, 1916-04-20
With 26 LETTERS
BY JANE OSBORN.

with magazines and futtering papers,
had already spread herself under the
shade of the lone apple tree that was
allowed to grow unmolested in the
middle of the newly-mown bayfield,.
Its not my tree n it's not my
shade" the man in overalls drawled,
with the unwillingness to answer a
question directly that was character
istic of tina section of the country.
But II it were mine I'd give you a
deed for life on that particular spot
of shade. You see, Mr.. Owens owns
the farm. I'm just
"Of course, Mr.. Owens doesn't OBJ
ject," the girl laughed, gathering a
neat collection of stones from the
ground where she was sitting. You
are Mr.. OWENS new help, aren't you?
And your name is Tom Fenn," said
the girl pleasantly, opening a port
folio that was part of her equipment.
YES, and you're Miss Betty Brown
and you are visiting your aunt at the
next farm. l heard the Owens folks
talking about you this morning. But
may l ask what you are going to do
with those stones?"
Certainly" the girl smiled, land
I'll tell you. l am about to begin my
mornings writing out here under this
tree and | want the stones to keep
down the papers. The chiel trouble
with writing outdoors is that the pa
pers blow about, but l simply can't
get my thoughts to work in one OF
those stuffy farmhouse rooms. l can't
even read in there"
The farmer had dropped the bucket
that he was carrying and had stopped
to pick up the book that lay at the
girls feet.
"You wouldn't care much for that"
she explained. 81 don't imagine
Ridgeway Norris is read much in this
part of the country. In fact, ]
couldn't understand him myself at
first. But he is all the age with real
writer's. 1 try to read a littl before
l start to write. He is so stimulating.
What did you say his name was?'
The farmer had dropped the book and
stood looking eagerly at h girl. NO
l guess we don't go in for anything
like tina up here. He's what you'd
call a %highbrow, isn't he?"
"Oh, decidedly" smiled the girl, be
ginning the mornings operations by
putting long, tGpering points on the
collection OF pencils she had brought
with her.
THE Owens folks didn't say that
you were u writer"
The girl laughed. "They don't know
1t. | never sold anything-that is, any.
thing to brag about-and | don't talk
much of my ambitions. But I'm crazy
about it," The girl pressed the book
by Ridgeway Norris to her and gave
a delightful little laugh of happiness.
"Just think of a wonderful thing
1t is! Just think what a man like Nor
ris can do with just those twenty-six
little letters OF the alphabet-makes
you laugh or cry, fills you with dread,
suspicion, joy or remorse to suit his
within, and all with those funny little
twenty-six letters"
T queer" said the farmer medi-
tatively. 81 never thought of writing
that way before. l have sometimes
thought"-he was cautious in the sug-
gestion-"that / might do a little writ
ing myself. There is II story | could
tell that | think would make folks sit
up and take notice. If 1 only had some
one to help me. Say" he added with
a smile that fascinated Betty, may
be you'd help me? You are a begin
ner, too. Well, suppose we begin to-
gether. l can't get much time off,
but I'll ask Mr.. Owens about giving
me two or three hours every morning.
Work is a little slack anyway. guess
he'll let me-
Betty knit her brows ever 80
slightly and then something in the
keen young face of the farmer reas-
sured her. Il am sure | should en-.
Joy it," she said. Even If we don't
get very far, it will at least give me
q new point of view"
The next morning at the appointed
hour Betty u her farmer collabor-
ator seated under the tree in the
shade. He was neatly putting points
on the assortment of pencils that he
explained they let him have cheap at
the general store.
You see," he told Betty, as she
spread her cushion down on the grass
and arranged the folds of her dainty
frock abou her. Il have got the
stones collected" He pointed to a pile
Of the most symmetrical stones he had
been able to gather in the field. so
far, think 1 am learning well. Now
what is the text thing TO do? Have
you got that highbrow book that you
were telling me about?"
Betty explained that she had de-
cided Ridgeway Norris ought to be
left at home. we must forget that
anyone ever wrote 2 story before we
did. We must fill our minds 30 full of
the characters and the plot we are
writing about that wen Just have to
tell u story well. If we sell 1t we