The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-09-21

rowed at one time or another near
listers black coat for Tice to wear t.
an unexpected and inconvenient flu
neral to the Rimmels' baby carriage
The Rimmels' babies had grown toe
big for the carriage and, as Mrs. Tice
said, what was the use of a perfectly
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, -four, chocolate or yeast cakes
when company came. Thrifty people
got into the habit of retiring to the
attic or the cellar If they saw the
Tices headed their way. Still. in spite
of these drawbacks, the Tices did very
we'll in their line.
Since she was born and brought up
in this atmosphere, Lucy Tice natural
ly accepted borrowing as matter of
course. If she wanted anything she
at once cast about to see who of her
acquaintances had one and then
promptly went and borrowed it. Lucy
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 a little spite be-
hind it, too For Randolph Witt when
served his term of paying court to
Lucy, as had every other young man.
1t was tacitly recognized that all the
boys must have a 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 weakened, but he had de-
voted himself to Sally Petty ever since
he came to town and that was suffi.
cient reason for discipline. Also Sal
ly had rather prided herself on her
conquest, which was sufficient reason
for her taking down.
Lucy began it one evening when Sal
ly and Ranny Witt were seated decor
ously on Sally's front porch across the
way. Lucy fluttered down to her own
gate in fluffy white gown and called
across prettily:
Sally" she cried, won't you let me
have Mr.. Witt just a minute? | can't
get the lamp put together. some
howl"
OF course Ranny fastened to the aid
of beauty in distress, and Sally, fat
tered by the implication that Lucy rec
ognized her property rights in him, let
him go willingly. When he came back
after an hour and half he found II
rather difficult to explain to irate Sal
ly. No, it hadn't taken him so long to
fix 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 home he went with
her. The next day everybody in town
knew that Lucy Tice had taken RAINY
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 willing enough
captive, too, but then Ranny never
could be accused of being strong mind
ed He danced attendance on Lucy
everywhere and Sally went around
looking like bottled dynamite. When
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
1t was all mistake, and she didn't
care for him and Sally was really an
awfuily nice girl.
SO Ranny, being easily convinced,
trotted back quite resignedly to Sally
Petty. expecting to be received with
open arms. He got terrible shock.
I don't care for you!" Sally an
nounced to him. "You can 60 right
back and tell Lucy Tice that she can
keep you with my compliments,
never like borrowed articles that are
returned after such length of time."
Il don't understand you," STAN.
mered poor Ranny.
! 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 your"
She founced 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 off toworJ tbo H..