Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-01
BY Clifford v.
Gregory
CHAPTER ".

pf caDoagc plantS-thOusandS of them.
The girls kept the cultvator going tire.
lessly. The weeds had not been kept
down very well the season before. and
the ground was so filed with seed that
It often seemed as though the cultivat-
ing only made two weeds grow where
one grew before. But by dint of an 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
were helping their mother set the din
ner table their father came in with
letter in his hand and a worried look
on his face
ITS Lon" he explained In answer to
his wife's inquirng look. "He got his
leg broke in n 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 CO. broke in
Mrs. Sanders. The girls and l will
look after things here"
Eyes; do go, papa" spoke up Gladys.
'Td like to try my hand at running
this farm awhile"
Mr.. Sanders smiled. Running a
quarter section is bigger proposition
than running an acre." he said. But
I fp frxr fnr fay
days"
Mabel was 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 be remarked as the approached.
"a little the finest of any I've seen vet.
/ understand that you and your sister
are the best apple growers In the
neighborhood."
Mabel flushed with pleasure. Il don't
know who could have told you that"
she said. This is the first crop of ap-
pies we have ever raised"
II 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 month yet" corrected The
strange. There's nothing to prevent
your selling them now. is thcre|
"N-no, l 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 ne went on. You have a fine lot
let me have all that you have to sell
I'll see that you get 80 barrel for
them"
"A dollar and half barrel isn't
much for apples. is IT." said Mabel
1oubtfully.
SIT is when they are as plenty as
they are this year. Why. I'll bet
there1l be 10000 barrels in this coun
ty alone"
well" said Mabel, "Tll ask father
about 1t when he comes home"
But l 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 dollar 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 SIS
worth. That will be $3.50 from the
whole orchard. Not bad ehi"
Mabel opened her eyes in astonish-
ment. -Four hundred and fifty dol
lars!" she cried. 'I'll"-
"Oh, no, you won't, not till you tell
me about it." said II 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 $1.5O barrel for all you de.
liver to me in good condition. There'n
easily be 300 barrels"
We'll be lucky if we get half that"
Gladys broke In. 1--WE may get twice
as much barrel, though"
You won't get 70 cents barrel If
you don't sign up a contract pretty
soon," the buyer said, reddening. His
mouth hardened,
Maybe not from you, replied Gladys,
but with the apple crop almost fail
ure in New York ! guess Wen be able
to sell them to some one"
"Who said the apple crop was fail
ure in New York;" exclaimed the
stranger.
Gladys held out the paper toward
him. Read it for yourself" she said
The buyer gathered up his reins, with
a scowl. It'll be cold day when
you sell those apples in this county"
he said as he drove off.
"Why didn't you let him have them?"
cried Mabel, turning to her sister.
THAT surely was n good enough price
for US"
Good enough if we can't get MORE"
replied Gladys, But we're going to
get more"
How do you know?"