The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-26
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Thirteenth Orange
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
ByLoUIsE OLIVER

Lucia stopped at Tony's fruit stand
on her way home and brought a dozen
oranges. II was raining and besides
two other packages she had an UNI
brella to manage against q strong
wind.
Gradually the bag softened with the
dampness and chung like a plaster to
the round yellow spheres within. a
tiny crack appeared widened, lengthen-
ed, and the whole dozen oranges ca
tapulted into the street as though shot
out OF a machine gun.
Mike Kubelik, carter for Seliem &
Hatch, was hauling a wagon load OF
oranges from the Bay street market TO
a West End branch. Crossing Suth
avenue, a rear wheel caught in a a
track and came off. And Immediately
there was an avalanche of oranges In
all directions that the delighted street
gamins will remember all their lives.
Now when Lucis's bag broke, she,
too, was crossing South avenue. and
moreover, It was at the same instant
that Mike lost a wheel. So when she
felt tho bag give and made a frantic
| effort to save her breakfast fruit she
looked down to sec, not a dozen, but
hundreds of dozens of oranges roll
about her feet. 1t was startling TO say
the least, and she had a sudden missiv-
ing as to her senses. But then the
wheel and the wagon and excited Mike
! came into her vision and she realized
at once what had happened.
Already half a dozen urchins 4
| gathered around and were filling
| Jacket pockets as fast as they could.
Mike, with fist. whip and many ours
iuCs, was doing the best he could 10
defend his treasure, but 1t was futile.
Lucia, seeing no chance OF revtving
| her bag into a semblanCc of use. de-
| cidcd TO use her umbrella as a recep-
table and closed It. Then she stopped
and started deliberately TO count a
dozen oranges into its black SILK re-
ccsses.
iii thcrc!" Mike came up bclliEer-
emily flourishing his weapon. You
putta dem down"
Lucia understood his suspicious and
started TO explain. These are mine:
lost some, too. just when you upset.
But the other vas too much excited
to listen to reason.
"You putta dem back"
I'LL not
Mike reached for the umbrella Just
MS a MAJ stopped between them and
nut out 81 restraining hand.
Let the lady alone" he said quiet
III. Attic one OF authority. Mike step
ned back without another word II
his whip fell.
G and attend TO those boys and
IN gel Il policeman to help YOU" the
newcomer said. and to Lucia: Have
Won got all your property? II 50 III
helm YOU out OF this"
II think + have. 1t hard count
/ inc with that man shaking his fist un-
der my nose" she laughed. The
oranges arc all here in my umbrella.
But it's raining hard. You'll get
soaked"
.I'yc no other place to put them"
"What's the matter with these dep
pockets in my coat?
"But you mustn't go home with INC.
| live-oh. ever so far"
$50 much the better. There. and
there, and there. and here! guess
I've got them all" raising the umbrcl-
la.
"Really, l feel guilty about taking
you so far ont Of your way. It's six
blocks more and we can't take a car"
"I'm glad you appreciate the awful
sacrifice | am making" he said ober-
I'm keep quiet If you are going to
maze fun of me-" Then SUDDENLY: But
theirs no use in our quarreling, is
there? Wasn't the whole thing fun
At the door the oranges had to be
transferred. won't you come in2"
asked Lucia. "Ill gets dish for them"
So the mar went in and they emptied
the fruit into a black and white china
bowl.
"Thtrteen!" he exclaimed. by