The St. Charles herald., 1922-12-23
BuMBLEBEES
y MRS. ADDIE GRAVES

am part of it, by your wheedilng a'u
tude." 4obs
..Fu tell you, Mary. want TO taks
. canvass of the town for money 20
pay that big doctors bill tnat snn
Nichols owes. It worries him because
Harris needs the money. I'll cali on
the men, and you see the women. ~
days Sunday; they'll be arounu' anu
maybe they will feel more like giving.
.pm willin' as Barkis; III tacAle
Parthenie Flint. and you're welcome :"
Ike Peabody"
While Mary fed the chickens 1onn
harnessed old Jim and they starteu on
their rounding up of the towns pe
ravo,ence. When they came to Ike fea-
body's they saw him raking up nay
with his horse. Jumping the wall. Jonn
WAS soon in front Of his problem-to
get $40 out of man who had never
been known to give up 10 cents.
AFTERNOON, John. I'm raking up TINS
| f,ne timothy; don't believe In taxing
chance when hay is $3o q ton ID ene
barn"
"Don't look like rain, Ike"
| ~Neyer can tell, suppose you wan.
something, OF. you wouldn't De nele'
eyes Ike, / want SO. We're gong
around for money to pay jim Nicnols
doctor bill"
.Let them 60 to work and pay tner
bills. like do. don't ask favors-
never did n never shall"
.You might break leg some day, OF
have something worse happen 70 you'
and you're all alone!"
/ Mary found Parthenie watering neE
flower garden. =,
"Did Ike give you anything, MARY .
/ inquired Parthenie.
/ .No. he wouldn't give John cent.
.Tll tell you what TIL do, mary
When you go back, you see Ike again.
and tell him will give as much as ne
win. But I will see you again, any
way"
when they returned, Ike was MOI
visible. John heard faint cries. Fol
lowing the sound. he came to an ole
well. Looking in, he saw Ike IN
helpless heap. Between groans, lK'
explained he had driven into bum
blebees' nest and old Bill hao rW
: away, throwing him in.
/ aIf you will get rope and throw !
In I guess can climb out
Ike's pain was increasing. JON
thought it time to get down to bus
ness.
.rll give you my price. Ike. I kno'
you always have a checkbook IN you
pocket-guess you keep one under you
pillow nights. You make out cnec
for $500. the amount Of that mortgae
Won have on Sam Nichols farm. an
ri hustle for doctor. am afra1
you have broken something"
IKE made out the check with his le
hand and tied it to a string that Jon
let down to him.
The doctor found it would not
necessary to send Ike to hospital
he had someone to be with him for
few weeks. When they explain!
their need to Parthenie. she led the
ia large living room where there W
4 wide bench and several old rockn
chairs around huge fireplace.
s.What comfy room." thought 9
doctor .All it needs Is people.
He did not know that Parthenie h
refused to marry Ike in front OF tn
] very fireplace, and had never told q
I why.
When the doctor had departed,
wondered whether he were an aw'
IL ened Rip Van Wrinkle. Parthenie b
er brought some Of her beautifully Hg
4 fine9rained bread with some hor
RI from her own hives. A vainly puffed-
niece Of lemon pie rested on pl'
beside It. fanked with thick slice
frosted pound cake dotted with butt
nuts.
= Ike did not dream that all this '
premeditated. 8
sTm not laughing at You. Ike. 4
agreed to give Jim Nichols as much
i they could get out Of you. Wasn't y
i clever and lucky r
VI @Well. Parthenie, / always was
fsh and avaricious; and when I dit
net you. all / had to live for was "
ana money. don't blame John"
Al ~And all I had to live for was q
ers, and to see II could run farm
well as you and bank-as much mon'
.Why wouldn't you marry me,
thenie7'
Il thought you loved money n
than Won did me. would be Onl