The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-07
LITTLE MISS cALIPERs
How a Sick Lumberjack's 0augh.
ter Made Good.
BY N. J. COTTON.

Lumber company and YEARLY threw
down his string of wooden figure tab
lets and calipers.
It's no USE" he dejectedly exclaim
ed. Il can't 60 on with that scaling
The rheumatism has got me worse
than ever. don't know what's to b.
done. asked Dunn for a lay-oR to
night, and he told me il ! quit now
it would be tor good. He's had 1t II
for me for long time. and ] sup
pose he thinks this is his chance te
ship me-.
I'm sure | don't know what Is tC
become Of uA. with a payment due on
the farm" complained Mrs futile. a
little worn. tired.faced woman.
Say. dad" cheerfully exclaimed a
sturdy. rosy-cheeked girl Of eighteen
throwing an arm lovingly around his
neck. Why can't take your place on
the log pileo have been with you ever
since can remember. scaling tim.
Der"
Why. gal" replied the old man,
tenderly stroking her cheek, its no
place for you among all those rough
men,"
But I know the most OF them,
dad. and I am not afraid"
Amos futile 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, II Dunn ia willing you
may try It, 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 futile
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
OverskOes. 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 n big. coarse. illtcrate man,
who kept his job by sheer muscular
force.
Hello, litle one" he exclaimed in
u coarse. familiar voice
Rita ACKNOWLEDGED III" greeting as
.raciously as possible. she had an in
Father is laid up with rheumatism
May take his place."
Dunn regarded her Il moment in
open admiration before answering,
then laughing coarsely he said:
It's irregular. gal, and might cost
me me job II the company knew
it. But, I'll be DANCED If won't do
it, on one consideration II you'll give
me a kiss every morning, til do it,"
he finished
Ritas heart sank
Is there no other alternatives" she
asked
4 don't know what that jawbreak-
or means: but reckon you mean, is
there another loop-holc? | opine there
amt. It's Il kiss Il day. OF you don't
get the job
Put 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. 1t
was an Infamous proposition he Of
fered, but on it hung her fathers job,
and they needed the money.
Il accept, she crisply replied, pro
yided you take the kiss when no one
Is around
All 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
1t was well Amos futile did not
witness the act; II he had Jim Dunn
would never have lived to insult an
other woman.
theoretically 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 teamsters
Rita's debut created sensation, but
it was a cordial good-natured one.
Admiration for the plucky girl who
30 bravely took her fathers place amid
such trying circumstances brought out
a shout OF approval from those rough