The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-08-19
At THE WHITE FARM
Story Of the Troubles of Two
Girl Farmers, Their Pigs
and Lovers.
BY MARION GORDON.

| ku0 pGulBIGtO Cn0St0rS were rOOLInS
srosnd in uncomfortable cleanliness.
"You can't raise prize farm stock
without coming in contact with many
unpleasant things" retorted Gertrude
Lee, pulling her hat down over her
tightly braided and eoiled hair.
Il wish We hadn't added hogs to the
farm, anyway" went on Alicia discon-
tentedly; the COWS are perfect pets
and poultry raising is too fascinating
but hogs, ugh!"
Gertrude turned . dark, weather.
beaten face toward her pretty partner
"You can fuss all you want to, Alicia,
but you will find that the Chesters will
carry Oh the first prize at the county
hir-and II everything does as well.
why We may take that trip to Califor-
mia next winter"
III Uncle Gregory hadn't been so
suspicious he would have left US the
money outright instead Of Stipulatfng
that we must show ourselves capable
Of self support for two years"
1T was q great tdea-our starting
This stock farm! / Just wish uncle
were alive now to see how well we
have managed" trfumphed Gertrude
And that sneering Jack Fenway.
tool
Gertrude you ought to give Sam
Halliday some credit; II he hadn't
been such a splendid neighbor we
couldn't have accomplished thing!
NrA Wells said the other day that
this was practically Sam Halliday's
success-not ours!" Alicia was talk
ing very fast
Miss Lee flushed Indignantly but
said nothing. She pumped a pail Of
water and carried It to the pig pen,
swaying gracefully at hip and shoulder
as she walked. Her short skirts be-
trayed high brown boots laced snug
" over her slender ankles and she
skipped with agility through the gate
and out Of the way Of the numbering
porkers. From her ample pocket she
produced small box OF soap powder.
She sprinkled the powder on the
largest hog, dipped a stiff broom in
the water pail and proceeded to
scrub the bristles Of the prize hog un.
til he was fluff of snowy suds from
nout to twisted tail.
"He looks like meringue," giggled
Alicia balancing herself on the wide
coping of the cement Wall.
A that moment a singing dab Of
soap entered the eye Of the prize hog.
With one anguished squeal he broke
loose and banged against the un-
htched gate of the pen. The gate
swung outward and away went the
frightened animal across the barnyard,
down the hollyhock-bordered path, out
of the gate and straight toward the
road that ran past the White farm
Gertrude flung aside her broom and
followed him. Alicia slipped from the
wall and ran after Gertrude. Just as
the two girls reached the gate q long
gray motor car swept swiftly down
the hill; there was just time to note
that the chauffer's eyes were dreamily
fixed on the peak of Old Man noun
tain when the tragedy happened.
There was startled boot from the
siren of the car that mingled with
the dying squeal Of the prize porker.
The car jerked heavily and came TO
q stands,ill Just as Gertrude. white
Tipped and with two burning spots in
her cheeks, flew across the interven.
ing space to the side Of the car.
"And then he woke up!" she cried
with bitter sarcasm as she faced the
bewildered young man at the steering
wheel.
by jove, what have I done now"
he groaned as he got out and peered
under the car. "Oh. hog!" he cried
with relief.
"Only hog" sneered Gertrude. un-
pleasantly. Only the sole means Of
livelihood Of two women who are try.
Ing to be self-supporting."
I'm sorry don't know what to
say!" stammored Jack Fenway con-
tritely. Il was looking at the noun.
tain peak yonder and thought | had a
clear road ahead-but that's no ex.
cuse."
mo, 1t isn't. You see this is an un.
usual hog-we were raising 1t for the
county fair; we have toiled all sum.
mer over these hogs-and now!" Ger
trude's voice quavered alarmingly.
Jacks fumbling hand found his
cheque book. 81 must insist upon pay.
Ing for the hog he said practically.
III you will tell me It's value and add
to 1t the amount Of the prize you ex.
pected Il. take. shall be happy to re-
fund you the money"
"Of course We might not have taken
Q prize butt was for the pair Of
Chesters that we were striving We
would rather have the hog and get the
prize-the honor belongs to the White
farm" explained Gertrude coldly.
Jack thought rapidly. He was will
ing to do anything to rlacate this
angry young woman. His face BRIGHT.
ened.
IL have friend OYER at Redcote
who has fancy farm. IN sure he
will let me have nren hog he said
eagerly. I'll go over there aow."
Gertrude frowned Tia. oalsot
be the product Of the Uh.,e farG,"
she said in shocked toae
an a way IL would-you might saw