The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-04-09

I
That was in February On the goth
OF the month a norther came sweep
ing down through the middle West
When Il sent the temperature OF
Louisville TO ten above the weather
bureau began TO telegraph warnings
When the colonel heard the telephone
ring II marked l5 above in Nashville
Molly told the colonel so.
Wen get a gang and light
smudges," answered old Travers,
I'm going to save that crop"
Then youll sell, father?"
mo. I'll let II rot on the trees. But
I'll have the satisfaction of letting II
ripen before II rots," he answered.
The telephone rang again, II was
20 above in Jacksonville, the lowest
known since the great freeze" of '95,
which put back the orange area for
300 miles southwark,
ITS 81 outside, father"
Almost Immediately Lemaitre called
him up on the telephone.
Colonel Travers," he said stifiy,
ITS SO in Tampa. We might have
time TO save half your fruit with
smudge-fres I've got a gang ready to
work at my expense If youll sell at a
dollar a box
"Confound your impUdence!" roared
the colonel Tell him that Molly"
Molly softened II somewhat But it
was now So on the veranda. Three
degrees lower and the frost would nip
the tender trees. Six or seven de
grees, and not lemon would be worth
anything but the havoring in the
rind.
IT'S too late to do anything" the
colonel groaned. But I'm not going
to let Lemaitre make penny out Of
me by any OF his thievish tricks.
What's that in the groves, Molly"
Molly went out and returned. Moth
ing, father" she answered.
Il thought l heard a man calling.
You're sure it isn't Lemaitre's gang?'
Quite sure" she answered
The telephone rang again. It was
Lemaitre. Your last chance, colo
mel" he called cheerfully. Il can get
a third of your fruit picked before it's
damaged. It's SO outside my packing
house, The gangs waiting. Fifty
cents a box"
Molly hung up the receiver in time
to restrain her father from doing him
self bodily damage in his effort to get
out Of his chair.
It fell to 80, to 80 1t fell to 20
that night before the norther disap-
peared. Next morning was bright and
warm. But the colonel knew that
his crop was irretrievably spoiled.
Still, it's a comfort to know that |
Lemaitre hasn't got any of it," he So
liloquized.
In another week he was to be al
lowed upon his feet. Meanwhile he /
learned that the frost had been gen.
eral throughout the lemon districts. |
Prices had gone up so per cent. The
Lemon Growers association had roped !
all the growers in the county and was
doing fabulous business. The short,
age had enhanced prices sufficiently
to bring afiiuence to all who had been
forehanded enough to save their trees
by fires.
I'D have cleared $1,000 Molly"
said the Colonel wistfully to his
When he was allowed out he limped
toward his lemon groves AS he an
ticipated the leaves were willing from
the upper branches. But the trunks
were strong and sturdy, and the low
er branches showed promise of re-
sound. The colonel was not
slow in discovering the reason. Round
the roots of the trees were wrapped
burlap protectors. And not lemon
on the twigs
Colonel Travers turned upon his
daughter in fury.
Who's been here?" he shouted.
It's that Internal Lemaitre. Where
are the lemons, Molly?"
Come here, father" said the girl
She led him into the barn. There,
piled high from the floor to ceiling,
we're crates and crates Of the fresh
worth, and not a lemon
spoiled.
And in the midst of the crates, bend.
ing over them and examining the
ruit was-Fleming
The young man turned around upon
he astounded colonel
Sorry to have iisoheyed instruc.
ions, colonel" he said but you see
couldn't let you lose all that money
o crafty whim. So well, in
hort the day before the freeze, when
t looked as though norther was ex
,ected, l got together a gang and
dipped the fruit for you. And / be-
ieve we saved your trees, too. hope
ou don't mind, sir"
The colonel's face, which had borne
terrifying scowl, suddenly softened. /
here was an expression on his daugh. t
ers which made him suddenly think
f his wife, who had been dead 10 e
ears.
John, I'm an old fool" he said Fl
umbly. q beg your pardon. John 4
ONE to supper tonight, and we'll talk t
yer my joining the association" "