Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-12-31
LITTLE MISS CALIPERS
How a Sick LumberIack's Dauuh.
ter Made Good.

| LumDor company, ana Weaflly tnreW
down his string OF wooden figure tab
lets aud caliysrs.
ITS no use,' he dejectedIy exclaim.
ed, Il can't go on with that scaling.
The rheumatism has got me worse
than ever. / don't know what's to be
done. asked Dunn for lay-off to-
night, and he told me II quit now
1t would be for good. He's had II in
for me for long time, and sup
pose he thinks this lie his chance to
ship me-"
I'm sure I don't know what is to
become Of us, with a payment due on
the farm" complained Mrs futile, a
little worn. tired-faced woman.
Say, dad" cheerfully exclaimed a
sturdy, rosy-cheelred girl Of eighteen,
throwing an arm lovingly around his
neck. why can't take your place on
the log pile? have been with you ever
since can remember. scaling tim
ber."
Why, GAL" replied the old man,
tenderly stroking her cheek, its no
place for you among all those rough
men,"
"But / know the most Of them.
dad, and am not afraid"
Amos Tuttle loved his daughter
better than anything else on earth, and
he was proud to have her offer to
step into the breach. But instinct
lively he shrank from consenting to
her coming in contact with
all those rough men. For sew
eral moments he tenderly regarded
her in thoughtful silence. At length
he spoke, but with evident reluc-
lance.
We'll, Rita, If Dunn is willing you
may try 1t, but II any of those Jacks
insult you, gal, tell me, and I'll crawl
up there on my hands and knees and
shoot the cusses."
Then next morning Amos Tuttle
could not get out of bed, but his sub
stitute, cheerful and self-reliant,
promptly at seven o'clock swung the
calipers and figure tablets across her
shoulder and resolutely started for
the landing. Clad in short skirts and
red sweater, with long CATERS and
overshoes, and her riotous curls con-
fined by a long topped Canadian to-
boggan cap, she successfully defied
the cold and was most bewitching
wood nymph personified.
Jim Dunn, the boss, was alone
on the landing when she arrived. The
teams had gone up the mountain
after their first load, and the landing
men had not come up from the camp
Dunn was big, coarse, illiterate man.
who kept his job by sheer muscular
force
Hello, little one" he exclaimed in
a coarse, familiar voice.
Rita acknowledged the greeting as
graciously as possible. She had an in
stinctive dread of this man.
Father is laid up with rheumatism
May take his placer"
Dunn regarded her a moment in
open admiration before answering.
then laughing coarsely he said
ITS irregular gal, and might cost
me me job, if the company knew
it. But, I'll be DANCED if 1 won't dc
it, on one consideration. If you'll give
me a kiss every morning, I'll do it,
he finished.
Rita's heart sank.
rs there no other alternative?" she
asked.
Il don't know what that jawbreak.
er means; but l reckon you mean, is
there another loop-hole? l opine there
amt. It's a kiss day, or you don't
get the job"
Put a daughter of yours in my
place, Mr. Dunn" she pleaded.
Amt got none, an If had reckon
a kiss wouldn't hurt her any," was his
unfeeling reply. Her plea had fallen
on barren ground. She hesitated. II
was an infamous proposition he of.
fered, but on 1t hung her fathers job,
and they needed the money.
Il accept" she crisply replied, PRO
vided you take the kiss when no one
is around"
"AI right. my dear just as you
say. Guess I'll take me first install
ment now"
Inwardly Rita trembled, and an over
towering disgust for this beast fill
ed her soul. But she resolutely held
up her head and submitted to the
sacrilege.
1t was well Amos futile did not
witness the act; If he had Jim Dunn
would never have lived to insult an.
other woman.
Energetically wiping her outraged
lips, Rita went to the scaler's little
shack to wait for her first load OF
timber
1t was not long before several teams
drove on the landing. with clanking OF
chains. booming of dragging timber.
and hoarse shouts of the teemsters
Rita's debut created a sensation. but
it was a cordial. good-natured one.
Admiration for the plucky girl who
SO bravely took her fathers place amid
such trying circumstances brought out
a shout of approval from those rough !