The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-28
CHAPTER U-contiuued

Nance held u out. watching him
read H. The boz drew a deep breath
% RELIEF.
Good That's settled then"
It's not II Dad objects. or-or
Mother.
She couldn't keep the shamed
hope out o, her voice. and catching
ia meaning Jack said scornfully /:
Don't be a Stacker. Sls Come down
and see how they al react. Every
ones's there. even the klddle Wen
take a vote. Buck up. Nance. It's
O pity II you can't help out while
al the rest % us are trying TO"
That hurt Nance turned away 10
hide the tears which sprnus into her
eyes A Stacker We'll. she'd show
him II only she wasn't 40 beastiy
scared ~ the idea.
BE down Ia a second. she said
ss her brother made an impatient
gesture: and then added anErily /:
And don't you call me any names
ptloFe the 0lhFTN
"Oh. see here = lie followed her
into the room. closing The door. Il
didn't mean anything. Sis. honest; I
was only afraid they'd see how
much you hate 10 20. and pct their
feet down Come on. now Let's get
81 over before dinner"
The family rebellion was very
nearly unanimous
Said Dad ~ you must have Jobs
both of yon. surely Ne can 1nd
something nearer home"
said Aunt Louise You're too
young and impresslonable. Jack. to
spend six months or so In rough sur.
roundlnEs: and Nancy would die OF
boredom II nothing worse. what put
the Wild idea into your headf"
phi. the ten-year-old. exclaimed
s1cltediy.
Gee folks. "a Ike 20 De a COW.
boy Just think % quitting school
and staying outdoors all dayi"
And strangely. this innocent re-
mark % her younger son was what
stopped the protest on MArgarei's
llpx. In a fash she remembered
that not many months ago the fam.
sly doctor had said OF Jack -If that
boy were mine Ia let him forge,
school FOR n year or two and live
outdoors. 4 job on n farm would
ne worth considerably more 20 him
than a diploma"
Looking up at the Eve feet eleven
inches OF too-thln boyhoof. those
warning words came back. and 10
the complete surprise of everybody.
Mother said: IT would be a splen-
did thing FOR Jack--an outdoor win
ter In = milder climate: but"
You're not implying" broke In
her husband. that you'd let those
children 20 OF there all by them
selvesT~
Children z" This exAsperated ex-
clamation came from Jack. .I1l say
n Nance Is old enough TO be
launched In society with a big
splurge. she's old enough 10 De away
from home for a few months-wlth
q relative. too. As FOR me. Dad. you
bet III have 10 DO a mans work or
lose the 100. Why. I'll be eighteen
in-well. on my next birthday
Since bis previous birthday was
only six weeks back. this brought a
laugh Then Aunt Judy said: And
what does Nancy think OF all these
plAnsf"
The girl hesitated. All eyes had
turned upon her; but glancing up
she saw only her brothers. and re
sponded gamely: 1t would be some
thing new. wouldn't it, And II
couldn't be very much duller than
Edgemere."
But Nancy = protested her IA
ther In distress. you'd be living
with an old lady. one you've never
seen and who we've reason TO be-
lleye eccentric. And II she paid your
fare you'd be In duty bound 10 stick
II out for while. no matter what
you found
"But I'd be earning my living. she
retorted. wondering why she was ar
gulng on the wrong side. and what
had got into her. Why. In fact.
didnt she tell them the whole truth
that she was frightened stiT at
the prospect-wOuld almost rather
die than spend a winter with
Cousin ColumbIne. but was ashamed
20 admit IL before Jack?
Well" declared Aunt Louise.
its the most extraordinary plan l
ever heard OF. And from Nancy ?
AZ said before. what put such an
idea into your heads"
Circumstances, OF course" spoke
up AHz1 Judy. They want 10 help