The Keeper of the Bees

by Gene Stratton Porter

Layout 2

THE KEEPER OF
THE BEES

BY
GENE
STRATTON-
PORTER

DECORATIONS BY
LEE THAYER

ILLUSTRATIONS BY
GORDON GRANT

GARDEN CITY NEW YORK

DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY

1925

COPYRIGHT, 1925,BY
GENE STRATTON-PORTER, INC.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

COPYRIGHT, 1925, BY THE McCALL COMPANY
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES
AT
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.

TO
LITTLE GENE
WHO GAVE ME THE LITTLE SCOUT

CONTENTS.

1. CHAPTER

   PAGE

2. I.

   His Own Man ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1

3. II.

   The Great Adventure ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   11

4. III.

   The Bee Master ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   24

5. IV.

   In the Garden of the Bees ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   56

6. V.

   The Little Scout ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   68

7. VI.

   “Good Master, What Shall I Do?” ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   94

8. VII.

   The Storm Women ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   116

9. VIII.

   A New Kind of Wedding ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   130

10. IX.

    Vitamines and Scouts ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    158

1. X.

   Because of God ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   186

2. XI.

   The Aroma of a Spirit and a Flower ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   213

3. XII.

   Seeing through Veiled Places ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   236

4. XIII.

   The Keeper of the Bees ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   272

5. XIV.

   The Home-Made Miracle ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   307

6. XV.

   Reaping the Whirlwind ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   331

7. XVI.

   The Partnership Baby ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   353

8. XVII.

   The Interloper ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   372

9. XVIII.

   The Little Scout on the War Path ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   401

10. XIX.

    The Province of a Friend ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    428

11. XX.

    The Scout Mutiny ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    446

12. XXI.

    Then Comes a Vision ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    466

13. XXII.

    The Magnificent Lie ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    480

14. XXIII.

    Still Adventuring ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    487

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Jamie, doing his best on “Highland Mary,” went slowly the round of the hives ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   Frontispiece

2. “What else did he blab about me?” said the little scout ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   284

3. “You little devil! You vile little devil!” ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   412

4. “Keeper of the bees, are you here?” ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   492

THE KEEPER OF THE BEES