The Dolores star., 1924-11-07
Getting Even
for the Slam
He Gave Her
By HAROLD CARTER

t@. ls24. west-tn News.aper unlon.l

John, he said Solemnly, arising,
you are lucky man."
Then-" began John Hilton, with
trembling voice.
1T is just what you thought" an
sWered the other. "It is the blended
strawberry"
"Worth?"
"A plant like that would be worth
about two thousand dollars" said
Price
The blended strawberry. which
would bear fruit all the summer. had
already been created, six years before.
ny Bergback. But the plant died. and
nifty thousand crossings had failed to
develop 1t again.
The seeds of the strawberry would
he fertile. There was no doubt of that.
But the plant had borne only one fruit,
Just as Bergback's had done
"Minna!" called John Hilton ex-
Greedy as he saw sunbonnet appear
at the back porch. "Mnna, come
herel''
A pretty little woman made her way
toward the excited pair Mnna Hill
ton was bride of eight months She
was still as much In love with John as
when they had been married We'll!
Have you two old fogies found some
thing remarkable?' she asked.
Henry Price was an old bachelor
HIS affection for John. whom he had
known good many years, had man
aged to survive Johns marriage. But
ne mad never overcome his feeling of
Jealousy toward the woman who had
come 10 share Johns life.
Don't tell her. John" he whispered,
covertly. '1f she knew that straw
berry was worth fortune"
81 know what you want to show me.
dear" said Minna. "It's that funny
speckled strawberry, isn't It? no.
ticed 1t this morning."
"Yes, my dear" answered John In a
choking voice. And please remember
mat 1t Is to be preserved very care
fully But though he seemed calm
enough he was angry with Price What
right had the old fogy inslnuatng that
| Minna was"
John" said Price. as he stood at
the door. saying good-by. I'm sorry IL
| l accidentally"
"Oh, that's all right, old man." an
| swered John. His good humor was
completely restored by that time.
But John" persisted Price. "for
heavens sake don't say word about
1t to anybody. You have fortune in
that single plant
Certainly 1t did seem as though the
only safety lay in absolute silence.
The single fruit was invaluable. II
was to be plucked as carefully as
though 1t were the last hair from the
Buddha's head, and placed in pot,
and Price was to convey 1t to a green
house, and
The day was set for the experiment.
and on that afternoon Price came to
tea. Minna made them nave tea be-
fore going into the garden. But both
| men were too much absorbed in
thought to eat much. In vain Minna
tempted them with her scones and
cakes.
Wont you try little more of my
jam?" she asked Price coaxingly. "You
know, 1t was you and Johnny who are
responsible for It,"
"How is that. my dear?" John asked
why, I've made ii from the best
fruit in the garden" she answered,
"and put the blended strawberry In.
! Just as you told me-"
'What?" yelled both men in chorus.
Dear me, how excited you both
are" said Minna loftily. "Didn't YOU
tell me, Johnny, that it was to be pre-
served carefully"
"YOu-you put the strawberry-the
strawberry in that iam?" inquired
John Hilton, gazing at his wife st'.ni'y.
"Yes, Johnny. Wasn't thN right"
"Oh, yes, it was right enough" re-
piled her husband "Only-well. you
have lost us a fortune, Minna, that's
all"
Henry Price elared at the poor
woman and then. withort word,
dashed out into the hall and thrust IN
his hat A moment later the garden
gate slammed behind him.
This sound, indicative of his final
departure, relieved the tension Of the
situation. Mnna put her head down
upon her folded arms. John rose up
awkwardly and came behind her and
put his arms about her.
"Never mind. dear" he said. at was
my fault, and you couldn't have
known. I'll try again, Minna. Don't
|scryr'
The tears were streaming down
Minna's face. but she was not crying !;
she was laughing hystericallys
"Oh. Johnny she said, "I-it-well.
II wasn't true!"
mot true! You didn't put the
blended strawberry"
mo. It's still there where 1t WAS
growing. But I just wanted to pay
that old Henry Price for being so
mean. You see, heard what he said.
and"
"Minna,' said John, solemnly, five
minutes later, when he had satisfied
himself that the strawberry was really
| there 81 guess things have been