The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-14
Romance Of q Water Trough.


~ bV~Fv@/< <$N> NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~
main five feet below to the trough in
the barnyard.
Farmer Stone knew it was con-
spiracy against him. They never
meant to do as they agreed. Luke
Mathers always was rascal. He
might have known better than to trust
him.
But It was just as much of a puzzle
to the water commissioner as to Farm
er Stone himself why the water went
so scornfully past TIE water trough.
He went all over the line, peering into
the faucet and listening with his ear
close TO its mouth in the vain endeay-
or to solve the problem.
To satisfy himself that the work Of
laying the pipe and making the con-
nection had been properly done, he d.
rected the earth all TO be dug away
and the pipe examined. Everything
was found to be all right; no defect
anywhere
Finally an engineer from the neigh
boring city was engaged. After care
fully examining the line he decided
thar, the spring being so much higher
than the trough, the water came with
such force that 1t had no time to stop
at Farmer Stones place.
Some were so sceptical as to this
mans judgment, however, that anoth-
er engineer Of still higher repute was
summoned. His verdict was that the
spring. instead Of being higher than
the trough, was, In fact. lower. there
fore there was no force TO push the
water up to the faucet.
NOW, it's my turn TO see what the
lawn do. the farmer said. "They
promised me water; they've got to
furnish IT,"
Some one reminded the old man that
the commissioner had only agreed TO
furnish the trough and the faucet; the
water was not in the contract.
1t was novel situation. The town
must either be deprived Of water or
the trough must be supplied with it.
and Farmer Stone brought suit against
the town officers.
And now Joshua and Mettie were In
trouble again. What would become
Of their hopes and prospects II things
went on like this?
Il know there must be some way to
get water into that trough" she de-
clared. IT / had half the knowledge
some folks think they have 1t seems to
me / could ok IT,"
Mettle suddenly developed a decld-
cd taste for studying water in its re-
lation 10 supplying cities and towns
through the medium of the gravity
system. When all the others were
sound asleep she would be poring over
books bearing on the subject, borrowed
from the city library.
Then she made numerous visits TO
The spring and another larger spring
several rods higher uB the hillside as
accurately as she could with her eve.
Sull further to complicate matters.
Farmer Stone forbade Joshua ever to
visit Mettle again.
I'VE wiz have nothing to do with
them" be said. They're a bad lot.
don't know as 1 ever really heard OF
anything mean Luke done before this,
and l used TO think I'd like well
enough to have Mettle for a daughter.
but this things enough to convince
me that yon never would have n min
ute's peace If you married her. Chin
OF the old block"
Luke in the meantime declared that
Joshua never must darken his doors
again.
Good enough fellow; but what's
bred in the bone win tell
So matters stood for several weeks.
until 1t was almost time for the trial
OF the suit.
On the night preceding the day Z
the trial Farmer Stone was very rest
less. He had boasted that he had
never sued a man OF been sued. Now
the record was 10 be broken.
Tossing on his pillow not long after
the clock struck twelve a peculiar
noise broke on his ear.
The oftener It came the more rnysti.
fed he grew.
The moon was shining. and by its
beams be could distinguish mans
form standing near the spring GA the
hillside, while from the ditch came
the sounds which had disturbed his
dreams.
Dressing IS quickly as he could be
went out and skulked along the fence
until he was within ear-shot.
"Now. Mettie. it is time you got out
Of that ditch" n voice said. ITS too
hard work fer you"
"All right. Joshua. but your hands
are too sore to dig any more"
"Ill bet yours are blistered all over.
This old ditch win kill Us all, l guess. /"
They'll get over It if they are blls-
tered came back the voice from the
ditch. clear and strong. I'VE viii see
the end OF this before we Sleep
Farmer Stone sprang toward tho
spot and looked down with astonished
face into the ditch. There Mett;e
stood. pick in hand, her face flushed
as red as FIRE.
"In the name OF common sense
what's roin' on here" no dau,a,,r.-,