Middletown transcript., 1916-05-06
COpXRIG17T RY ZzE CE2zI1gY CO

as Lab1ataT
Thine was when orchids was an
ambition; now they's jest a business.
In Eurup, it's some different. They's
collectors hankerin' after new varie-
ties an houses that keeps men lOokin'
for 'em but in America, you max me,
If an orchid don't make up well Oh
the missus' bodice or on the table, 1t
amt business; an they's few million
children CROWN up to the idea that If
1t amt a Cattieya it amt an orchid"
Kemp came to himself, blushed and
hurried out as If on urgent business.
Lieber looked at Gerry's thoughtful
face and smiled. Who'd have thought
he'd ever talk that way in daylight"
lie said.
Il think" replied Gerry, "it was
your Offering to let him make this
place his headquarters. 1t ratified him
and started him off. l could see he
was grateful"
Perhaps that was IT," said Lieber.
Hes a queer one. He never asked
me. 1t just occurred to me to suS-
gest it because I'm getting to enjoy
having Kemp around"
Gerry nodded. His eyes fell on the
clock and he got up with start. The
sun was at its highest when he reached
Fazenda Flores. Thou hast been
away a long time" said Margarita re-
proachfully.
Gerry jumped off his horse and
kissed her. Then he picked up his
son and set him in the saddle. Mar
garita 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 its perilous
perch to her bosom. And manlike the
Man protested with a bad-tempered,
whole-lunged vail that rent the air
and brought Dona Maria to the corner
of the house to peer at them with eyes
shaded under cupped hands.
A few days later the rains came in
earnest. passed and Gerry contracted
with Lieber for labor to be paid for in
produce. Fazenda Flores blossomed
and bore fruit. People began to come
in from afar to barter for produce and
a buyer appeared and took over the
whole of the little cotton crop. Gerry
poured money into Margarita's lap
more money than she had ever seen
and sent her under escort of Dona
Maria and Bonifacio and the Man to
purchase all Of comfort and furbelows
that the tiny market of Piranhas could
supply.
They were to be gone two days and
Gerry left the Fazenda in charge of
his foreman to 60 and spend the time
with Lieber and Kemp. He found
Kemp in a sort of controlled elatiOn
over the greatest shipment of CONNER
cial orchids the trade had ever known.
Just after Gerry's arrival two men
appeared bearing a monster plant of
over two hundred leaves strung, like
the grape cluster of Eschol, on a pole.
Kemp's deep-set eyes seemed to
grow out of his head as he made out
their burden. "Hi-yip' he yelled and
rushed off to the corral where he threw
himself on to an astonished heifer.
For one second she squatted and then
went mad. With yell and fogging hat
Kemp poured oil on the fire of her
frenzy. She bucked and twisted and
all but somersaulted in her efforts to
rid herself of the demon on her back
On the veranda, Lieber and Gerry held
their sides and roared at the most
grOtesque fine riding they had ever
seen. Finally, with desperate lunge.
the heifer breasted the corral fence.
1t caught her middle and she teetered
over Kemp turned a handspring from
her back and landed on his feet The
heifer scrambled free from the fence
and tore, wild-eyed, out into the desert.
Laughter rang from every side. Three
herders threw themselves on to their
horses and rode, shouting, after the
heifer Kemp Strengthened out his hat,
put it on, and walked sedately over to
the veranda. There was only a faint
CLINT in his eye as he bought the mon
ster plant to crown the monster ship
ment.