Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-07-21
The Ride to
Paradise
By MARTHA MewILLIAMs
& ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
90 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

H~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4
90 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.J
Upon lovely, languid June after
noon Hopley Dean suffered suffO-
eating sense of newness. His clothes
were fire-new, his car likewise; he
had driven it along new street in a
town that, old on the map, was wholly
new to his experience. Moreover; he
had In his pocket many new business
cards, by help whereof he hoped to
make new acquaintances promising
much profit.
The first of these potential acquaint-
ances were, however, ancient, indeed
almost venerable, In the eyes Of their
neighbors. This partly from age, part
ly also from the fact that they had
owned farm where now the new
street ran, and had Leen too canny to
were leaseholds, on long and easy
terms, to be sure, but inalienable with
out a by-your-leave to the first own
ers.
Hopley had gone straight from col
lege into real estate--and with great
success. "Send Hop O. My Thumb
he'll fetch EN-" had grown to be an
Office Jest when things kinked or
snarled. Especially with women--he
had surely way. Yet he was not a
bit spoiled-all the witchcraft he ever
used was a CHEEKY manner, a pleasant
soft voice, breathing Difference before
1t could be spoken, and a spirit OF
genuine fairness, exc of kindliness-he
would go mile to do errands that
could profit him nothing.
Naturally Hay & Hawkins cherished
him, gave him the cream of their
business, never batted an eye over ex-
pense accounts nor frowned if he
stretched weekend leave day or so.
The firm was, happily, daughterless-
else it is safe to guess there would
have been battle royal for the Hop
ley prize.
A power in the big city, the firm yet
ran strongly to developments. Hence
Hopley's presence here, where still the
scent of roses and the tang Of ripe
fruit haunted the summer air. Today
his quarry was to be the Finley sis
ters-three single ladies-no whit I'M
certain either, as to their ages or
their business. He stepped inside their
gate, smiling little at the house front
lit was Of the solidest red brick and
was redeemed from forblddingness
only by brick penthouse above the
entrance that was as humorous as a
gargoyle.
Hopley grlnned ingratiatingly ut II
before lifting the big brass knocker.
Three times he knocked In vain. AS
he turned to leave he heard faint sing
ing from somewhere back, so picked
his way along a rearward path that
ended lower down in tangle of plum
and brier thickets. An outlaw cherry
tree rose tall and slim from the mid
die Of the thickets. 1t was loaded with
dead-ripe fruit-so darkly red it was
black. And up in the very top there
was a boy in overalls singing and
swinging perilously by one hand and
foot, the while the other hand plum
dered the twigs farthest to reach.
Again Hopley grinned-cherries
dead-ripe ones, were his special weak
ness. He all but ran toward the tree,
calling as he went: Throw down a
hatful, sonny-I'll pay you all right.
I'd climb for 'em myself If the tree
had room for us both"
Sonny started visibly-swung too
far out and over, lost foothold, chung
by both hands to the trunk. which
branched little below, and brought
half of 1t down with a crash upon
Hopley's head. The overalled one lay
prone upon the plum boughs, but
rolled from them to the earth, and
crawled out, saying angrily: "Pd like
TO know what you are here for?"
Cherries The same as YOU"
Hopley began-then stopped short,
blushing crimson. Inside the overalls
there was no boy, but girl, pretty In
spite of scratched face, snub nose,
and sleeve ripped out of the dress
underneath her disguise.
you're a nlnny" she said sue
flncliy. III ITeeDOOler. just Inat.
I did want cherries-less to eat than
to gather them-so offered those three
old cats ten dollars to let me do IT.
they turned me down cold--any way,
they hate granny and all her works
so when I saw them go Off in their old
chariot put on these" looking proud
yy at her outer integument, "and came
for the good of their souls"
'How happened 1t you had emf"
Hopley asked with twinkling eyes.
.Lou-that's the other one of us,
my cousin. you know--fell for that
farmerette fool doings-these are
hers" the girl explained. 'Pity you
hadn't on some. Just look at your
coat. You'll never get the stains out.
/ hope you can afford new one"
after a while-maybe. Now, let's
eat our fill of cherries" Hopley re-
turned, suiting action to words. TWEEN
ty minutes later, hardly marred by
conversation, he wiped a CORY mouth
with purple fingers, then said, refiec-