Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-26
ADAMS GARDEN
A NOVEL
BY NINA WILCOX PUTNAM

ceeded to decorate the machine with
a flag reading: Votes for Women
in large black letters. A little APP
plause and laughter went4up from the
crowd, while Adam watched with a
vague wonder II anyone would come
and ask to paint something on his
shirt-front. It occurred to him, in fact,
that in the event Of his remaining, in
his present occupation, the notion
might have q commercial value. But
presently he became annoyed with
the crowd, they stared so. Besides, he
was hungry again. And pushing past
them, he hauled the organ off. For a
while g few persons, mostly children,
followed, but after q little these drop
ped off, while Adam, another twenty
fv cents the richer, went along look
ing for a place to eat. .a3
He was obliged to walk for quite a
little distance before finding one suit
ed both to his tastes and means. but
at last a tiny place wedged in behind
q corner grocery caught his atten-
ton, and, enteringj he seated himself
upon n Of the row Of stools which,
together with the counter. nearly nlled
, h little shop. He chose the seat near
est the open door, and while he ate,
looked out at the half-vacant lot on
the opposite side of the street, which
was unusual enough to arouse inter-
est.
To begin with, the corner was far
higher than the one on which the
eattng-place stood, being on a bluff
some thirty feet above the sidewalk.
The street had been blasted through
q, side hill, and the higher point was
thus still much above the level of the
pavement This far uptown there are
tached dwelling to be seen, and it was
n Of the latter which crowned the
slope across the way.
It was a frame house Of consider
able dimensions, and at the time 1t
was build had undoubtedly been the
summer residence of it's owner. Set
amid spacious grounds, it had wide
the things which city houses as a rule
have not. It was far from being a
beautiful building, with its mtd-Vic-
torian air and its decorous mansard
roof. but 1t had a great look Of COM
fort and prosperity, and. unlike most
such houses in the neighborhood, was
Immediately kept up. But odd as the
sight Of it was, here amid vacant lots
and cheap modern apartments, it was
not the house itself which attracted
Adams attention. Slightly at one side
OF It's rear was a second building-a
long, low shed with barn-like doors
opening on the smooth slope Of lawn
toward the river: and it vas this shed
which aroused his curiosity sufficient
ly to cause him to question the pro-
prtetor Of the lunch-room.
That? Oh that's Professor Endi-
colts place." said the man Columbia
professor of plants in some way. And
that barn-thing is where his daughter
keeps. her aeroplane. She's an avia-
tress."
You don't say SOL" exclaimed
| Adam. "a girl. oh ? Dooa aho on IN
much?"
Pretty near every day." said the
man. "'Bout this time, usually. Real
pretty 1t looks, though I don't hold
much with women doing such things,
and wear'n mems clothes to do it in,
like she does. Still, they do say she's
right smart at it,.
"Huh!" said Adam. eating pie and
continuing to look at the place. Every
interesting, I'm sure"
Conversation Jagged thus while
Adam devoured the last morsela Then
he asked the man another question.
.Is there a junk.man anywhere
I ton is about over, and I'd like to get
rid Of tina Internal machine I've got
out there"
"Junk-man?" said the other.
why. sure. there's a junk-man right
down this street a little ways. You'll
ma ~ easy enough. Can't miss 1t, in
fact. It's in the big vacant lot on your
right. Takes up nearly the whole
block, the place does, and the fellow
that squats there is q junk-man. The
gate in the board fence is generally
open. II not, look under the chewing
gum poster and you'll see the latch.
Just swing it OPEN"
All right Thanks" said Adam. Fl
guess I'll take it down there now"
He paid and went out, stopping on
the curb to observe the aerodrome,
the doors Of which were now open,
Curious, he waited while a whirrine
as Of a giant cricket. started up with
in. And then it darted forth, scarcely
seeming to touch the smooth lawn
with its delicate wheels, its great white
wings aquiver; conscious, almost: all
but alive, and held in leash by its
driver, a slim boy-clad figure in brown
corduroys, who perched in the frame
work as alert as a bird. Swiftly she
came on, the attendant running the
machine down the grassy slope till she
was only a little above Adam, and
not more than twenty feet away. Then
as n plane left the earth, leapine
upward into the clear blue air, Adam
felt q great throb of mingled astonish-
ment and pleasure. That slender fig.
ure. that well-set head! The smooth
! was hidden under the fttinp
aviator's cap, but the natural beauty
spot high on the cheek had beer
plainly visible. "