The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-07-13


raised the temperature five. or six de-
grees in half an hour and enveIoped
the orchard In a dense black smoke
like cloud. II was battle of de-
fense-to save az.possible SlOO.OOO
worth Of fruit But tonight the tenn
perature was rising and there was TO
be no frost so the twelve trusted men
of the home guard were stealing away
through the orchard to dance.
Clara could not sleep tonight
+ and, anyway, sleep did not matter, for
she was not to work on the morrow.
In the morning expenses would COM
rmence eating into the furniture and
dishes hoard. Fzs,at
Toward midnight she opened the
door and went out. She loved the
great orchard and just now 1t was
very beautiful with the beugh-laden
blossoms sending their rich fragrance
ntO the breezeless night She had
not gone far when the insidious still
ness of the cold began to chill her and
she looked about, expecting TO see the
sudden flaring up of the stoves. Then
she remembered. The guard had de-
serted. And ii was growing colder.
Clara had no thought for the own
er, but she loved the orchard. She
sped toward the guardhouse where the
torches were kept.
The owner had been out that eve
ming and he returned an hour after
midnight complacent with good din
ner and with much flattery for his
success as an apple king. AT the gate
he paused with coat buttoned to his
chin and hands In pockets. The Their.
mOmeter must be in tickle mood, for
it had been rising when he went out,
and now 1t was falling rapidly. He
glanced toward the orchard. There
were long lines of lights and others
fiaring up every few seconds. All was
well, but he did not open the gate.
There was much at stake and he
would walk through the orchard him.
self.
Clara was just rising from the last
lighted stove when he appeared in
front of her, his face hard and stern.
"Where are the menu" he demand
ed.
lit does not matter" she an
swered shortly. "No harms been
| done. I've lighted all the stoves and
the frost isn't severe enough yet to do
any real damage"
"YOu-lighted all of Them" incredu-
| lousy, "by yourself? How long did it
take?"
about an hour. But I'm strong
and can get around faste- than per-
| sons who are heavier built Now I'll
| go see that none of the fires burn out"
'Wait a minute. Wherever the men
| are, none of them can come back to
| work. And you-Oh, you are the girl
| dismissed yesterday. suppose you
| did this to get your job hack and
maybe in hope Of reward. Well,
never change my mind in such mat
ters but you shall have the pay of the
twelve men who shirked."
He was reaching into his pocket
when she whirled on him, drawn to
her full height, and her eyes blazing.
| She had been regarded as a quiet girl.
| of few words, but now the scathing
| denunciation poured from her lips in
a scornful, contemptuous stream. She
| told him about Rosa, about Tom,
about the arbitrary and foolish things
| he had dOne-that all his help de-
tested him, though most of them loved
| the orchard and their work. And he
| listened at first trying to speak, then
silently angry and at last with Curl
Gus expression coming into his face.
"And now, you poor silly Half
Cent" the angry girl finally flashed,
81 didn't do this with thought of re-
ward or of going back TO work. but
because love the orchard and don't
want a single one of the dear bios
SONS to get hurt"
Whirling the torch about her head
to revive the dying flame, she darted
back along the trees, not ready even
yet to desert her friends. however
much she despised their owner.
The next day the foreman sought
Clara at her home.
"Here's letter Mr.. Barkes told me
to bring you." he said. Hes been
making some changes. I'm to be the
bOokkeeper now and shall like that
job better. 1t will be quieter."
Clara opened her letter. 1t read:
"The best way to acknowledge
mistake is to remedy it. Tomorrow
you are to take Mr.. Halstead's place
as overseer of your department and
want you to engage and dismiss help
yourself, in accordance with their
ability and interest in the work. Your
salary will be what Mr.. Halstead re-
ceived, which, believe, Is about three
times your own. Ii Rosa is compe-
tent, take her back. Tom will be sent
an order for back pay through his ILL.,
ness and when able to work shall have
charge of the orchard gang. He Ii
capable, | believe.
"And, finally, do not feel under any
obligations to me. The thousands OF
dollars you saved me would make that
seem wholly trivial. T. Nj. Barkes."