The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-26
PLANTING PENNIES
BY ADA MAY ROWLAND.

"H'm!" observed the first speaker
as he proceeded ON his way. 81 don't
like that sentiment, and / always
thought that Hal Sturges was the last
man in the world to entertain such q
fallacy."
The soliloquizer, however, did not
know that his usually busting, hope
| full young friend was under a pretty
severe strain at the present time.
| Hope, ambition, love, seemed all about
| to wither away because of money and
| its urgent need.
Many years previous Halls father
had loaned David Eastman a large
sum of money. Things went wrong
with Eastman Then they went bet
| ter. He was honest and he turned
over to his creditor his little mort
gagged farm at Grayton, with the pro-
/ yiso that he was to be its tenant at
a fixed rental while he lived. Finally
Eastman wrote to Halls father that
| he would be able to square the whole
debt, some ten thousand dollars, with
in a year.
Halls father died before the year
was up. Hal wrote to Mr.. Eastman,
asking what the prospects as to the
promised money might be. He re-
ceived a speedy reply, stating that III
he would come down to Grayton the
old account would be settled in cold
cash.
Hal arrived at Grayton to find that
Mr.. Eastman had died the day before.
A search was made for will. None
was found. For money. There was
none at bank nor in the house Only
the old farmhouse was in evidence as
tangible property.
1t was a great disappointment to
Hal, all this. He had confidently
counted on the money to start IN
business. He had already invested IN
that direction. This became a dead
q loss He had to go back to a poor
paying position in the adjoining town.
Then, too, a situation evolved at the
little farm that distressed him. Dur
ing the last year of his life Mr.. East
man had given home to an orphan
girl and her little sister-Nellie and
Lois Blynn. The young lady had been
housekeeper and nurse for her old
almoner He had given her COW.
some chickens, and the old farm horse
and carryall Independently Nellie
had worked up quite a clientele for
5 milk and eggs in the neighboring vii
f lage.
Usually, Saturdays he ran down to
the farm.
Upon the day that he felt that
: money would. cure a great proportion
:. of his ills, Hal was realizing how
/, slow was the process in his present
i environment towards attaining COM
q petence Unknowingly, the vague
6 thought of being able to ask Nellie to
become his life partner had certain
place in his aspirations.
$ He was greeted at the farm by Mel
lie in her usual bright sympathetic
mood He stayed to supper. AS usual
% he gave to little big-eyed. wistful Lois,
,. the few pennies he never begrudged
her
You mustn't do that, Mr.. Sturges,
chided Nellie Gently, as the little one
scampered away.
why not?" challenged Hal, pleas
lie antly
d Because she seems to lose them
II ALL 1t is strange, but she never asks
II to go to the village and buy sweet
meats, like ordinary children. The
\. pennies always disappear mysteri-
ously and she never tells where they
y go to-
- Perhaps she has a secret boarding
y placer" suggested Hal, with a smile.
Re He left Nellie and strolled through
the orchard in quest Of the truant
G child Finally he caught sight of her
N blue frock over near a fence corner
+ Why, what are you up to. little
|. one?" propounded Hal
70 Lois looked up with a little an
= swering frown.
Not very nice, being peek-a-boo on
\ a young LADY," she chided childishly
a. IF you want to know, though, I'm
he planting pennies!"s
5y Planting pennies!" calculated the
a, baf1ed Hal.
&c Yes, sir. All you give me-ir
De here" and she natted the ground
at when they grows, Use going to pick
whole baskusfuls off'n the bushes.
~ whatever put that in your head
~ child?' demanded Hal.
= "Gran'pa;" so she had been taught
hit to designate Mr.. Eastman.
How is that?" pressed Hal
Saw him do it, watched him. was
Of the. blunt explanation. '@Bags-anc
they chinked And jew'lry and pa
pers He didn't know / was watching
him. Never growed, though Guess
spot was too shady"
Where was the spot, Lois?" pressed
Hal eagerly.
u She showed him A bright light o
al intelligence had flooded Hal Sturges
on mind. Ten minutes later he was view
OF ing the ground under an old oak tres
Se where Lois insisted she had seer
- "Gran'pa planting money"
i've been doing some digging" an