The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-12-16
The Pear Tree
By HELEN EvERS

"'N ''"Nt ~ HNh'hf VIM ~ "
this timer"
beg pardon SIR" Ian said apollo
rctlcally. n know sou asked not ~ be-
interrupted Mr. Hammond. bat this
younr lads
"Nouns lady ." The uuu ~ the desk
exclaimed, hi tome expressed c.asp,r.
alton. I asked to be- guarded from
young ladies'. especially"
Il know Mr.. Hammond" Dan has
tened to say. "lud | have guarded ,vu
well, but IL your fame. reckon. Mr.
liamn"~l that has got here before
you, ~ yor bein' bach. and an"
Dan. cried the MASTER ~ the house
/ hercelv. WAL sou stop tnlhIug md
| leave me; ! was 40 most Interesting
/ polnt ia my work
hut this lady Dan went on un.
moved. Is different from th, rest ~
"in. she says shes got to see you u
only Tor u minute. an she. The On.
who moved into the little nous, newt
door"
clark Hammond laughed with Un.
~ his sudden changes uf humor The
,pinstcr per."u." BE- said n rvcoIIe,t
now that L"uls3 told mr % sp.ust,s
had taken ibc huU-. Show her la
Ian. and lets e,t 30 over quickly"
The old serving man griuurd 40 he
>hunlrd "ut 30 the room while %.
'spiu.'"r person" entered lu sort
~ soft little rush aud sat down I'm "A
big study chair Professor Clark Ham.
m"nd stared Tor moment uubHnkinr.
~ The INTRUDER was su J.firr-ut from
what she expected Sh, held a huge
basket upon her knees MS she waited
almost tr'p'daufiN m, "spIuster Per.
s"n' from nDNt iuur bed more the 90.
p"arInrv OF o. small hul Who had been
caught r'hl.ul ones orchard which
was nearer TIE truth than the prufr-
Sur knew. So" was. iu fuct. petite
Nan Norris lately uf the c.ts.
Won't YOU. flr professor asked
pleasantly allow we 20 r,lIcy. you
u that great basket
The youu. wHugn looked more
startled than ever then us the rus"
color flooded her checks she spoL.
quickly
You are soinr To- De- drcudfurly
angry with mr Professor Hammond"
she said. "uud I owe you ara apology
You see ! did not know that IL was
your tree ani stripped n completely"
Il am afraid. 'hc man said puzzled
that | 30 not understand"
IT was" she answered steadily
'your priced pear tree that robbed.
The one with which you have BEEN ,
making experiments thought u was
'n our line We hs,r recently rented
the hou~r next door and went out
'ne evening with some ~ the school
boys io help m" md we picked an
Tour pear"
\ HIGHT ~ pleasant "Reminiscences
anne =" the hin. owes. III wns giorl. s
us moonlight night" the girl added
'nnd the pear, we're small and sweet d
j. sugar" .
When ull Mrs Ryan todd me- u~Nt
lay Mrs. Ryan N the woman who j.
ulug To- live with me hyre-ihnt the
'cnr tree was IN your property. /
had given avny most - The pears.
mt them o. the city I came from. 20
.cuple there who 10 not often have u
'"ars or nice things 'o eat. aud the q
est canned"
Clark Hammond leaned back In his :.
hair watching the various emotions
N icrus~ the girls sweet face. llis
wa frst emotion of chngrin aud NJ.
ppninimvnt gave way sudiculy tu
amusement.
And now" BE- asked whlmslcally
what ar" you -ulug to do about 80" "
II cannot ofTrr ~ pay Tor an those n
rar- Yet. the Young woman answered Do
: IA. removed the Wrappings while n
ie professor leaned forward ircrrdu
'usly to Inspect the contents ~ neati, 3
lhcicd lars.
These nrr tho spicei pears" the
IN explained 4 hor"-that you viii
cccpi them"
She regarded her Offering ru.fury "
They are The very first that ever 81
III up IN my NE. and they turned out pi
Her eyes were pleading :,
Won't youf' She begged. "iuI us 70 l
ri ~ peace o1cringT" -.
There was something strangely dis
incerilnR In that hluc-rycd rrpou'nni "
We; II was Clurb 'inmmond's turn - '
nh. and he emerged from the pro i
'durp pleasantly p'rturhed u
I'm tell You what" be agreed boy Of
HIS. lust hr.na some rrnrs over tf
hene,cr I happen To- feel that Id
ge them. pau viii lct you know" o.,
The giri laughed II am proud NJ
y own experiment she said then a..
kcd hesllniInsly. "Iut what ~ "'
lursf" h
~ small matter" hc generously on
.surcd her ivi
And onc late nm evening Nan. enter ia
Z the profrssor'- dining room with in
r Dish ~ pears found there places bs
III fnr two. "a
~ hope" Car iismmond said with
~ dlfiidencl chat you viii s'ag ~
spare me another lonely meal "'
We always wondered" he went on.