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Show (Coprlght 1005 by Dally Btory Pub Co) Dab sauntered dawn tho littlo zigzag zig-zag path through tho orchard to tho dust-whtto road. "Visiting on a farm Is rather pleasant, pleas-ant, but It has Its drawbacks. Ono gots no opportunity to ride. Tho horse? work all day and at night aro too tired to bo 'hooked up.' I'm going to ask tho very first 'rig that I meet tako mo In." Tho tinkling of a bell roused her from her ruminations, and looking up, alio saw a white, canvas covered wagon coming. As It camo nearer, sho read: "A. Hclmer. Fresh Ilaked Goods." "How odd!" sho thought. "A bakery bak-ery wagon In tho country!" Sho stopped by tho roadsldo and motioned to tho driver to stop. A ruddy-faced, throat-whiskered old man beamed serenely upon her. "Ah! Vat you vants?" "What have jou besides bread?" "Cakes und pies." "I will tako halt n dozen cakes." When the transfer of coin had been effected, Dab asked him which way ho was going. 'Rount mlt dcr Forks roto, und py der rlfer rote. You go dat way already al-ready yet?" "Yes, that is my way. May I rldo with you?" Tho hearty "Ja" Induced Bab to climb to tho scat beside him. The swift, littlo trot ot tho horse, tho pretty passing scenes, tho redolence of hay meadows without and fresh baked bread within, and tho chatter of tho simplo old Dutchman wero very pleasing to tho city bred girl who had fled to her unclo's farm to find a rcfugo from tho hcartacho con sequent upon a returned engagement ring. "What do pcoplo In tho country buy bread for?" sho asked. "Why don't they bnko their own cakes and loaves?" Tho old man shook his head. "Not for him to reason why, his simply to sell and buy," thought Dab. At every farmhouso a customer was In waiting for n goodly supply. "That your gal, Helmer?" asked ono farmer with a sly glance In Dab's direction. "Havo you a daughter?" asked Dab, whon they had resumed their Journey. "Ja. Minna. Sho 1st ono goot girl. Sho rites mlt mo llko jou. This is her hat, then." From beneath tho sent ho brought forth a pink sunbonnet which it pleased Dab to substitute for oer hat. The baker nodded his approval. "Now you looks somo llko Minna. Her hair 1st yellow like yours, but sho does it mlt braids." Dab removod tho sunbonnet, took out a lapful of pins and combs and mado her hair Into two heavy braids. A turn in tho road brought them In sight of a broad, shining river. Tho baker pointed to somo tents on tho bank In among tho trees. "I takes brod to tho folks there. Then I comes bock already." "Haven't you got tlmo, Hclmer, to J3fl j 111 "Ohl Vat you vants?" come In and seo about buying that cow?" called a lusty voice from to farmhouso they were passing. "Whoa!" called tho baker, reining up. "Wilt you hold the horse, then?" ho asked Dab. "Yes: but why can't t dellvor the toods to those folks that are camp-ng camp-ng down yonder and thon return for jou?" "So? Dat Is oot. Der pig lofes 1st sieben cents, der lectio lofes, four cents, dot cakes 1st ten cents ono dozens, und der pies 1st ten cents" "All rUhl!" said Dab, touching up tho horse. "I wonder if tho campers nro city peoplo or farmers?" Sbo turned Into tho road that led Into tho stretch of woods, nnd drovo up to tho back of tho row of tents. "Halloa, Hclmer! WIo gents! How many for pics " Tho joung man who had como from the tent paused In astonishment as tho vision of jollow braids and pink sunbonnet met his gaze. "I beg jour pardon. Is Helmcr " "I am Minna Hclmer," said n soft voice, "and I camo to deliver tho goods." "Oh," ho nodded understanding, "Now, tell me," he said sternly, "what this means." as ho continued to gaze in admiration at tho fair young bakcress. "What will you wish? Pics, cakes, bread ' Dcforo ho could dccldo thrco youths appeared around tho corner of tho first tent nnd they surrounded tho wagon. Dab know nt n glance thoy wero city men nnd of her own class. Her modish shoes and skirt, belt, stl vor bag, etc., wcro covered by tho dust robo. Tho whltn shirt waist, pink sunbonnet and jellow braids could clearly belong to Minna Hclmer In their estimation, nnd sho was qulto enjoying tho situation, returning their chaffing good naturcdly, responding respond-ing In fairly good German to their queries In that language. Suddenly another man appeared upon tho sccno. Dab's heart gnvo a great leap and sho caught her breath sharply, as sho bent her head over the box of bread. So he. Hob Booth, had also fled from tho scenes of their former happiness! hap-piness! In her confusion, the dUBt robe dropped as she half roso to take out tho bread. "Whow! Minna Is up to date," laughed ono of the men, spying tho shining Oxfords. Dab kept tho sunbonnet lowered, nnd resolved to dlsgulso bor volco should It bo necessary to speak In the transaction of tho business. "How much for tho brod, Minna?" asked ono ot them coming up closo to tho wagon. "Dcr pig lofes 1st sleben conts, dcr lectio lofes, four cents, dcr cakes ten cents dcr dozen, un der pics, ton cents." A shout of laughter went up at her transition from ported nngllsh to tho broken German, "Oh, Minna, jou'ro a darling. How much for a kiss?" Tho sunbonnet was raised now, and caution lost in anger. Two blazing eyes looked strnlght nt tho offender, Illff! Tho loaf of 1 ead sho was hold ing smoto him sharply across tho cheok, and sho drovo away without waiting for tho purchases to bo made Sounds of laughter, cries of "Good for you. Hilly. You got what was coming, all right." fell upon her cars. Onco out ot tho woods, she bad to slacken her pace, ob there was a narrow place to turn. She heard tho sound of somo ono running swiftly behind her. Sho urged anow the horse "Walt, Dab!" commanded a once-loved once-loved voice. Another Instant and ho bad sprung Into tho wagon and sat bestdo her, "Dab, look up here!" She oboyed defiantly. "Now, toll me," ho Bald sternly, "what this means." It really seemed good to hoar again tho Imperious voice and commanding way sho had so resented In days gone by. "Tho baker lot me rldo with him." sho said meokly, "and I put on hli daughter's sunbonnet and braided mj hair to plcaso him. Ho Is up nt the first farmhouso on the hill bujlng n cow, nnd I offered to como down hore and deliver tho bread I didn't know-It know-It was a crowd of men. Ho said 'folks.' " Sho hnd never beforo condescended to mako explanations upon domnnd, nnd tho young tyrant was quite mollified. molli-fied. "Oh, well. Dab! Tako off that sun bonnet!" Sho sat Immovable "Plcaso, Dab!" Sho took It off demurely and donned don-ned her hat; then essajed to put up tho braids. "No!" he sold. "I llko thCL I novor saw our hair down before You nro a vcrltnblo Grctchcn. Dab, toll mo, why did jou como down hero In the country?" "I don't know. I had (o do something. some-thing. I was unhappy " "Dnb. darling!" "No!" sho cried, warding off an nppioarhlng arm. "Why did jou como?" "Decauio I heard jou wero hore." Dab now reined up nt tho farmhouse farm-house and tho baker and farmer camo out ot tho barn) lira. Hob got out and went up to the bnkcr. "I thought I'd como up nnd sec If wo could havo jour wholo slock Those fellows can't eat enough to satisfy them." Tho bargain wns closed and the goods handed over to him. Then ho approached tho farmer. "Let mo tako jour horse and buggy bug-gy for tho rest ot tho day, Wilson?" "Sure," said tho farmer. Then Hob turned to Dab. "Como!" ho said. And sho came. |