The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1921-02-10
BILL JONES
By JACK LAYTON.
6. 1920, Western Newspaper Cnion.)

Bob turned lmpaHeully III tllc 1'''u'
mock.
IF you don't stop walking around
Man." he said, an move on. It's i'm
possible to read or even to think IN
your uneasy presence. BY all that's
reasonable, what is the matter with
you?"
Nan caught up a porch pillow and
aimed It at her brother.
"You are the mattcr,' she rcplcd;
"you and the rest Of our aimleSs
crowd. am so tired Of motoring win
silly Claud Barnett, and you had no
right to promise William Launcelot a
meeting with me this afternoon. His
name shows what he would be like;
l don't want to know him."
Bob regarded his sister.
"Your real trouble" he said frankly,
us too much good fortune. If you
had to get out and work like some
girls it would be better for you"
Nan merely nodded her pretty head.
II think 50 too," she said-"and the
same to yourself"
IT," her brother lazily remarked,
IAN contented with things as they
are. Tile rule does not apply. How
ever" he laughed as he opened his
book, IF ambition overwhelms you get
out on the farm and help Cy with the
grapes"
"I'n do It," she said; ut will he DIFF
| ferent. I'm going to put on A singham
dress and start for the vineyard now.
I will apply incognito-Nancy Tucker
from Tuckersville; don't you dare
breathe word"
Bob grinned.
"Yes-you-will," he jeerod ht@
Nan was gone. Her pink S'r"Aam
dress was appropriately faded. and
she tucked her hair under a common
garden hat and steered her little car
farn1ward. She found convenient
parking place in a wooded spot, and
walked on in a CHEEKY sense OF ad'
venture. The pickers were varions'?
assembled and the spreading vine
yards made an inviting picture.
The man called Cy was no: pleas
ing, as she had hoped to find him.
Nan wus really a bit disappointed
perhaps In all this picturesqueness she
had also hoped to find divertingly
picturesque personality. Cy was mat
ter of fact to brusqueness'
"Get busy If you want the 5ob'" he
answered her timid application, and
pointed out the way.
Nan approached the 1ouded vines
hesitatingly, then smiled, and began
her task. The morning was extremely
hot; to the end Of the orderly row
seemed "]ong, long trail" indeed
But presently as she hut11fned and
conscientious1y picked, man came
down the long trail with basket
"Good day for picking" he pleasant
ly remarked.
Nan nodded. She vas not acduuit1t
ed with the etiquette Of the tit1e
ward, but as the voting t11an inter
spersed soft whistled tunes with cas-
ual conversation, she forgot about Ell
quette and answered him In good
natured ca111uruderie.
MY name Is plain Bill JONES'" he
told her; ''eusy to remember. I'm not
working here regularls-just filling In
And yOu-?"
, Nan turned down the britn Of the
garden hat to hide her confusion. I'm
just filling in, too" she sai|'
! "Where are sou going to eat YOU
iunch7" Bill Jones asked In the friend
" manner which was not In the leas
oresumptuous
j.. II am going to eat mine back iii
shady spot near the fence. Aunt TIL
~ fixed a generous packet Of sand
wiches for me, and doughnuts. Yo>
will have to have one Of those. Atm
Titles doughnuts were made to b.
shared"
t "Thanks," said Nan; II witt"
, But the shrewd dark eyes read he
subterfuge as she attempted to Sill
away.
: "You haven't brought lunch witt
J. you," accused Bill Jones. "Please sta,
and share mine.'
And some way or other the appeal
ing please was impossible to re
. slst. Two soiled and weary picker
promptly made their way to certa}l
shady place near the fence, and com
muned as they ate their meal.
II think" said Nan at last In q sinai
voice, that I'll just work an hou
more, then 90. It does make one
back ache, doesn't it7"
Bill Jones was at once stmpathet
ic. "Stop right where you are, If yo1
feel that way" he advised.
$ MN went slowly and regretfull
down the road to a woodsy spot wher
y she had parked her car; It seemed
:" pity to have to run away from tn
/ only really happy day Of ones visit
- = ~.