Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-08-30
BY KEITH KENYON.

come. In fact, Jane had never been
very encourage and all that Bert
knew about her address was that 1t
was Piney Roads. With the aid of
his road book and in spite of several
unnecessary detours, Bert finally got
to place where the index pointing to
Piney Roads bore the legend, 40
Miles"
1t was 6 o'clock Saturday evening
and Bert decided that his first stop
would be at the Piney Roads Hotel.
There he would dress-it would never
do to let Jane see him dust covered
and grimy as he was-have dinner
and, later in the evening, perhaps tel
ephone to Jane.
There was but one hotel in Piney
Roads and, although there was con-
siderable summer touring through
that region, Bert had heard from
others that 1t was none too luxurious
in its appointments. He consulted his
roadbook. Turn at the second road
to the right after leaving Piney
Roads turnpike" 1t directed. And, in
spite of the bad condition of the
roads, he found his way without ask
ing questions.
Its a neatly kept little place
thought Bert, as he surveyed the
symmetrical rows of hollyhocks on
either side of the path, although 1t
doesn't seem very large"
Then he sounded his horn for some
one to come and take his car but no
one seemed to be stirring and there
was no sign of a garage. He sounded
long and impatiently until at last
from behind the house appeared an
old man In overalls.
you fellows take your own time
around here" grumbled Bert. Here,
run this car into your garage or show
me where to go, and then wake up
the proprietor and tell him to give
me the best room he's got"
There amt any garage round
here" drawled the man. "You'n
have to take your machine down to
the crossing
Bert laughed grimly. That's a fine
note" he said well, at least you've
got stable or a shed where 1 can
put 1t. Fine kind of house you fell
lows keep
The old man smiled. Eyes, we do
think it looks pretty fine this year,
though l don't see that there's much
profit in them hollyhocks."
Where is the proprietor?' Bert
was getting impatient and, as the old
man seemed not to understand. he
added, "the man who keeps the place,
mean"
"Oh, now l understand" drawled
the old man, chucklng. "It amt a
man-it's a lady. She was back in
the orchard picking cherries, and she
said she had just stepped in to tidy
up a bit and would be out soon.
Here she is
Then Bert caught sight of a pink
dress and then he recognized Jane
Jane, whose interesting, pale face had
grown positively pretty since her So
journ in the country.
And how unembarrassed and cordial
she was. She really seemed to be
glad to see him.
From the garden l could see it
was you" she said, "and | just had
to take off my sunbonnet. l don't
want you to make fun of my farm
Ing"
There followed few explanations
mo I am not the proprietor of the
hotel" Jane assured PIN. There
must be some mistake in the road
book. In fact, you are the third
tourist today who has come here with
that idea. And you really came all
the way up here to see me? Why
didn't you let me know? But 1t
doesn't make a bit of difference. I'll
Just tell Mrs. Stokes, the farmers
wife, to get the guest room ready.
1t will only take few minutes. I
know you must be anxious to get off
your dusty clothes. and then I'll show
you around the place"
Just then another car pulled into
the driveway, car of French build
that made Bert's modest roadster
look Insignificant.
ST say" called one of its two occu-
pants to the farmer, who was just
making his way back to the orchard,
where is the garage of this estab-
lishment? Well drive right in and
you have the proprietor ready to see
us when we get back here. We've
only twenty minutes for dinner"
'Thats the way it's been all the
afternoon" said Jane, when she had
explained to the distinguished-lo look
ing tourists that her modest little
house made no pretenslons at being
hostelry.
That's a great disappointment"
said one of the men. ut promised to
be something out of the ordinary in
the way of inns. When I saw 1t I
felt certain you'd give us dinner
worth eating. What? Back one
road? Thank you"
when Bert returned to the veranda
from his room, Jane had solved the
mystery.
1--WE been looking at your road
hook and 1t says that the way to get
to the inn is to turn at the second
road after you leave the pike. Well,
the county has Just closed up the
first road and put row of poplars
across 1t. That accounts for the con-
fusion"
1Ightful little supper, served on the
omen veranda, that she showed her
eilest over the place, the orchards
and the berry patches, the poultry
ward and the neatly kept truck
garden.
confessed rather dolefully, 'ft doesn't
nav any better than Wall Street.
There will be money in the fruit
eventually, but until get started 1t is
close sailing. I am almost afraid my
capital won't hold out And at this
another car wheeled into the drive
wav to interrupt the conversation.
Let's put a sign up at the road
saving that this is not an inn," sug-
rested Jane, but Bert shook his head.
LANE, I've just had an inspiration" :"
ne said very solemnly. you say
that you want to make some money
why. this very afternoon yau have
had a, chance TO make more money
than we've been making in Wall
Street for a week, or that you can
net from your farm for many DAY;
The inn down the road is no good l
am told. and the owner doesn't care
whether he has any patrons or not
There are dozens Of motorists along