Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-01-27

He had. come IN the side door. I'M
needed.
His mother explained the situation.
Billy listened attentively, warming his
hands at the stove.
IF didn't have 20 much to do at
home" said Lydia, II could work here
Saturdays and Sundays and earn q
little that way"
"Well, you wouldn't, you know"
growled Billy.
Lydia and Ma Norton looked up,
startled at his tone.
"For the lands sake, Billy, why
notr exclaimed ma.
Because Lydia's getting too big
now to do these hired-girl stunts. 1t
was bad enough when she was little.
But folks'1l never forget 'em and al
ways think Of her as hired girl II
she keeps on.'
Lydia gasped and turned scarlet.
Ma Norton stared at her son AZ II she
never had seen him before. Strong
and blonde and six feet tall, he seemed
suddenly to his mother no longer a
boy but q mature man, and q very
handsome one at that. He was look
ing at Lydia now with the curious ex-
preston Of understanding that she
always brought to his gray eyes.
Lydia's voice suddenly Quivered.
"Then how can I earn money!
dead easy! You make the best
fudge In the world. Put some for sale
In the University book store. I'm
clerking there an hour every day."
"The very thfng!" cried Ma. Norton.
BILLY, you are a duckl' shrieked
Lydia.
Gimme something to eat, ma, be-
fore go out to milk" said Billy, with
a grin that struggled to be modest.
Billy's suggestion proved indeed to
be happy one. He was willing
pack horse and middleman for Lydia,
and though the demand for fudge was
never overwhelming, Lydia by the
end Of May had cleared something
over thirty-flve dollars.
Her. Joy over this method Of earning
money was not confined to it's relation
to her camping trip. She saw herself
helping to pay up their Indebtedness
to Levine, Marshall having made good
his threat to call in the note.
In. the meantime she expended the
whole Of her four dollars on pair
of buckskin outing boots and eight
dollars on a little corduroy hunting
coat and skirt. The suit was cheap
but well cut, with belt and pockets
and welted seams. The soft buckskin
shoes fitted the slender calves like
velvet. With her bright cheeks and
her yellow hair above the fawn-col-
ored corduroy, Lydia looked half boy,
half woman.
"My soul, Lydia, they're just grand !"
cried Lizzie.
"What boys are going in that
crowd?' demanded Amos.
"Charlie and Kent and-Margery's
mothers given in-'Gustus Bach. /
told you. Daddy. don't you like the
suitT'
Like It !" exclaimed Amos. Lydia,
I'm stunned by It! / wish I could
have bought you your first suit my
self, Lydia. But on a dollar and a
half day, I swan"
Lydia spun through her Junior ex-
animation blissfully. For once marks
and final averages were OF little I'M
portance to her. For the week after
school closed she was going camping !
Amos had been very sober when he
said good-by to Lydia, at half past
six. "It's your first trip, Lydia. Don't
do anything you wouldn't want your
mother to see."
Lydia looked at him wonderingly,
then threw her arms about his neck.
"Oh, daddy, don't want to 60 of
and leave you two whole weeks"
"It's too late to back out now. Go
on and have a good time" said Amos,
picking up his dinner pail. Lydia
watched him down the road. Sud
denly she realized how lonely her IA
Their must be without her mother.
Promptly at nine Charlie and Kent
whirled up to the gate In a carryall.
"Here come Miss Towne and Olga ~
cried Kent. ''Margery'n be late, Of
course"
At nine-hfteen Margery was driven
up la state by Elviry, and at nine
twenty the carryall was of to the
north in a cloud of dust, leaving Adam
bowling dismally at the gate.
"Where the hills begin again, that's
the reservation" said Charlie. "Just
beyond that group of buildings La the
reservation line"
The buildings Charlie pointed to
were the first that had appeared In
several miles. A two-story, implanted
frame house with several barns and
sheds comprised the group. There
was a sign on the front Of the house.
Last Chance" read Margery, as
they clattered by. "For goodness
sakel" she giggled, sis 1t hotelf"
Look at all the women! One in
every wlndowl" cried Olga. "Why,
they must have lot of maids Do
people come up here in the summer,
Kent?"
Kent gave Miss Towne an appealing
glance.