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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1936)
RANCH MYSTERY A STORY FOR CHILDREN Garden Comment Another Thumber! By Paula BETH mine out to a Kciada cattle ranch to spend several montlm with her Aunt Mary and Uncle Walter and their two sons Tim and Ron. When she arrived at the ranch she found her aunt was away carina for a sick eiJt bor at a distant ranch, and her uncle had been slightly wounded by cattle thieves who had robbed him of two fine saddle horses. The' first nitjht Beth overheard a conversation betxeeen her uncle and the boys in which the man cautioned the boys not to won-y her with their troubles, which were more real than the boys had led her to believe. Site learned of their fear that the constant thiev ing of their cattle was a plot to drive them from the land. Whyt They mentioned Juan, a lazy Mescican hired man, whom Uncle Walter had had to discharge. Was Juan in this picturet The uncle seemed to think him too stupid to engineer anything as big as this plot threatened to be. Chapter 5. ' BETH was awakened by the voices of Ron and Tim out side her door. They were discuss ing in loud whispers the advis ability of awakening her. "You needn't argue about that," she called out to them. "I'll bo right out." She heard the boys scurry out to the kitchen. When Beth joined them, they were "washing-up" at the bench on the screen porch. And woman like she accused them of leaving grey smudges on the roller-towel. Ron, ever quick lo say some thing, anything, defended himself by accusing his brother, Tim. "Those marks came off the back of Tim's neck. Let's see, Tim, you washed your neck last Easter, didn't you?" And he wisely duckod out the door to avoid the hair brush Tim sailed , after him. Uncle Walter Joined them at the breakfast table, holding his wounded shoulder high as If to protect It. Beth looked at tho tall Westerner with Interest. She saw a strong man weighted down with a great worry . . . the possible loss of his ranch. However, no word was men tioned about the conversation she had heard the night before. In stead the boys and their father talked about the work to be done that day on the ranch. Orders were planned for the two old ranch hands who bunked In the little shack beyond the harness house. Then Uncle Walter men tioned, quito casually, that he planned to ride into town the next day and "have a look around." ' Ron and Tim glanced up at him and Beth saw the look of approval and understanding that passed between them. She hur ried through her breakfast, folded her napkin to fit the steer's-horn ring that lay by her plate, and stood up. "Where do you mall letters out here?" she asked. "I think I'd better be getting one off to my mother." RON grinned. "You don't mall 'em. . . . Claude, the great air-dare-devil comes zooming out here In his tri-motor plane and coops 'em up In a butterfly net. In bad weather we send 'em by carrier-pigeon." Even Tim had to KFAC Lot ANQCLiS , 1:11 A.M. 4 4 JO P.M. KfVO 10. ANILI . UIII.IIKMI. KTOX LONQ ItACH , :! A.M. A 4 M P.K. MID-K DIEOO . . A f. 4 4 30 HFX SAN Simt'OINO 1:11 A.M. 4 440 P.M. Dillr Emit ttt. and Sua. KLX OAKLAND. 4:4! P.M. DAILY INC. SUN. Help Kidneys Don't Tike Draitlc Drugs Y Kldaty MMUla I milboa tiny tutu or fiftm whkb mr be nOMjtrvl It ftlV drvtyv tnv UUnf Bt emrttV If lunrtwoftl Kidny or H sVv cwrti bui m kS trow G'in Ip Nitfete h m low W Ptf L-f turn, fihtuaum ro D-Uism, Cur UktOff few, Nmtli. An4ir Burao& tatrtiBf m Um. rvw dev t iwH to ut tfetvta Ail 4rw w - ' a vw4 imiifii fat UM UwMr- t"" P M fW. ! a kxvvi II BOM briB mi fthty ta4 i twutwd M U fmm M rr rtujnm w nor r itvmr Lt mi rrtura of rmp) r.nv lyra frwu coir M a iM M JraoMU ! HUt proUcU AdT. Norton join In the laugh that followed. 'This great loader of airplane mysteries," Tim explained, nod ding toward Ron, "means that lanky guy named Claude, driving a lanky horse hitched to a rat tling old buggy, comes past here every day about noon, and he is our mail-carrier. He'll take your letter to town." "I think, Uncle Walter. I'll write my letter now, and do the dishes afterwards," she said. "There's no hurry about the dishes, honey," smiled her uncle "They've waited aplenty since the boys' mother's been away." Beth sat in her room trying to write a newsy letter to her mother without telling all she knew about the ranch mystery that filled her mind so com- pletely. She chewed the end of the pen holder. ... it WAS hard not to keep thinking about the things that concerned the ranch family and therefore concerned her too. She was determined to help if she could. Surely there was SOMETHING even SHE could do! She'd think about it ... all of it! What about Juan? Was he just a disgruntled ex employee looking for revenge? She wrote to her mother and told her how she loved the ranch and her uncle, how amusing the boys were and how she looked forward to a long visit. The boys went out to the barns and Uncle Walter dragged an old rocker into a patch of sunlight on the porch. There he sat all morning, smoking his pipe and gazing through sun-squinted eyes at the distant hills. - ' Just before noon he called to Beth. "Here comes Claude, honey. -Have you got your - letter handy?" The girl came running out to the porch and saw the wobbly rig coming down the dusty road. Uncle Walter waved to the lanky figure on the seat WHEN the buggy drew up at the mailbox down by the gate, Beth went out to meet the lean man who crawled from the wobbly scat "How you feelln' neighbor?" the man shouted up to the porch. "I heard you had some trouble out here. I sure hope you're comin' along alright now." "Oh, I'm first rate, first rate," Uncle Walter shouted back. Then Claude turned to Beth with a friendly grin. He shuffled among the papers in a leather pouch he wore slung across his shoulder. "Morning, young lady. Where'd you come . from? Stranger to us, ain't you?" "Yes." Beth liked this tall friendly man with the smiling pale blue eyes. "I'm Uncle Walt er's niece. I came here from the East. Will you please post this letter for me?" "Sure thing, sure thing," and he tucked the letter into the side of the leather pouch. "Here's a paper for your uncle. Too bad about that shootln'." He nodded toward the man on the porch. "He got any idea who done it?" Beth was surprised at the abrupt question. But the man seemed so friendly and concerned. "No," she answered. "I don't think so." Claude turned then and climbed Into the dusty buggy. He gath' ered up the reins and clicked to the old horse. "Well, I have," he muttered. . . , the old rig started off down the road. (Continued next week) BEARS' BATH TUB SEVERAL years ago some people, upon leaving Sequoia National Park, threw away a zinc bath-tub. Now It seems that the keeper at the bear-feeding pit found it and took it to the feed ing ground. Then he filled the tub with water. The bears Immediately took to this bathtub, and bathing be came habitual with them. Finally It was so over-run with bears that a swimming pool was built for tnem. Forty "i fifty brum come to this fading ground In the eve ning to feast on the rubbish left from the hotels, and their table manners, as well as their antics in the bath-tuh. are always a source of amusement to the visit ors in the park. THE BUG EATER DID you know that there are some plants that eat insects, just as though they were the very tastiest diet? The bright red splashes on the green leaves make it appear very like a flower, and thus little winged creatures are fooled. A beetle or a wasp may go sailing happily by . . . see the bright flower, and stop to peer into its depths. Alas, if Mr. Beetle goes down into the cup to explore, he never comes out again! There he will tangle In the white, soft hairs, and the leaves of the pitcher plant will begin to close. Mr. Beetle is TRAPPED. He can never get out again, and naturally he dies of starvation. NOW that we have the Amer ican continent discovered and named "America," we might just as well leave those Euro pean sailors, for their busi ness Is with the sea; so, we'll turn to that other de termined tribe of adventurers who explored the land! Now the Frenchman comes In to the picture. While the Spanish were rushing around claiming bits of America for their king and country, the French were do ing a little hiking and land claiming. The most Important of all these Frenchmen was, no doubt, Sam uel de Champlain (his real name was much longer but Just Cham plain will do for now). By the way, my hearties, this . French man was the fellow who first suggested a Panama Canal. Now Champlain got off to a hunt for India by way of North ern America! In fact, he was brave enough to tackle the Bt Lawrence River without a very definite Idea of what hardships he might meet You see, men then, were pretty well convinced that the world was round all right; that they could find their way around the world they believed to be a fact But, they thought the world was much smaller. They had no Idea that it is about 25, 000 miles around. Champlain thought that by traveling the fit Lawrence River he might find In dia at the end of It! Champlain got acquainted with the American natives and learned a new mode of travel from them. He found the "canoe" a very handy way to get along the shal low waterways, and since he did not travel with a great group of followers (never more than two companion) he managed to cover a great deal of territory. CHAMPLAIN was seeking a way to the Indies all right, but while he was about It he sought to secure a little of this 1,. ARCTIC ARTIST HOWARD ROCK is 21 years of age and has been Judged a very promising young artist. He came to this country just two years ago from his home in Point Hope, Alaska, Yes, How ard Is a full-blood Eskimo and was sent to this country by his teachers in the White Mountain School in Alaska. "STARS" IT IS possible that the word "star" comes from the Sanskrit words "to strew." So stars are little flames "strewn '6veV the sky." At least that is the pretty thought Hendrlk van Loon gives us In "Van Loon's Geography." continent for his native France. So away he went In a canoe down the St. Lawrence River to as distant a point inland as Lake Huron. He explored much of the country on the way. He even got a look-in on a few Indian wars, and a lake between Vermont and New York State is named for him, because he made an exten sive study of it. Now Champlain really hadn't a lot of backing from France. (They couldn't Imagine over there that this "wilderness" could ever mean a great deal to them. They were having a few wars for themselves at home.) So Champlain and many other brave Frenchmen came to ex plore and learn of the new land, but none of them had much help from home. Thus endcth Samuel de Cham plain! MORE countries of Europe sent more and more men to try and establish European ways In the land of the Red Man. It was hard going! t The English sent Sir Humphrey Gilbert. He tried to found a col ony at Newfoundland. It was a complete failure. Then Sir Waltor Raleigh (that gallant gentleman) sent a group of English to settle on the Amer ican land that he had found at tractive enough to name after the Virgin Queen Elizabeth Vir ginia. There, In a wild and unkind country, the first white child to be born in America was named Virginia Dare. What ever became of that little girl? No one ever knew, for when the next English vessel called to see how the new colony was progressing, there was no sign of It whatso ever. The colony of Virginian's was sought for miles and miles through the wilderness. There was never a trace of It. It was said an Indian Chief offered to buy the goioen haired chiid to raise with his people. It was also said It Is unlikely the gentle Eng lish girl ever survived the hard . ship f living In a wilderness. After the mysterious disappear ance of this English colony It wasn't easy to Interest people In coming to America to settle. g&mm prinj UP IN THE AIR By Marjorle "Flack DID YOU know "that long, long ago In France ... it was In the year 1783 ... a sheep, a cock and a duck took a ride In a green balloon? Well, that's what the story says. However, in this new book for little folk, UP IN THE AIR, you will read all about their great adventure. Marjorie Flack tells this story with all the simple charm a fable deserves. The pictures are Just what you would expect, colorful, quaint and with Just enough detail to make them fascinating to little people. FOUR TALES FROM HANS ANDERSON Translated by R. P. Kelgwln ANDERSON'S fairy tales are ever new to each genera tion, so they deserve a new cover and now pictures. The four stories chosen for this new book are; The Tinder Box, Little Claus and Big Ciftus, The Princess and the Pen (ah, that delicate little lady) am' Ida's Flowers. The old stories retold, arc dressed In new pictures . . . beau tiful woodcuts made by Gwen Raverat BUTTONS By George and Doris Haumsn HERE la a new book for chil dren between the ages of six and eight AU the story is woven around the Interesting but tons a little boy found in his grandmother's button basket. It was a rainy day that forced the boy to stay Indoors and he could find nothing that would amuse him . . . that Is, nothing until he found his grandmother's buttons. What fun they were, for each one had an Interesting story all It's very own. There was the big black button off the sailor's coat. . . . and the story that went with THAT one. Next the button from the little boy's clothes, that held him In a tree while an enraged bull tossed him Into the air. There ' are Just lots of stories about all the different buttons In that basket The pictures are gay In style and color. (Published In March.) GREEN AND GOLD By Berts and Elmer Hader ALL you children love to eat bananas but how few of you know anything much about them. In this beautiful new book you will find their history and their culture throughout the world. This book Is more than a story of a market product, It I the fascinating yam bark of the de licious fruit you find In your school lunch-box. There are forty-eight pages of colored pictures. Any child from eight to twelve years of age will find It entertaining. The above book are all Mao mlllan publications. By Cecil A KEEN enthusiast, who makes a special hobby of growing Sweet Peas for exhibi tion or other purposes, usually Srows them on highly developed Coruen plants f- jmw o n canes o r t r e 1 lis. The great majoritv of gardeners are most ap preciative o f really tire flowers and anxious to do the best they can by grow ing a few rows of seeds plant ed in the open ground on what may be termed normal lines. Cecil Solly The success obtained will de pend about equally on the quality of seed used and the labor put Into the task. If one's foremost idea Is to buy as big a packet of seeds for a dime as possible, the resulting flowers are likely to be ordinary and at the same time, the best seeds from the finest firms cannot do Justice to them- . selves If their treatment Is casual and Indifferent . Sweet Peas are quite hardy In any section of the Pacific Coast. It is quite safe to plant them now, but the condition of soil Is of greater importance than the date of sowing. SOIL PREPARATION One should not be content with digging the ground Immediately before sowing the seed. The soil should be made so friable and oorous that tho roots will be ablq travel as far as they wish, his condition is obtained by dig ng the ground, In what we call te "trench," several times. The imps and clods should be care fully broken up at each digging. Incorporate anything In the way of humus or nourishment pro vider through the whole area of the soil. Despite the frequency with which it Is urged that a thick layer of manure should be placed at the bottom of a deep trench and covered with soil, I strongly contend that this is decidedly nof the best method of providing nourishment for Peas or any other plants. Deep digging is very essential, but a narrow, drain-like trench of loose soil and manure running through hard and undug land often becomes a water-logged MONKEY SHINES THREE little monkeys were playing on the edge of the Jungle. They were two brothers and a sister, Just looking for mis chief to be done. There was a water-hole near by and after awhile the animals of the Jungle came down for their evening drink. The first to come was a big black snake. He had been eating all day so he was very slow and lazy. He was even too lazy to drink, so he Just curled up near the pool and went to sleep. The three little monkeys sat up and watched him. They were a little afraid of him, but they were curious too. After while a boautlful young deer came down to the water and drank long and thirstily. He kept pne eye on the monkeys and one on the sleeping snake. (Ha drank without looking at the water.) Finally he stopped drinking and loped away Into the underbrush. But, before he left he spoke to the three Innocent looking monks "You better behave yourselves." But monkeys Just enn't behave themselves when they feel like making mischief. Well, believe It or not, when they were SURE the snake was well asleep, those little scamps got a great length of tough grass (there Is a great deal of such handy material In a Jungle) and they tied that snake up Into a nice neat bundle. Then, they dropped him far out In the deepest part of the water hole. Then Ihey scampered back to the higheal limb of a palm tree end there they sat and sang and laughed all the rest of the eve ning One of them anld, "Now HK'LL never scare anyona again." And all the little animals In the Jungle that DO fear snakes laughed too. f ) Si y -41 Yd iOiJ HTM THINGS VHW THEY DO Solly prison for sickly roots. Better results can be obtained by trench ing a piece of ground three or four feet wide, to a depth of two feet. Distribute plenty of humus in the dug soil, mixing In neces sary fertilizers at the same time. Sow the Sweet Pea seeds down the center of this ground. There will be no need to waste the rest of the ground. Dwarf plants, such as Pansies, Violas, Snap dragons, Stocks or Asters may be planted on both sidea of thai Peas. PLANTING THE SEED Firm planting is very neces sary. The best way to firm a row of Sweet Pea seeds is to walk up and down it immediately after planting, but before the ground is watered. It Is thoroughly understood that Sweet Peas need an unusual supply of nourishment. To pro vldo this, It Is necessary to use a good brand of commercial fer tilizer, and to see that this fer tilizer is used effectively and properly. Humus In the form of peat moss, leaf mold, manure or com post must be worked Into the ground to provide a condition thero that will allow the plants to take up the fertilizer continu ously. To assure this, tho ques tion of humus content must be studied first. Not only the above mentioned, but decayed grass clippings and decayed leaves ara very helpful, especially if they have been allowed to rot together In a compost heap. Depending on the soil condition it may be necessary that a little lime be worked Into the ground, too. When mixing a commercial fertilizer into the ground before planting bo sure that it is a good blend of plant foods so as to pro vide a correct diet during tho season. The soil condition of the particular garden should be stud ied but, generally, It 1b better to fertilize Sweet Peas by sprink ling a small amount of plant food along each side of the row every two weeks during the growing period. The ground should be rnked to incorporate the fertilizer In It before watering. WATERING The question of supplying water correctly to Sweet Peas la a knotty problem. The difficulty Is that the roots suffer qutckly from drought. They are also highly susceptlblo to chills from oold water from a hose. Many Sweet Pea plantings turn brown through too much flooding with oold water. Every endeavor should be made to use the "hoes" and not the "hose," by working the ground as much aa possible to create a tilth to check evapora tion. The best watering that Sweet Peaa can get la from water that Is drawn upward from be low. Prevent a crust forming on the surface at all times. If a crust forma evaporation la lery rapid. The easleat method of looaenlng the soil surfaot la by the uae of a hoe. When watering by hold If pos sible, the water should be of the same temperature as the soil. Staking the peas should be commenced while the young plants are quite small. When they are about an Inch out of the ground, surround the seedlings with little twlga or sticks that are about nine Inches high. By the time the growing plants reach the top of the twigs the full size stakes, strings or bush should be In position. HORATIUS DID you boys know that one man alone once held back a whole army? Well, he did, and his name was Horatius. This brave soldier lived and fought during the sixth century B. C. His reward for his bravery was a novel one Indeed, It was decided that he should have for his own as much land as he could circle with a plow In one day. Reduce That BUNION cnunlwnuiii) applJ. ir.ooo.ouo tt tine FALLING HAIR DANDRUFF BALD SPOTS? Save youf halt by regular in of Glorer". Mange Medic in, fol lowed by than BoowuhGkr'ti'e Medicatad teas. pt Die 4iyff.MOIKMMi fiJIiAS Haiti ieav STOP PAIN AT ONCE I AJK. P.lrt tnP. nlmnit IB- d V I Mhlljrl Tluin Mmm4 I .Jm. W I tutlr mlii' M painful. t ' , 4 f I UilT bunion. Kn- JkL . -J. ' I b)M ron to nr ATltt ' , ml mtller ho. tin f --- I I . . .. M. life- Al aI intuitu PAGE SEVEN
