The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1912-01-12
N94*41143-N444N-
'OfO
Her
FingerTip
(oopyright 1911, By Associated Literary PrrIl
By JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ

49, @0NNA D
man Of twenty-five. When Miss
Fayram accepted the invitation
Fred was left out of her programme,
except in an indefinite way. They
had met before, and each was GER
tain that they would never be more
than passable good friends. Fred had
said to himself that the young lady
was a romp, and she had said to her
self that he was a stick.
The two girls did romp. Why not,
when there were hills to slide down,
skating on the pond, rabbits to hunt
with an old gun that wouldn't shoot
and a pony to drive to a cutter? In
fact, they we're giggling and laugh
ing and romping from sunrise to a
late hour in the evening, and then
planning more Cycling and romp-
ing for the next day. That stick Of
a Fred shook his head and told his
mother in private that something
awful must come of such carvings
on, but was answered with:
"Now, don't You get inicky, Why,
at their ages | was jumping fences
and climbing apple trees. The girl
that never romps is going to be an
old maid"
And then came a winters after
noon when Fred had to drive his
mother over to the home of a rela-
tive, miles away, and he was to re-
turn alone in the evening. He must
return to save the house from de-
struction by those romping girls.
They would probably break all the
windows and wreck the pony for life
before he could get back, but he
would be in time to save the pieces
Nothing serious happened during
the afternoon, however. The girl;
simply built up a snow man in front
Of the gate and buttoned a coai
around his shoulders and put a ha.
on his head and a club in his hand
Further, they climbed up on tn,
wagon shed and jumped down int,
a snow bank. 1t was only after tn,
little dinner they had by them
selves and night had come that Mis-
Nellie Fayram started with a gigglc
and ended with a whoop. An inspi
ration had come. A slangy young
man would have said it was a cork
er. She giggled and whooped, anC
an hour later the inspiration haC
become a fact.
Behold two villains lurking besid,
the highway! So far as can b,
made out they are desperate men
= They seem to be armed to the teeth
It is painful to be armed to tn
teeth, for you must have a bowl
knife tied to your lower jaw, bu
, desperate men don't mind the pain
1t is rather cold, but the villains lin
ger. A giggle is heard now anC
then, but it is quickly suppressed
This desperate state Of affairs ha
cen going on for half an hou
when the sound of sleigh bells i
heard.
ut is Fredp
ooh, dear!"'
"Be ready! If you don't 6
through with this thing I'll neve
speak to you againP
Halt Your money or your life !
Roger Foster had received his d
ploma az an M. D. and had bee.
lucky to make a partnership with a
old doctor at Shore Acres, He wa
driving across the country from Lii
; tie Falls in his own rig to begin hi
: duties. In his pocket he had a pit
E toll.
. No giggling now Two stern an
bloodthirsty wretehes. The stick
S they held pointed at their victiI
might have wobbled a little, but tn
doctor didn't notice it. He wa
after that pistol. He wanted I
keep both life and cash. He full
, intended to shoot, but in his fussin
the weapon was discharged and
l long, wild shrek followed.
you've shot herl You've shc
: her |" exclaimed the voice Of a won
, an as she jumped up and down ]
It her excitement.
@Who? What? What is it2 VIII
sort Of a joke do you call this"
That stray bullet has smashed Il
/, end Of a finger for Miss Nellie Fa.
ram, and she had sunk down on Il
snow and was yelling couch y at Il
g top Of her voice. It took DR.. Fo