,* Short Story By Mrs. A. V. Wash burn.) -There" said Billie as he threw his ,.asi(ie and reached for the rake, P‘ckthink that’s biK enough.” “Now 1 I ,ret it raked smooth it will be X for -y .eed. Oh,” panted Bessie “I tried to get , be’a dug as soon as you but 1 "I'll help you sister when "is finished,” said little Bennie {ouWn’1 mine it C°Th°el1 children, Billie aged ten, Bes fight and little six year old Ben t were in high glee this morning. !|Lh of them had come from school day before with a tiny packet of weet-pW seed clasped in their hands. ! The school superintendent had pre tfd each school child under four teen years of age with a packet of .Lf 3eed and offered a special prize to the one growing the most beautiful Sowers- ,, . . There was to be a flower show in the city in July and then the flowers would be judged. Each child was an sious for the prize and all resolved to do their best. Finally the beds were made, the lit tle seed raked in and firmly covered. The children went to bed tired but happy- . . , „ The gentle spring rains fell upon the seed and the kindly sun warmed them in their little beds. Soon their little hearts swelled and turned in the warm moist earth sending little fingers creeping up to hunt the sun Every morning now the children me running to see if the plants me coming up. One bright morning Bennie was the first to reach the beds. He first looked eagerly for a green shoot at his own bed, but fail ed find any, he then glanced at the other two beds and called excitedly “Oh. Billie! "You have two little green fingers coming up and sister has one. but I have none” he sadly said. “Cheer up brother,” Bessie re plied, “Tomorrow yours will be up, 1 am sure.". Bennie rushed down to the garden early the next morning and sure enough there were three little shoots coming rightup out of the ground. Bennie was delighted and scampered back to the house all out of breath, to tell the good news. In a short while each child ha da bed of healthy growing plants. The beds were raked and stired each day. Fach child striving to giv eits own bed the most careful attention. After what seemed to the children a very long while, the flower buds began to form. Then very soon each bed was a flowering mass of loveliness. Such rich coloring, such brilliant hues had never been seen in the flow er garden. The children were fascin ated. They jealously guarded the beds. Nothing must touch them now', no, they were far too lovely. One morning Mother stayed in bed with a dreadful headache. It was Saturday and the children wandered aimlessly arpund the house. It was not the same with Mother sick. “Oh Bessie,” Bennie said, “Let’s gather a vase of lowers for Mother.” Why Bennie.” exclaimed Bessie in a shock ed voice” You know I am trying for the prize.” “I must save my flowers Billie too, was unwilling to part with any of his beloved blossoms. With a serious face Bennie went to his own little bed and plucked the largest and best of his flowers. The bed looked colorless when he turned to go and seeing the bright blossoming beds of Billie’s and Bes sie’s his eyes filled with tears. But he quickly wiped them away,” They are for Mother” he smiled. "Oh, how lovely” she cried as Ben nie placed the flow-ers on the table by her berside. Mother’s headache did not cease that afternoon and father phoned for Dr. Brown. The doctor looked solemn when he came in and turning to father said, “Rest and quiet for several weeks”. A nurse was engaged and took charge of the sick room. The children were kept out except Jor a Tew short visits. They were so lonesome. What could they do for her? oillie and Bessie went soberly to °°k at their flower beds. They were ftwgeous this morning. Every color ? the rainbow, beamed up at them Iro.m the flower faces. “Oh,” They ^a.'led, “We just can't pujj wc Me'j1 s.av® for the show.” hen it is over then we will carry ljads and loads of flowers to mother.” But little Bennie was again robbing -ls aed °f it”s biggest and brightest u"ers to cheer and comfort sick mother. (,*t Was now just one week until ‘‘ flower show. Bennie was pick n , 18 flowers, as he had been doing aci 'nor,,ing. Mother was sitting up "" but she enjoyed the flowers so uc|> that he was still gathering for "•And he did so like to hear her A ‘Bank you, Bennie,” and see her a*' ^'ni w*th her eyes, onderingly Billie looked at the Aer beds this morning. His look 1 ® 88 nice as either of the others, « 1 nicer he thought for all of his crs looked fresh and sweet, while of the other beds seemed wilted •"J hfcless. Th*.U u”n. 1925. the following described real estate: Located in No. 2 township, Cleve land county. N. C., beginning at a stake ami pointers on the branch where old ponlar corner stood, now Lee’s and Green’s corner: and runs thence with their line north. 86 arid 3-8 west, 50 poles to a small black-gum: thence a new line north, 15 east. £22 poles, crossing the road, to a stone and point ers; thence south. GO east, 30 and 7-8 poles to a stone in K. D. N. Joltev s line; thence with his line South, 1 3-4 v/est, 1G poles to a stone, his corner, thence south, 15 west, 108 poles to a stake on the branch (persimmon gene): thence down the branch as it meanders about 72 noles to the be ginning: containing 50 acres more or less, and adoining the lands of C. J. Bridges, Davis Green, T. G. Lee, J. R. Green and others. Terms of Sale: One-haU rash par able unon confirmation of .sale: and one-half payable within twelve month* after first payment, to be secured by negotiable note or other good security. This November 4th. 1925. DOVIE JOT,LEY. FAY HOPPER LEDFORD. WILLIAMSON HOLLAND. Cha- A. Burrus, Atty. •i-r.o\G Too Much Efficiency Qy E.J.(5^*)R.aih begin here today John W, Brooke, hardware mag nate and widower, contracts with a firm of efficiency exjerts to have his home managed during a per iod or two months which he expects to spend away from home. He fails to inform his three grown child ren, Constance.. Billy and Alice, about the new arrangement. H. Hedge, assigned to the job arrives at the Brooke mansion and takes charge. The next day after his arrival Hedge misses his lunch because no one has seen fit to tell him about it. He accepts the chal lenge by ordering Horace, the but ler, to see that all meals are an nounced. He orders milk and a sandwich and continues cross-in dexing the household. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY But H. Hedge was so busy at his card indexes when Horace returned with the order that the sandwich and the milk stood on the desk for half an hour before he noticed them. Alice came home in the middle of tne afternoon. She tiptoed past the door of the library and saw him i. tent upon his writing. For an in stant she hesitated, uncertain; then apparently changed her mind about something, passed on through the hall and went upstairs. She found Constance in her private den on the second floor. “Why is he .still here? demanded Alice flinging her books on the floor. Constance made a weary gesture and tried to resume her reading. “But I thought we were to get rid of him," persisted Alice, surprise and disappointment unmistakable in her voce. The elder sister tossed her novel into a corner and contemplated Alice as though the latter were quite in capable of understanding. “But, Connie, you said—” “Never mind what I said. He’s here—and it looks as if he were here to stay.” “Connie!” Alice sat down and star ed. “Yes—to stay,” repeated Constance bitterly. Alice hitched an ankle across one knee and looked thoughtful. “No, I guess not,” she assented. “Did—did he run out on you?” “Approximately.” “And what did you do?” “Oh, had a row,” languidly. “Throw anything?” “Me?” “Uh-huh.” “You know perfectly well I've out grown that, Alice. Don’t be silly.” “Still, it”s usually best; it’s sim plest,” said Alice. “But how are we going to get him out of the house?” “I’m not sure that we are.” “Don’t tell me you’ve quit, Con nie?” nuurstr, 1 uavcii l quit, torted Constance. “If you'd only suggest and not criticize we’d get somewhere. Incidentally, hereafter you walk to school.” “I—what?” “You are to hit the trail afoot— he said so.” Alice grasped and turned pink. “Never!” she cried. “First it’s prunes, and then it’s pedestrianism. I tell you, I’ll not stand it, Connie. I’ll—I’ll tear up all his papers. I’ll wreck his office!” “Nonsense,” said Constance “That’s foolishness.” “Well, we have to fight the devil with fire, you know.” “Perhaps— when the devil will fight. But what are you going to do when he simply won’t? What chance is there when he just sits and looks at you and then makes the most in sulting remark in a perfectly calm voice? If he would only get mad, and rant—and swear—that would be something! It would be a beginning anyhow. But as it is, you might as well go out and call names at one of the statues in the park. The statue would still be there when you were speechless.” Alice arose and strolled to the win dow. Presently she turned and said: “Here comes Billy, now. We’ll get him up here and see if he has thought of anything.” Constance shook her head idly. She was not optimistic as to Billy’s think ing. She rather feared that if the E. E. incubes was to be moved the thinking would have to be done in her own head. It was not the magnitude of the problem that daunted her; it was the elusiveness of it. There seemed to be no place of beginning. II. Hedge had settled himself upon the house hold like a giant kraken; his ten tacles were everywhere and it seem ed perfectly useless to try cutting an odd one here and there. Besides, as yet she possessed no weapon. Billy Brooke found his sisters in moody silence. “How’d you make out, Connie?” he demanded. “At least as well as you did, before you ran away.” “Oh, come. There wasn’t any use of my staying. Why, I’d have only batted him one, if I had.” Constance regarded her brother with a faint smile, the signifiance of which he was quick to appreciate. “Oh, you needn’t do that,” he growled. “I tell you Connie, I was getting ready to paste him. He knew it, too; another minute and—” “It’s too bad you were so buoy you couldn't wait another minute.” Billy snorted. “Think I’m afraid of him eh?" , “No, indeed,” said Constance, with ironical emphasis. “I’m sure he never threatened you—” “He'd better not!” —“with anything except work.” William W. Brooke flushed a deep red. “Work!” he blurted. “Wliai do you think of that, Alice? He thinks he’s going to make me work!” “Well, I have to go to s-hook” said Aiice unsympathetically. “I don’t see why you shouldn’t work, or run for “Hereafter you walk to school.” Co' gress, or do s omethin ' to fill your time.” Billy strode the length of the room and back again, scowling. “Well, anyhow,” he said “I’ve doped out the proper scheme and I’m go ing to see about it today.” The sisters looked interested; yet Constance was cautious. "‘We'll go to Uncle Roscoe. He’ll fix it. He'll do anything for you, Con- | nie.” Alice pounded a fist into her palm and nodded emphatic approval. "The very thing!" she cried. "Un- : cle Ros will come down here und run the whole shebang, if we want him to. And he’s some uncle.” Constance shook her head. "Well, what's the matter?" de-, mandod Billy. \ “We are not going to Uncle Ros coe,” she said firmly. “You are not even to think of it. Billy.” "Why not? Wouldn’t he do it?” "Perhaps; yes, probably—if he could. That's not the point, though. We are not going to Unde Roscoe, or anybody. This is our affair.” “Maybe. But suppose we’re not able to tackle it?” its sun our airair just me same,” declared Constance grimly. “Bat what’s the objection to call ing in help, particularly when its all in the family?” queried Alice. “Pride! That's reason enough.” “Well, 1 don't see that dolling our | selves up in pride is going to get us anything,” said Billy grouchily. ! “It may not get us anything,” re marked Constance, “but we still have our pride, I don't propose to let go of mine, at any rate. Why think of it! Do you want to make ui a laughing stock of all our relatives and friends? Do you suppose we’ll get any sym pathy? Granted that Uncle Rosfoe might help u- out—wouldn’t ha be splitting his sides all the time he was doing it? Not for me!” Constance stood up and made a vi vid gesture with both arms. “Are we going to advertise what Iras happened to us? Heaven knows it may come out anyhow, in spite of us. That’s bad enough. Do you real ize what would happen if the news papers got hold of this? Have you thought of that?” Alice looked startled. “I don’t propose to be laughed at., if I can help it," declared Constance, her voice rising. “Besides, this is our business and nobody rise's. I’m not going to trot around looking for com fort on the outsid ■. If we can’t han ! die this thing ourselves, then we de serve what we’re getting. So far a ; I’ve ever heard, the Brookes always fought their, own battles.” Constance was a very fair repre sentative of Brooke going into com bat. Her eyes were snapping and there was a tilt to chin. “No, sir, Billy Brooke,” looking her brother squarely in the eye. “You don’t go to anybody else, And if there’s any way to help it, you’re not to let people find out about it.” lie shrugged his substantial shoul , ders and looked despairingly at 1 Alice. “I suppose we're to stand for any thing then,” he grumbled. “Not necessarily,” said Constance. ‘I haven’t quit, any how. I’ll admit I can’t see the way out—ydt. But thnt doesn't mean that I won’t find one—or you, or Alice. Heavens! What do we have brains for?” “So we can get a headache,” draw led Alice. “I’m tired of thinking about it already.” Constance ignored the remark. “Let”s all put our minds to it and get together on it tonight, if we can,” she concluded. “It’s a pity if we can’t do something. And mean time mind you, Billy—-and Alice— not a word to anybody, even the ser vants—except, perhaps. Horace." The Brooke butler was occasionaly consulted in his extra capacity as an oracle. “Oh, all right," sighed Bill.y. “By the way, Connie, you’re sure you haven’t got a ten-spot?” “I've got less than three dollars." “How about you, Alice?” “I'm flat." Then she brightened. “Why, this is allowance day!” “Geo whiz! That’s right; I forgot But say—r" Billy stopped short and regarded h:s sisters with an expression of dreadful doubt. “Do we— do we—” His vo.ee sounded hollow and fal tered again. NEXT CHATTER: Hedge is forci bly impressed. Gets Cancer By Needle Prick \* hat 'may prove to be one of the most important discoveries of recent years in the battle which is being waged against cancer has been made in the case of Henri Vadon a young Parisian hospital intern—but at the cost of an arm, relates a Paris dis patch. Two ycaps ago Vadon, assisting in tin operation to remove, a cancerous tumor, accidentally pricked his finger with the point of a hypodermic needle that had been used on the cancer pa triot. Slowly a similar tuinor grew t pon Vndan’s hand and his arm had to be amputated to save his life. Surgeons declare there is no proof of the coniunnicability of cancer from one person to another. They as sert that if it is definitely shown that the tumor on Vadon’s arm was a true cancer similar to that of the pa tient who was operated on the dis covery may prove revolutionary. Thu possibility that Vadon was not infect ed with the cancer vius, but that a minute particle of the original tumor was actually grafted on the flesh of the hand is not being overlooked by the investigators. Several days ago as Vadon lay on his cot in the hospital he was sur prised to receive a representative of the French government, who in tha presence of the ost distinguished me dical men of the country pinned on his breast the Cross of Legion of Honor in recognition of his martyr dom to science. muraUTqMw HUM! HUES Lincoln, Neb.—Virtues of the hu mnn race will be exemplified in mu ral decorations which will adorn the governor’s reception room of Nebras ka’s new $9,000,000 stotehouse. Augustus Vincent Tack, New York artist, has in mind the wish of the late Bertram G. Goodhue, architect, who designed both the capitol and grounds, that the governor’s offical room be made “the most beautiful room in the world.” The side end walls will express the virtues of the state. The end wall at which is the fireplace will represent the state on the right as the provid er of learning in its universities and schools and on the left as the protec ■ tor of the sick and helpless in its hospitals and asylums. The opposite wall will represent the idea of equali ty before the law in which will be seen all sorts of men. In this panel the law itself is represented by the seven an cheats of the law, who stand as judges before the procession of human be ings. I n is same processional passes a ! round the whole first plane of the de eoratioi and is divided into three groups, these represent the liberty of speech, liberty of religous obser vance. and liberty of the electorate or ; political freedom. Opposite these panels will be bal ancing groups expressive of content ment and happiness, symbolizing properity. In the next section are represented the virtues of citizenship—Courage, Magnanimity, Hospitality, Righteous ness and Understanding. The ceiling proper represents the virtues of life. This is divided into seven panels. In one of these will I be Agriculture in the person of Ceres. She is attended by the favor ing winds which bring the rains and produce abundant crops. Opposite this panel and balancing it, is repre sented Industry in the person of Vul can. Between these panels is a circu lar panel in which a figure represent | ing life giving energy, like a sun in | the center of the universe. At the extreme end of the ceiling panels is a representation of the tree of life, signifying the successive gen erations of men. ATTENTION MERCHANTS Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the Housewife is already busy baking cakes and making plans for her Thanksgiving dinner. Now is the time to stock up on all kinds of Fruits, Produce, Nuts, Raisins, Figs, Lettuce, and Celery. We have a very large and very select stock of all kinds of Fruits and Produce, with prices reasonable, which insures a big demand. —APPLES— We have a full stock of Western Box Apples, including Fancy and Choice, De licious and Choice Spitzenburgs. —DRIED FRUITS— We handle the famous “SUNKIST” line, which is the last word in quality in California Dried Fruits. Phone your Groceryman and buy it by the box, and insist on “SUNKIST” Brand. We have in stock Peaches, Prunes, Figs, Seeded, Seedless and Puffed Raisins, Dates, Currants, Citron, Evaporated Apples, Sun dried Apples, Etc. ~-BANANAS AND~COCOANUTS-~~ Car Fancy JUMBO Bananas and Fancy Cocoanuts just received. ^0 w w www w w w w»#«« w w w —ORANGES AND GRAPE FRUIT— Just received-A fresh car of ripe, juicy Florida Oranges and Grapefruit containing all sizes. These Oranges and Grapefruit are well colored and sweet; much better than the early varieties or Porto Rican stock. —PRODUCE— Complete line of all Produce including Danish Cabbage, Yellow and Red Onions, Potatoe[S^and Turnjps.^ ^ ^ww —DRIED BEANS— Are in big demand and we have a com plete line, including Michigan Whites, Pin tos, Birdeye’s, Baby Limas, Great Northern and CaliforniaJBlack^Eyed^Peas^ —CRANBERRIES^ Half car of the famous Eatmor Brand and late Howe Cranberries just arrived. Fine keeping stock—will keep through the holidays outof storage.____ —GRAPES— Car Extra Fancy Keg Emperors to ar rive last of week. Extra fine quality and long keeping stocky _ ___ —LETTUCE AND CELERY— Half car of Jumbo California Celery and half car of Iceberg Celery to arrive last of week for Thanksgiving trade. DON’T WAIT FOR OUR SALESMAN — TELEPHONE OR WIRE YOUR ORDERS. -YOURS FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE Pearce-Yonng-Angel Company PHONE-249.