Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-09

an they's few million children CROWN
up to the idea that II II amt Cattleya
II amt an orchid.
when I come out the fust time the
house told me / cid shove I'm few sam
pies of the varieties outside the reg'lar
line; they'd come in handy for flower
shows nd an occasional collector. An I
did. / showed EN- In plenty. An the
house wrote me they wasn't runnin a
curiosity shop an that Americans wasn't
buyin' gold bricks SOS to exhaust the
stock they had on hand an II I didn't
mind would I please confine myself to
commercial orchids. Commercial orchids
That's my mount an I'm ridin' him
steady, but / can't hep thinkln that
they's many mssus back hui an man,
too, that would catch the breath to see
the blood purple of a Miltonla lookin' up
from its green leaves or to smell the
smell of the Bu'ln'tonia-a smell that can
talk an say things that man can't"
Kemp came to himself, blushed and
hurried out as II on urgent business.
Lieber looked at Gerry's thoughtful face
and smiled. Who'd have thought he'd
ever talk that way in daylight" he said.
"G think" replied Gerry. "it was your
Offering to let him make this place his
Headquarters 1t ratified him and started
him of I could see he was grateful"
perhaps that was it said Lieber.
Hes a queer one. He never asked me.
It just occurred to me to suggest IL. be-
cause I'm getting to enjoy having Kemp
around. Look at last night"
Gerry nodded. His eyes fell o. the
clock and he got up with start. The sun
was at its highest when he reached Fa-
zenda Flores. He caught sight of Father
Matthias great white umbrella on the
bridge and urged True Blue into a final
gallop. But Father Matthias was not un-
der his umbrella. Instead. Gerry found
Margarita and her toddling SON Thou
hast been away long time" said Mar
garita, reproachfully. "The priest is at
the house and took his umbrella that
| and the Man might watch for thee in
the sun"
Gerry jumped off his horse and kissed
her. Then he picked UP his son and set
him in the saddle. Margarita screamed.
True Blue arched his neck and looked
cautiously around at his featherweight
burden The young horse stood very still
while Margarita fought past Gerry's arm
and dragged the Man from his perlous
perch to her bosom. And manlike, the
Man protested with a bad-tempered.
whole -lunged wall that rent the air and
brought Dona Maria and the priest to the
corner OF the house to peer at them with
eyes shaded under cupped hands.
few days later the rains came In
earnest. Unceasing rrents that drew
continual hum from the tiles of the roof,
sought out cracks, forgotten during the
long dry season, and dripped in to remind
the cozy household that outside the whole
world was wet.
Gerry spent two days In the wet closing
his sluice gate and snoring it from the in
side against eventualities. Then he re-
paired to the house and, after lavishing
his lnforced idleness on his son for a day
or two, began to work feverisnly on fur
ther knck -knacks for the house. Occa-
sionally he sailed ou, and eli ibed the
slippery roof to mend a leak, Margarita,
frightened. taking her stand in the rain
to guard over him with disconcerting
cries and warnings. When, occasionally,
there happened to be a truce to the down.
pour, he hurried out with Bonifacio to
battle against prolific weeds that sprang
to weird heights in a night
CONTINUED TOMORROW