The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-28
Our Daily $bort Story

pressed him to explain he had gone to
 bed to think and argue and ponder with himself, instead of to sleep. When breakfast was over next morn. ing and he had finished greasing his boots and was ready to so to the barn he gave Lucy, the lS-year-old daugh- ter, the wink, and put the Weekly Banner into his pocket at the same time.
 What is it. daddy?" she excitedly asked as the doors of the barn closed on them. For answer he put the paper in her hands and pointed out certain arr ctile. It read, in effect that the sport loving citizens of s Honesdale had
 raised a purse of $1o0 to be presented
 to the fastest stepping horse appear Ing at the racing on the frozen river 1t date five days ahead. Well. daddy?" was queried again, ! after the article had been read. Don't say word to your mother not a word" he whispered. But what does 1t mean?" Don't you see, gal? It don't say l that pacers are barred out, but it's
 free for all."
 "Y-e-s."
 | in us right in the face over the head | of his stall and putty nigh understand l in every word we say. Is there a crit | ter for twenty miles around that can throw dust or snow in Jim's face? Where's your wits. gal But daddy. you don't mean-you | cant mean-? she stammered as a | glimmer of what he did mean began ] to penetrate her mind. 'S-s-s-s-h. gal! Your mother would put her foot down and hold it there. | She'd call 1t next to becomin' gam bier and a pirate, and mebbe shed pack her duds and leave ths house.
 I hain't said a word to her-not a | blessed word"
 "You-you mean to put Jim in the race?'
 The father nodded his head. | "And-and win that hundred dol l lars?"
 Twin her jest as sure's your born" But. daddy" said Lucy after draw 1 ing a long breath and feeling some 1 thing rise up in her throat to choke
 her. you can't do it. You are almost
 the same as deacon of the church,
 and what would folks say?" T want that hundred dollars, gal, and I want it bad. I want 1t to pay for putin two coats of white paint on
 the meetin'-house. It seems jest as if | Providence had left 1t on the road for
 me to pick up. That is. 1t will seem so 1 if-if-"
 If you wasn't almost a deacon." l she walled.
 MO: that is. if you've got the spunk
 to drive Jim in the race and win the
 money. I dasn't do 1t, though 1 don't
 believe the Lord would lay it up agin | me considerin' the use I'd make of it, but you can. You are a good gal, Lucy--a mighty good gal-but you
 hain't been baptized in the river nor
 made a profession and folks can only
 roll up their eyes anu groan and pass
 1t over. You can handle Jim as well
 as can, and all you've got to remem-
 Der is to keep steady pull on the
 lines when he sets out to hump him. | self. Have you got the spunk, gal?" Forty times over, daddy, and I'll | bring that money home or never come
 back myself. I've never been in a reg l ular race, and all the men looking at me will make me feel embarrassed, but I'll send Jim to the front and keep f him there if I have to shut my eyes | and hold my breath all the way. I | wish 1t was tomorrow" Next Wednesday at o'clock, gal, and now we want to go around on tip, toe and not let your mother get a hint of 1t. Lord, but wouldn't she curry comb me down If she knew of it.! She wouldn't think of them two coats of
  of the wickedness of comin' out ahead
 In a horse race"
 When Wednesday morning came at last Farmer Harper limped as he went to the barn to do the chores, and he limped worse when he came in with l the milk pail.
 T think I'll let Lucy take Jim and
 drive into town this afternoon and get
 bottle of that Lightnin' Liniment," he finally observed. You know how
 it helped me last timer" T guess the hot flannel and the rub bin did more good than the liniment." replied the wife. but she can go after 1t If yol want her to. It'll be two
 more shillings paid out for careless ness. 'ut it n't do m go'd t" talk to you"
 When dinner had been eaten father and daughter went to the barn to hitch the pacer to the cutter, and as soon as
 they were concealed from the house he said:
 Now, gal. I've been rubbin' Jim's legs and lookin' ou for his feed, and
 he's feelin' like new fiddle. Let him | take his own gait into town, and when you get there drive right to the river and walk him up and down. The fel-
 lers who know what Jim can do may l try to skeer you of, but don't you be
 skeered by anybody nor nuthin." 'No. daddy"
 It'll be a race of a mile straight
 away. Don't rush things for the first
 half: then give a pull on the lines. a
 clUck or two and let him hump. You'll
 think you are f1yin'. but keep a steady 1 pull and a cool head"
 I'll remember everything you tell
 he, daddy"
 One thing more" he said. as he tucked the buffalo robe around her and l gave her a kiss. over there is a meetin'- house that's mighty nigh wor- ried the life out of me. It needs two | coats of paint"
 And a hundred dollars will do 1t. | Goodbye. daddy"
 1 He watched her for a mile down the
 snowy road and then went into the
 house to sit down and stand up and
 walk around and act so queerly that
 his wife finally noticed 1t and said Moses. if you was a few years
 younger I'd think you was cemin' | -I.E Ezn--