The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-06
CASE OF TIT FOR TAT
By 3. c. ROGERS.

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It is said every day that an only
child in the family is more or less OBJ
stinate and is certain to be selfish.
Mr.. Lynn Stafford was an only child.
He didn't have to divide his sweetcake
and jam with anybody. If peanuts
were, brought into the house, they all
belonged to him. If he wanted to kick
the poodle or maui the cat that was
his privilege.
Master Lynn ran the family and the
house and the neighborhood until he
was about thirteen years old. Then
he got check-several checks. He
fought the boys to have his own way,
and he got licked every time he
fought
Miss Mamie Holden was another
"only." She had the same doting pa
rents. She would have her own way
or bite and scratch and yell, and so
she was given her way. She became
naughty and snobbish and conceited.
but the remedy was at hand She
found the small girls Of the neighbor-
hood equal to the emergency.
At twenty-three years old Mr.. Lynn
Stafford graduated in medicine and set
up an office at Meadow Park. 1t was
more to please rich old aunt than be-
cause he was in love with the profess
sion and was anxious to win success.
Having no professional calls to
make, Mr.. Stafford took things very
easy. The first thing on the days
program after breakfast was a horse.
back ride.
Miss Mamie Holden also had a pro-
gram, and that program also included
horseback ride when the weather
would permit.
It was a beautiful June morning
when score of citizens Of Meadow
Park assembled in front of the inn.
When the horse the doctor rode came
walking out of the stable on his hind
feet He paved the air. He squaled.
He kicked. He ran at Simon Green,
the grocer, and snatched the hat off
his head. Then he kicked at the COOP
er, squealed at the blacksmith, and
went dapcing down the river road.
Only the cook, the maid, and the
mother saw Miss Mamie mount her
horse and ride away that morning.
The steed contented himself with
vaulting fence. kicking over an ash
barrel, and climbing telephone pole.
There is a magnetic influence that
draws people together. If 1t were not
SO the professional bill collector would
never come face to face with some
debtors. This magnetism is stronger
when the sexes are opposite. DR.. Stat
ford never had met the Holden girl.
The Holden girl did not know DR.. Stat.
ford from a roll of calfskin.
Why didn't the doctor take the Clay
ton instead of the river road when
his horse danced out Of the stable?
Why didn't Miss Mamie take the
Willow Creek instead of the river road
when her horse got through with the
telephone pole?
DR.. Stafford had slowed his horse
down to walk after run of a couple
OF miles, and was breathing deeply
and viewing crow sitting on the
fence. when he heard hoofbeats It
was Miss Mamie coming up, and her
horse had bolted Just past the doctor
she ran the animal into a thicket and
stopped him without being dismount-
ed. AS she regained the road the doc
tor advanced, and said:
He seems a dangerous beast for 4
young lady to ride"
Il don't think sol"
Magnetism works like a sawmill
when once started. The next morning
Miss Mamie was the first to pass down
the river road. She had gone about
three miles when great clatter caus-
ed her to look back. Coming on the
dead run was the doctor on his horse.
The horse had the bit in his teeth and
had bolted. Just past the girl he was
reined into thick growth Of hazelnut
bushes, and after foundering around
'or spell he got his horse sense back.
HE seems dangerous beast for a
young man to ride!" observed Miss
Mamie as she advanced to where the
ioctor sat his saddle with Inundated
COX on his face.
"A rabbit ran out Of the brush and
lcross the road" he sullenly explain.
ID.
1t 30 happened that the next three
mornings were bad weather for riding
md neither horse was taken out. On
ne fourth morning. however things
we're all right, and as the horsewoman
ode through the village she knew
hat she was the first one out. She
vas ambling along. keeping a sharp
ye on her horse for tricks, when DR..
stafford came laundering down upon
er. 1t was another bolt. She pulled
er steed back to give the other room
pass, and had her mouth all fixed to
all out: II told you SOL" when the
orse seized the bit and was off like a
eer. And the boiling horses turned
ut for a farmers load of hay. and