The Ordway new era., 1911-06-30

useless thing like that standing idle
and cluttering UP the Rimmels wood
shed. when she could utilize It?
The Tices borrowed their neigh
bors garden rakes. patterns. scissors.
handkerchiefs. silver forks and coffee
grinders. They were always just out
of lard. flour. chocolate or yeast cakes
when company came. Thrifty people
got into the habit Of retiring to the
attic or the cellar II they saw the
Tices headed their way. Still. in spite
of these drawbacks, the Tices did very
well In their line.
Since she was born and brought up
In this atmosphere. Lucy Tice natural
ly accepted borrowing as q matter OF
course. II she wanted anything she
at once cast about to see who Of her
acquaintances had one and then
promptly went and borrowed It Lucy
was SO pretty that usually she was for
given. 1t was only In the natural Or
der Of things then that she should
reach our for Sally Petty's beau when
her own supply Of beaux ran low.
Maybe there was little spite be-
hind It. too. For Randolph Witt whom
he had settled in their town had not
served his term Of paying court to
Lucy. as had every other young man.
It was tacitly recognised that all the
boys must have q spell Of desperately
adoring Lucy before they permanently
bestowed their affections on other
girls.
There was nothing startling about
Ranny Witt. He was rather lank and
pale and weak-eyed, but he had de-
votsd himself TO Sally Petty ever since
he came to town and that was sum
Client reason for discipline. Also Sal
" had rather pridsd herself on her
conquest. which was suincisnt reason
TOR her taking down.
Lucy began II one evening whom Sal.
~ and Ranny witt were seated decor
ously on sally's front porch across the
way. Lucy fiuttered down to her own
gate in q fluffy white gown and called
across prettily:
Sally" she cried. won't you let me
have Mr.. Witt Just . minute? I can't
get tho lamp put together. some
howl"
OF course Ranny hastsned to the aid
Of beauty in distress. and Sally. nat.
tered BY the Implication that Lucy rec
osnised her property rights in him. let
him 20 willingly. When he came back
after an hour and half he found II
rather dimcult to explain to irats Sal.
~. No. It hadn't taken him 30 long to
nx the lamp. but somehow he couldn't
get away without being rude.
The next time he called on Sally he
found Lucy also on the steps. and. he
never Quite' knew how It happened that
when she went homo he went with
her. Tho next day everybody in town
knew that Lucy Tice had taken Ranny
Witt away from Sally Petty and the
town divided into two camps.
Sally quit speaking to Lucy and
Lucy paraded her captive on the main
street. He seemed q willing enough
captive. too. but then Ranny never
could be accused of-beins strong mind.
ed. He danced attendance on Lucy
everywhere and Sally went around
this had gone on two months the
young man whom Lucy really liked
best Of all came back and she prompt.
ly returned Ranny. She told him that
It was all a mistake. and she didn't
care for him and Sally was really an
awfully nice girl.
So Ranny, being easily convinced,
trotted back quite resisnedly to Sally
Petty. expecting to be received with
open arms. He got terrible shock.
Il don't care for you!" Sally an.
nounced to him. you can 10 right
back and tell Lucy Tice that she can
keep you with my compliments! I
never like borrowed articles that are
returned after such length Of time!"
II don't understand you." stam-
mered poor Ranny.
Il don't suppose you do," said Sal
ly Petty. but that has nothing to do
with the case! bid you good night
because I'm very busy. Go on over to
Lucy's, why don't you!"
She fiounced into the house. and
Ranny walking bewilderedly out be.
tween the SNOWFALL bushes in full
bloom. heard Lucy's light laughter
across the way. She was sitting on
her porch with the man she liked best.
Girls" pronounced Ranny. as he
bitterly struck OF toward the drug
store to drown his sorrows In sarsa-
parilla, girls are q blamed nuisance.
no matter which side Of the street
they live on!"