Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-10-10
Wanted to Give the
Acid Test
By MARTHA WILLIAMS



you see, their second day in the coun-
try-lt bad gone to their heads. set
ting up primal riots In their starved
souls. Besides, the strawberries were
50 tempting-blushlng ripe scarlet up
through their green leaves there In the
morning sunshine.
Tit won't hurt to smell the
heavenly thingsl" Ruth cried softly.
laying her face on the soft green
leaves with an ecstatle inhalation.
1T would be wicked to leave this
It's simply crying to be eaten.'
Fanny hung back, popping a big red
oval into her mouth, with gasp
Of delight over the taste Of It. Ruth
began mentally to say: "ohl We
mustn'tp but stopped, hearing
cracked voice crying to them: "Hey,
you pickersl Show me yer feet
Can't have you clompln' up and
down-mash more berries than yer
pickings all days pay for"
"We are not" Ruth hegan-
Fanny silenced her with look, and
called back: ave both wear num-
Der threesi What does the job
payl"
Depends on you yerself. Two
pence er basket, take run er the
vines-and no skippin's to pick only
big uns,' came back. "Hut how
come ye ter be here7 amt told
nobody to call in hauds-though
sorter need 'em. My gals, Sue and
Sally. run of and got married last
night-tOok er mean advantage right
In the height Of the crop. Sent my
old woman to fetch 'em back-and
they won't come onless III gree ter
take on the pair o rascals they've
hitched up with. SO I've called up
Tobe Wilson, the shlppln' feller ter
come and pick the berries--he needs
'em ter I'LL out er kyar. Was hit him
that sent YER
moi A little bird told u.s." Fanny
laughed.
"Hop to I'll" cried the berry own.
er. Come git baskets. Up at the
shed, ye know-the old shOestrlng's
thar-she does the packing and keeps
tally. Ye shall have a full day-no
matter whut Wilson says. He's comm
out with truekload"
Reckon he can be Luther wilson1"
Ruth asked in panic.
Fanny laughed softly. 81 hope So"
''Why7' Ruth whispered.
"ol 1 want to give him the acid
test. Be sure he won't know us
from his grandmother, In kahki knick-
ers and palmetto hats. Remember.
even in the office he was never more
than dimly conscious we were not ma
chimes"
"AIl set, Pop Tiptoni" he roared
cheerlly. II raided the high school,
teachers and everything brought bas-
kets. crates, sorters-lunch is to come
later"
Pep grinned happily. mulled around
among the rioters. sorted out the
splay-foOted and doomed them TO
shed work, made the old shoestrlng,
his wife, give place to the professor
Of mathematics as tally keeper. and
said impressively to Wilson: "Say.
Luther. them two volunteers Is got TO
be kept on-they come to my help
when 1t seemed like help thar wasn't
none.'
Luther nodded, never looking at the
pair. Ruth looked at Fanny amazed.
Half a year In the open, away from
office work. had surely made new
man of him. He had been exacting
there, likewise impatient and sharp
Of speech, never anything worse.
BY eleven O'Clock Ruth, one EN-
bodied ache, slouched under the shed,
saying as she set down two filed bas-
kets: "We're qulttlng-my partner
and !. Checks. pleased Numbers
one and two"
Wilson was within hearing. She
did not notice HIS faint start as he
overheard. But instantly he flung at
her: Quilting isn't allowed on this
Job. Go rest ten mlnutes-there in
the shade-get your second wind-it
will last you to the finlsh."
Amazedly she obeyed. Fanny tagging
behind. stared to see IT, But she also
took refuge from the sun under thick
grape LEAKAGE. where truly enough
strength and courage came back. SO
the pair worked on, less feyerishly. but
more effectually.
Picking was over by three o'clock
the truck laden with crates, the pick
ers struggling joyOusly homeward with
money in both pockets. A fleet Of
flivvers had come for them, mostly
from their homes. But Ruth and
Fanny were laggards. Wilson had
not spoken to them as though they
were other than strangers, and they
did not wish to thrust themselves upon
his consciousness. After a long rest
they would go as they had come. afoot,
enjoying all the wonders Of the coun-
tryside. Only three miles to Grandma
Wares small, tidy place.
The last fIiyver had gone. Pop and
the old shoestring were al home. quar-
rellng with their enlarged family.
Signing. the girls rose up-but stopped
dead at what confronted them. Lu-
ther Wilson, as sunburned, as berry
stained as themselves, but with the
courtlIest air in the world, smiling ami
saying: "Pm so glad you could wait
for me-my car is here-where shall
1t take your"
Heaven, If you please" Ruth said.
yawnlng He. smiled at her, saying:
81 found that right here. Since we
can't stay, let's go-and take II with
u.s." To which Fanny vouchsafed
hearty amen.
AT-Asp I'LL -c F.