Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-10
By PHILIP VERRILL MIGHELS

Three-mile Station had increased upon him tremen-
dousy. Miss Devoe loves you, Billy and she won't
mind you readin the She'll herself
few, just playin' round. So long I'll be back before
you're through"
He did not wait to argue the matter, but went at
once, leaving Billy feebly protesting while little Miss
Devoe already had one small foot through the paper
There was escape. He therefore placed her gently
on the ground and picking up tiny silver of wood
held it in his hand for the child to
Tick he said instructively. Baby go find tick
and bring 1t to Uncle Billy. Uncle Billy likes lots of
ticks"
Little Prairie was a willing child She started at
once on her MISSION searching about in the sand
the cabin and Billy settled down his reading Pres
emily his small companion returned, holding tiny
black object between her baby thumb and finger.
Tick-Uncle Billy" she said. Tick"
All right he answered. without looking, put it
in Uncle Billy's pocket and git him more"
Miss Devoe delighted. She placed her stick"
in handy pocket of his coat and trudged off
for another, with which she returned very promptly
lick, she informed him before. Uncle Billy
tick"
He indicated the pocket again and kept on reading
Back and forth and forth and back the youngster
trotted bringing ticks by the and DOZENS all
for the pocket of her friend Uncle Billy had appar
emily solved the problem of supplying child with in
nocent engaging entertainment
In the meantime Big Dan had come to the much
belated ryst at Three-mile Station and Mistress Bet
sey Dodd exceedingly dspleased at his delay. She
a good-sized, brown-eyed, tempery young person
whom Dams explanation acted peculiarly.
DO you mean to tell me, Dan White" she said
that you gon to be an orphant asylum for that kid
for maybe week? What about you takn' me drivin
to Crystal Springs Sunday, which is day after to-
mo aT"T , u,.. no;.a :. 81, g .,. 49, ..,..
wouldn't be peasanter week from Sunday" said the
miner. That's what / up here to ask"
"Oh, you did, did you? That's all you come up for,
was it, and waitin two solid hours fer nuthin 2"
demanded Miss Dodd with ready warmth well,
just break the news to you right that / amt
the kind you git to play second idde-do you
understand my conversation ?-and you can't have me
I'D fec NJ,
which do you decide to give up-once and fer ALP
Give up" echoed Dan deeply perturbed. why
Betsey, shouldn't think with little Prairie just baby
and you the only gal | ever
That's enough. Don't go further" interrupted
Miss Dodd imperiousy. Baby not it amt my
way of dom. If you don't propose to give her up
right off prompt, why that settles it all between you
and l. Now which of US two is goin to be-"
But couldn't marry Miss Devoe," protested Dan.
4 "You savvy that!"
Marry" said Betsey, crimsoning to her crown and
tingling to the soes of her shoes. "You said
marry to me before-though l supposed you might git
off somethn' of the sort in time you bein man and
girl-but l don't expect to git fattered to death
by that-and if you want to marry me, why prove it
b, 1ettin your little Prairie go and takin drivn
next Sunday"
DO you I've got to send her away you'll
never be my wfe?" said Dan, very white about the
lips as that what you mean?"
IF she stays in your house Sunday-you bet
you and won't git married." Miss Dodd replied
with emphasis "And that's all for this mornin'.
Good-by"
Dan stood looking at her oddly tor moment, en-
treaty in his honest eyes, then light of cold deter
mnation.
81 can't throw her like that" he said 81 guess
I'll say good-by'
He turned and walked away Miss Betsey watching,
at first Indignantly, then forgvingy and at last,
when he failed to turn and look back with belated
regret IN her two brown eyes
"Dan," she cried Dan! Dan Come back!"
But the wind against her. He did not hear,
and, topping the ridge, slhoueted sharply against
the sky for moment, then abruptly disappeared from
her view.
Worried and somewhat at heart, he made his
way the hills and at length to his cabin,
still engrossed in his paper and there the earnest
little Prairie still rudging and from the brush and
diligently loading BiIy's pocket
Tick-Uncle Billy, Dan heard her say, mother
tick"
White was tremendously interested to behold this
harmless subterfuge for keeping the baby of mis-
chief He forward quietly, while little Miss
Devoe was toddllng away on her mission Billy glanced
up for second
"Hello-back, hey?" he said mechanically, and his
mind returned to the reading
Dan studying Partridge's clothing curiously
Billy" he said in moment, you must be settin'
trouble. Your coats alive with ants"
whats that?" querried Billy who had only half
heard his friends remark. Aunt who?
Then the baby faithfully to the step be-
fore.
"Tick-Uncle Dan," she said by way of variation.
"Tick," and she held up her find Dan tiny black
ant vainly struggling for its freedom, between her
thumb and finger. She had found practically mex
two hours had been fetching them, by one to
Uncle Billy.
'Man-theres thousand ants a-crawlin' your
person!" exclaimed big Dan excitedly BILLY, git up
and shake them off before they begin to eat your car
cass"
"Antsw cried Partridge, suddenly startled to life
"Ants great umpin' Jehosaphatl"
He swept half dozen of the frantically running
little insects from his hand at a stroke and eaping tc
his feet threw down his paper tore off his coat and
shook and beat it the steps like lunatic.
Good gosh! there's one inside my shirtT he said
dropping the and wildly hauling at the neck OF
his garments. There's another further down inside
There's three my backi They're my legs! Theyr
inside of me everywhere! | must have been sittin-
The baby interrupted. She had made another sue
cessful pilgrimage to her base of supplies and now
stood before Billy, faithful to her task
"Tick-Uncle Billy" she said before, proferlng
more helpless ant to the man who had kept her
entertained. "nother-tick"
"smothern' angels!" said Billy aghast at this be,
lated discovery, the doggone little terror Of kid
has put at least million in my pocket! Burn the
COPYRIGHT. 1908
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