The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-06-16

She Rewards a Patient
Waiter
By CLARISSA MACK1E
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911

The barnyard fence divided Jacob
Keene's farm from that of his neigh
Dor, Lorenzo Nettle. Jacob leaned
over the fence and looked wistfully at
the gaunt framed white mare that
dropped dejectedly near the closed
door of her stable. Her ragged, I'M
kempt name was tangled with burs,
some of last years crop. One eye
was of that dull blue, denoting sight
less vision; the other optic. of soft
brown mildness, was turned toward
the watchful Mr.. Keene. The mare
shifted her sprung knees and wheezed
patiently.
Jacob. turned and stumped into the
house, scattering the gathered chick
ems with his sudden impetuosity.
Lizzie" he said, addressing his wife.
''it's COMPOUNDED shame how Loren
20 treats that mare. I wish I had the
money to buy Daisy Off of him."
Mrs. Keene turned mild blue eyes on
her irate lord ~ wish you had. dear"
she said meekly.
Wishing don't do any good" snap
ped Jacob
That's what was thinking" she
admitted tactlessly.
''Humph! That's all the sympathy
l get, Lizzie Keene."
you're making yourself sick over
that horse" objected Mrs. Keene as
her husband moved his chair away
from his half tasted supper. "If Lo-
renzo won't sell Daisy to you. why
don't you give up the idee?"
Jacob glared out of the window and
swallowed hard. 1T amt that Loren
20 don't want to sell the crltter, Liz
zie," he explained impatiently. HE
amt got no use for her with the brown
horse. He's just naturally a mean
hunks and because he knows I've been
wanting to buy back Daisy ever since
Uncle Willie sold 1t to Lorenzo with
out giving me first bid on 1t. never
heard of Nettle yet that knew how to
treat critter human"
"Ie gives her enough to eat, don't
he?" asked Mrs. Keene deprecatingly.
"Yes, after he's kept her waiting long
enough. and she gets drink, too, after
awhile. But IL she only had half the
attention that the brown one gets she'd
make mighty good looking horse"
His wife opened her eyes wide.
But she's terrible sprung, and some
body said she had the heaves. Jacob"
"Heaves or no heaves. Ill bet could
make that critter look like q lady In
side of a week." asserted Jacob conf
IDENTIFY. "I've never forgot how she
looked when Uncle Willie used to
drive her to church on Sundays.
White as snow she was, and her name
all crinkly like silk, with blue ribbon
tied in her forelock. She looks white
as snow now, don't she?" he jeered,
pointing at the sorry procession enter
ing the Nettle stable. Mrs. Keene arose
and pressed her thin nose to the win
dow.
First there frisked the Nettle dog, as
IL her rasping bark might induce great
er speed to the leisurely progress OF the
bllghted Daisy. who shambled In with
hanging head Lorenzo Nettle follow
ed. twirling an empty corn measure
on his broad palm and perhaps casting
speculative eye toward the sunset
Redeemed windows of his neighbor.
Lorenzo Nettle was not inhuman nor
was he hard hearted; he merely loved
money. and he had learned that little
apparent neglect toward Daisy would
only enhance her value In the eyes OF
the nephew of her former owner.
Nor was he mistaken. for scarcely
had he closed the stable door upon tho
old mare. now comfortably watered
and fed in her stall. than Jacob
Keene's rotund form bobbed on the
other side of the fence
"HowdyT inquired Lorenzo genially.
"Quite some." replied jacob absent
Iy. Then. 81 say. Lorenzo. what about
selling Daisy?"
Lorenzo Nettle Strengthened sudden
ly and looked sharply at his neighbor.
well. what about selling herr"
"You said you'd consider my offer of
ST." protested Mr. Keene.
II have considered 1t. and l don't
consider it enough. Now. jacob, you
know your Uncle Willie set great store
by Daisyl When he sold her to me he
said she'd made her three minutes
over to Trays track the summer the
seven year locusts didn't come when
they was due, and you know burned
well you can't expect TO get three
minute trotter for SIT! No. STRIP
Jacob Keene sat In thoughtful 81
lence for awhile. "You bought that
there Daisy fifteen years ago. Loren
zo.' he stated mildly. and the year
the seven year locusis skipped Little
River was twelve years before that,
so can figure that Daisy wasn't do
ing any three minutes when you
bought her off Of Uncle Willie. and II
you paid more'n 500 for her then I'll
eat my hatl'
AS Lorenzo did not offer to solve the
problem of Daisys cost there was no
occasion for Jacob to lunch on his d.
lapidated headgear. Nevertheless that
baffled gentleman nibbled thoughtful
ly at its frazzled straw brim
did you never hear Of anything In
creasing in value2 asked Lorenzo aft
or awhile.
mot horses-unless you're trying to
argue that the high price OF meat has
got anything to do with It," returned