The Coolidge examiner., 1933-03-10
More Than a Joke
By DUFORD JENNIE
@ by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service

MIR. Stacey, know of any place
round here where | could work for
my board this winterT
so you want to farm It, eh?"
Mr.. Stacey said with his usual
twinkling smile
why not? don't want to go
back to the city; and | know that
Rhode Island Reds are not apples
but hens, and that the young son of
a bull is not a bullet"
wal. you ought to do pile OF
farInin' on that knowledge, my boy,
but, howsoever, I'm not the man to
stan In the way of a young man
goin' back TO the soil. Hum-lets
see" His eyes twinkled. You go up
to Laurel Hollow-up 10 the Hill
view farm. They need a man there
and need him bad"
I'm the one they are looking
for" Wilbur said as he started of
Laurel Hollow" Wilbur mused
to himself. "Ought TO be about right
FOR q DuSted-dowD poet.
He began Immediately to walk TO
Laurel Hollow. He had good rea-
sons why he wanted the job and
right off. The summer In the hills
had won h'ui back to fair health
after the long grind of his work In
the city. but he hated to go back
until he was stronger and he al
most wished he never had TO re-
turn. Then he was short of funds
In fact, a hill refuge was about all
the refuge left to him.
A half hour later he faced the
farmhouse on the Laurel Hollow
road.
"A wonderful view. and probably
good, old-fashIoned food. Yes,
think they need me badly" he con-
cluded.
The door was opened at his
knock. and he was looking into
brown. pretty eyes. and a girlish
face that was as pretty as the eyes.
Yes, this is Hillvlew. Please
come in" her clear voice said cheer.
fully.
he stepped into a room as cheer
full as the voice. and he explained
his errand.
Her eyes widened and a little
smile crept into the brown depths.
Yes, we've do need a man TO
help-us--"
He was not listening but wonder
ing II the hills grew many such at
tractive young things as this in
front Of him.
She paused and looked at him. an
odd look In her eyes, look that
gave him q queer thrill.
He agreed to her terms readily.
He was to come the next day.
His weary feet were light on the
way back and his voice was hap
pier as he stopped In the cross
roads store and post office to tell
Stacey of his good fortune.
"Got my job. Staceyl" he an
nounced.
The old man blinked over his
glasses. whats that2"
81 say I'm hired-for the winter.
and | hope forever; and I'll show
you | haven't forgotten what my old
man pounded into me on the old
home farm"
Stacey gasped. why, gOsh-a-
mighty. man. you can't live up
| therel"
"Well. why notf'
"Why. sent ye up thar jest for
a joke. This farm was left to the
girl, Janice Ransom. She came and
opened II up this summer. an she's
tryln' TO run it-guess she jest come
from some school whar she was
studying, only her money gave out
and the old place was left to her
by her grandad jest in time to help
her out. She's livin' there alone
you can't 60 up thar with her alone.
She agree to lit"
"Sure. So you did IL as a joker
Wilbur answered. a bit stunned.
"Yep, had no idea she'd take you.
Didn't she say nothin'?"
"She hired me-"
wal, 'twon't do here. II you's
married. be all right"
well. I'll have to marry her."
Stacey gasped again. What's
that?"
Wilbur told him.
The old mans strangled exclama-
ton followed him down the steps,
but outside Wilbur paused. She
surely had hired him-that much
was certain. and he would go on
that basis.
The next day, with some doubt In
his mind. he hired team to take
him and his luggage to the hill
farm. It looked as coZy and as well
come as his previous trip.
AS he stepped into the house. ne
noted two things: the girls quick,
friendly welcome, and an old silver
haired lady who was busy In the
kitchen. A load went from his mind
with the old lady on hand. there
was no chance of scandal.
lie drove down that evening to
the store for supplies for the house