nebt was teo hot fpt them. aud they suceumbed and allow efi fle eahbaees t0 grow to unmolesfed mafufIF
 One dax la eafly August az the girls vefe heIHlas their mother set the din H,r t8he theif falher came ID with T leHet la his haad md worried look ou Hiz fase
 eIl's fdi.n be explained in answer ta his elfe,s inuniriug ie0k sIie got his leg broke h ruoaway Carrie wrote for me to come awhile If could rhefe isu't any eAe they ean get 10 d. things. and with all those cows tu milk
 'of course you must go.' broke in Mrs Sanders "frhe girls and l wil book nfter things bere.''
 "Yes: do TO. papa" spoke up Gladys. .1'd like 10 try my hand at running his farm awhile ]"
 Mir. Sanders smiled. Running a quarter section Is bigger proposition than running m acre he said. But l guess you'll have ta try it for few days"
 Mabel was picking up some wind falls one hot afternoon q couple ot days after her father left to take care of his brother when well dressed called to her
 "A fine crop of apples you have here. he remarked as the approached "a little the finest ef any Eve seen yet understand that you and your sistei are the best apple growers In the nelghborhood !"
 Mabel flushed with pleasure. T don't know who could have told you that ' she said eThls Is he first crop of ap ples we have ever raised"
 II didn't need to he told The or. ehard speaks for Itself, You haven't sold them yet. have yeu3" he added.
 ''Seld them g' said Mabel lnaniringly "why. they won't be ready to sell for month yet.
 "Yon mean they won't he ready to pick fnr mouth yet" corrected the stranger. There's nothing te prevent your selling them now. is thereg'
 "N.no l suppose not. only II seems queer to sell apples month before theyr ripe"
 Not at all. Lots of business Is done that way. I'll tell you what I'll tio." he went on. sNeu have a fine lot of apples here. and if you'll agree to let ne have all that you have to sell I'il see that you get Siao barrel for them.
 "A dollar and A half barrel Isn't much for apples. Is itf'' snid Mabel douhtfully.
 "It Is when they are as plenty ss they are this year. Why. I'll bet theregl be 10000 barrels fin this coun. Y niene."
 Well" sald Mabel. srn ask father about il when he comes home. !"
 Hut can't waii.s objected the man Fly the tlme yeur father gets home I'll have contracted for nj the apples l can use and yonA have te sell yours for dollar harrel er less Just fgere moment. Heres at least liftS trees -
 Thirty corrected Mabel
 Well thirty. then. There'n he about ten barrels to the tree, or sla werth That will be Stso from the whole orchard Not bad. ehs"
 Mabel opened her eyes iu astonish ment -Four hundred and fifty del- lars she cried "I'il--
 soh. no. you won't net tili you tell me about it. said voice behind her. aud she turned te see Gladys standing beside the half died apple basket Her face WAS stern
 'srell her about it." said Mabel turn. Ing ta The stranger. and he once more explained hls proposition Gladys smiled quixxicaliy. Then you'll give ns S45o for our apple crepy' she said tnquirtngly Well. not exactly. but I'll agree to give you Slao barrel for all you de liver te me in good condition. There'll easily he S0o barrels ' "Wegl he lucky if We get half that" Gladys broke in. We may get twice as much barrel though" You won't ket = cents s barrel If you don't stgn up contract pretty sean." the buyer said. rridenlng His mouth hardened Maybe net from you, replied Gladys, shur with the apple crop almost fail, ure in New Nors l guess well be able l to sell them to some one Who said the apple crop WAS fail ure la New Yarks~ exclaimed the stranger
 Gladys he'd out the paper toward him. -Resd II for yourself she said. The buyer gathered up his reins. with s scowl. ..It'n ee cold day when