The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-22

Up The SANE Tree
BY JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ.


at the gate He was homeless wan
derer, and in search Of home. He
was as big as a calf and 1t was evil
dent that he had the appetite OF
horse.
, 1t was summer time, and the dog
passed around the house and entered
the kitchen and took up a position
under the table Jed's wife was at
the washtub and after looking at the
dog a moment she burst out laugh
ing and said:
That dog hasn't got the sense OF
cabbage.head. or somebody has lied
to him! He wants food and home,
and the idea that he should come
here for them makes me grim"
Jed Barnes was the LATEST man IN
the county, and 1t may be said in the
same breath that his wife was the
hardest worker. She worked for Jed.
For years he had made her believe
that he had consumption liver COM
plant, kidney trouble and three OF
four other ailments that would be
sure to carry him off if he handled ak
or spade and she believed him enough
to earn the living for two Of them. 1t
was poor living. and she smiled as
she wondered what would be left for
the dog.
When Jed came home after his days
+ >tol.
doors, as expected. For the first time
in his life he betrayed a streak OF
commercialism.
That dog has come from fifty miles
away" he said His feet are sore,
and he has had mighty little to eat
for a week."
And he'll get mighty little here"
said the wife II am not going to
work for a man and dog too"
Don't you Spite good thing, Betty.
After that dogs been fed up and got
his houndin' sneerits back he'll sell
for s25 in cold cash."
You can't ilean it, JEDI!
AT least $o5, and mebbe double
that"
And | can pot new dress and
pair Of shoes"
Yes, and a hat and other things.
Why, it's the greatest piece OF luck we
ever had, Jest you work day and
night to help get the dog IN shape
Tho wife was willing, and Jed did
not have to curb his own appetite at
all When he and the dog had fin
ished their meals there were only
crusts left for the wife She stood It
for a time however, and might have
gone couple Of weeks more, but for
Jed coming home and saying:
Darn my cats. but do you know
what's happened?'
you've been offered days work."
gasped the wife.
mo, l amt and II had been l
shouldn't take and dig my own grave.
The Teller that owns that dog Is here
after HIM"
Great snakes!"
Lives thirty miles away. and says
a tramp coaxed the dog away. Heard
ne was here and has come on to get
him Says must give him up or he'll
raise an awful row."
And you'll give him up?"
No! I'm slowly but surely dyin' Of
twelve different ailments. but I'm q
game man. Let him find his dog II
he can"
= What are you goin' to do?'
For answer Jed cut piece OF the
clothes line and tied one end to bat.
tered old tin pail The other he made
fast to the tail of the dog after he had
called him out of the house. Then q
kick sent the wanderer away from his
happy home and down the main street
= Of the town. He ran for his life
n Other dogs sought to overtake him
& and ask questions. Men and boys
d cried mad dog" and threw missiles
4 at him. Down the long street ant
4 straight out in the country he rar
y and little did that dog know that Fate
and Cupid were in the combination
with him.
Three miles from the spot whert
Jed Barnes tied the old tin pail t
y the dogs tail and babe him disap
pear from the sight Of lazy man
dwelt farmer Rigsby. He had a daugh
ter, Irene, who had just returned from
boarding school He also had sec
ond wife, to whom he was married
while the said daughter was away
and who had no hint OF the affai
until about ready to return home.
Both the daughter and the wife e1
pected a clash sooner or later, and
came sooner. step-mother can b
Just as nice as pie, or she can be a
rusty as an old saw and hold he
teeth ready to bite After a wee
or so this particular step-mother cam
out with the query:
We'll do you wish to pay you
board or work it out?'
I'm in my fathers house" wa
the reply.
And in mine, and II you think 70
are going to play lady while | pla
slave you'll find yourself greatly mis-
taken"
Il shall teach school in the town i
the fall"
Col