“Well, then, if there is no claim for this vagrant swarm, Mr. Tompkins, we propose to pay you the full value of it for your time and work,” said Mrs. James.
“I wasn’t thinking of that, at all, Mrs. James,” remonstrated Mr. Tompkins. “I was thinking of the fun the scouts would have in watching it hived and in carrying it home.”
“We know that was your sole intention, but we also want to show our appreciation of your thoughtfulness. If we were not here to want a swarm of bees you could keep this one yourself.”
They were still discussing the point of recompense when the car drove up beside the store door. Frances turned to ask Mr. Tompkins if he knew of a garage at Four Corners where the tire could be repaired before they started for Green Hill Farm.
“Why, Frances, I’ll do it myself. You never took me for such a poor farmer as all that, did you,” laughed Mr. Tompkins.
“You are a store keeper, but even so, I never knew a farmer could mend a tire tube.”
“A farmer has to know how to do pretty much anything, gal. He can’t send, whenever he likes, to a plumber, a mechanic or the different trades needed to keep places in order. If a farmer had to lose a whole day of farm work while waitin’ for a machinist to come from town to mend his plough or harvester, what profit would he have at the end of the year?” laughed Mr. Tompkins, kindly.
“Well, you’re right! We’ll drive in the side gate and stop in the back yard and repair the tire and put in a new tube,” answered Frances, impressed by the realization that farmers were, of necessity, very clever men.
By the time the surrey with the girls arrived at the store, the tire was almost repaired. Shortly after that, Frances backed the car out to the road again and the adults in the party were invited to get in and drive to Green Hill to establish the colony of bees. Hester was to drive Spark and the surrey with the girls crowded in it.
Frances had to drive slowly on the return trip as the hive of bees stood in the back of the car, well covered with a dark lap robe. This precaution was taken to prevent any startled bee from coming out during the drive. If one did venture forth on to the running board of the hive, and find how dark it was, it would believe it to be night and would hurry back inside to wait for morning.