The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-05-26

Il am willing not to see John Flem-
ing again as long as you live" she
sobbed But | won't promise to give
him up, and think you are the most
hateful old man I've ever known!"
The colonel chewed that over his
pipe. Hateful cid man" She was
waiti> for him to die to marry that
sco1ndrell He changed good deal
he next summer GOODNESS had
sprung up betwAr1 himself and his
daughter. and he would give good
deal to have been able to recall his
edict But he was too proud to do so.
Secretly he thought a good deal OF
young Fleming
Fleming had never crossed his line.
The two men passed without speak
ing. II Molly ever broke her prom
Use, the colonel knew nothing of 1t.
A week passed. He chafed at the
illness which kept him indoors. He
had obstinately refused to have his
crop picked. The commission men
were as bad as the packers. he swore;
he would let the fruit rot on the
trees, and cut them down that winter
for lumber
He knew that second year OF fail
ure would mean bankruptcy. The two
dollars Lemaitre. the packer, offered
him would save him. But he was too
stubborn to make the compromise of
S225 which Lemaitre reluctantly Of
fered.
That was in February. On the goth
of the month norther came sweep
ing down through the middle West,
When It sent the temperature of
Louisville to ten above the weather
bureau began to telegraph warnings.
When the colonel heard the telephone
ring 1t marked 10 above in Nashville.
Molly told the colonel SO.
Wen get gang and light
smudges." answered old Travers.
I'm going to save that crop"
Then you'll sell. father?"
mo. I'll let 1t rot on the trees. But
I'll have the satisfaction OF letting 1t
ripen before II rots." he answered.
The telephone rang again 1t 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 stiffiy.
its SO in Tampa We might have
time to save half your fruit with
smudge-hres. I've got a gang ready to
work ut my expense II you'll sell at
dollar a box"
"Confound your impudence!" roared
the colonel Tell him that. Molly"
Molly softened It somewhat But 1t
was now 35 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 favoring in the
rind.
ITS too late to do anything" the
colonel groaned. But I'm not going
to let Lemaitre make a 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 heard a man calling.
You're sure it isn't Lemaitre's gang"
Quite sure" she answered.
The telephone rang again. 1t 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 80 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.
1t fell to 80, to 30. 1t fell to 26
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 80 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 affluence to all who had been
forehanded enough to save their trees
by fires.
I'D have cleared 81 600 Molly"