The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-12-16
The Pear Tree
90. 1870. western Newspaper Union.)
By HELEN EvERS

Inc tai RO~Ou-ioOklnk nah ut NV
desk brushed his hair back from his
studious forehead and glanced up i'm
patiently.
"well Dan" he asked, what Is It
this timer"
BEG pardon sir" Dan said apollo
getlcally, II know you asked not to be
Interrupted Mr.. Hammond, but tails
young lady"
young lady" the man at the desk
exclaimed, his tone expressed exasper~
alton. II asked to be guarded from
young ladies, especially"
II know Mr.. Hammond" Dan has
tened to say, "and I have guarded you
well, but it's your fame. ! reckon. MIR.
Hammond, that has got here before
you an you bein' a bach, and all"
'Dan,' cried the master OF the house
fiercely, twill you stop talking and
leave me l was at a most interesting
point In my work"
"But this lady," Dan went on un-
moved, us different from the rest OF
EN-, she says she's got to see you II
only for q minute. an she's the one
who moved into the little house next
door,"
Clark Hammond laughed with n
Of his sudden changes Of humor. The
spinster person." he said. II recOllect
now that Louisa told me a spinster
had taken the house. Show her In,
Dan, and let's get 1t over quickly"
The old serving man grinned as he
shufrled OUT Of the room while the
'.splnister person" entered In Q sort
Of soft little rush and sat down In q
big study chair. Professor Clark Ham,
mond stared for a moment ~unbllnking-
ly. the intruder was so different from
what she expected. She held a huge
basket upon her knees as she waited,
almost trepidantly. The "spinster per.
son" from next door had more the ap-
p%earance of a small boy who had been
caught robbing ones orchard. which
was nearer the truth than the profess
sor knew. She was, in fact. petite
Nan Norris, lately Of the city.
won't YOU" the professor asked
pleasantly, ''allow me to relieve you
Of that great basket"
The young woman looked o
startled than ever; then as the rose
color flooded her cheeks she spoke
quickly.
"You are going to be dr~eadfully
angry with me Professor Hammond"
she said, "and l owe you an apology.
You see, l did not know that 1t was
your tree and l stripped 1t completely"
IT am afraid" the man said puzzled.
that / do not understand"
"It was she answered steadily.
your priced pear tree that ] robbed.
the one with which you have been
making experiments. l thought II was
on our line. we have recently rented
the house next door and l went out
one evening with some Of the school
boys to help me, and we picked all
your pears"
A light Of pleasant "reminiscences
came to the blue eyes. ut was a glori-
Gus moonlight night" the girl added,
land the pears were small and sweet
as sugar"
when old Mrs. Ryan told me next
day-Mrs. Ryan Is the woman who Is
going to live with me here-that the
pear tree was on your property, I
I had given away most OF the pears,
sent them to the city came from, to
people there who do not often have
pears or nice things to eat. and the
rest / canned"
Clark Hammond leaned back In his
chair watching the various emotions
fit across the girls sweet face. His
own first emotion Of chagrin and dis
appointment gave way suddenly to
sympathetic amusement.
"And now" he asked whimsically.
"what are you going to do about itf'
II cannot offer to pay for all those
pears yet" the young pms answered
as she removed the wrappings while
the professor leaned forward incredu-
lousy to inspect the contents Of neatly
labeled jars.
these are the spiced pears" the
girl explained. II hope-that you viii
accept them" a
She regarded her offering ruefully.
"They are the very first that ! ever
did up In my life. and they turned out
splendidly." Her eyes were pleading.
wont you?" she begged. "just as =
sort OF peace offeringf"
There was something strangely dis
concerning In hat ~blue-eyed repentant
gaze II was Clark Hammond's turn to
flush. and he emerged from the pro-
cedure pleasantly perturbed.
"I1l tell you what" he agreed boy
ishly. lust bring some pears over
whenever I happen to feel that I'd
like them. Dan will let you know"
The girl laughed. II am proud Of
my own experiment" she said. then
asked hesitatingly. But what Of
yoursT
"A small matter" he generously
assured her.
And one late fall evening Nan. enter
ing the professors dining room with