The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-07-17

REAL TEST OF VALoR
BY IDA SPEED.

five dollars, and used up six dollars
worth OF paint on the tower before
ever he got as high as the wheel and
| fan.
All the Square Deal folks thought he
was due to lose, because he used such
unchristian shade of blue.
Windmills bein' about all the relief
we git to the landscape thataway,
we're kinder flnicky as to the color Of
the same
This here Tip had been a cow-hand
off and on all his life, but he'd never
reached the point where he was one
Of the topples yet, and he couldn't
even make liyin at it.
For, although he was pretty fair
rider he was such irresponsible cuss
he'd never got no further than tendin'
the day herd and such like
So he took such jobs as paintin'
windmills to help out on the side.
One evenin' in Christmas week was
loafin around the Strong Brothers
store when little Nettie Brockton was
dispensin' smiles and language sweet
, er'n the sorghum substitute she sold,
when Tip comes in.
Nettie had been givin' Bud Regan
cause to be glad he is Twin by her
condescendin to talk to him individ-
+, ual for few minutes, and he's leanin'
over the counter lookin' square in her
eyes while from the other side she
balances herself on the palms Of her
little hands, and about ever third
word lifts her 80 pounds Of pure sweet
ness close to Buds face
Every time she does this he ketches
his breath like feller loopin the loop
and swallers SO | can hear him across
the aisle.
Tip walks up bold and puts both
hands on Buds shoulders, kinder
leanin over him to talk to his damsel.
"All the boys are in four bits on
a party at your house tonight, Net he
says careless.
I "Oh, don't have 1t In my house, "
says Nettie. I'VE cant dance there,
you know"
I'VE amt particular about dancin',"
says Tip, reachin' around in the show
case and helpin' hisself to some CO
coanut candy. AT least shore amt
II can talk to you"
All right says Nettie pacifed.
Come ahead then
Old Mrs. Couzens come In just then
to buy hank of red yarn, and as the
boys walk out of the store hear Tip
ask Bud for the loan Of dollar.
I'll let you have four bits" says
Bud, diggin' up 50-cent piece, then
I'll lose half and SO will you, which
was SO, because TIP never charged
nothin' but his memory with what he
} owed, and that usually failed him.
Well, that night Tip was the only
! feller there that had on regular party
togs. him havin' borrowed the best
; that was In town from all the boys
there, and the others havin' to take
Tips leavin's.
Poor Bud contributed the coat for
the occasion, and he had on sorry
, lookin little cream-colored, summer
flannel one hisself, that bein' all he
had left.
His hair set up in front In a kind OF
} thick brush, and he had a real fool
ish way OF duckin' his head to one side
, when he laughed, caused altogether
from his bein' bashful out In society
for old Bud had plenty OF sense
1t blows up a norther about time fol
,, this here function to begin, and altho
Nettie has good fire In the heater In
the north room where the party Is
Bud is chilly, havin' took off his WOO
cow-punchin' shirt and put on cotton
one with that little flannel coat, &c
he sets over next to the stove, his
! head back against the rough pint
partition, and listens to the Others
! talk.
After while TIP, who always keeps
, the ball a rollin' at such places, gitt
UP and proposes to play Take Bach
! What You Borrow" and 1t took nerve
for Tip to suggest that game, too
Well, the boys all git their part
ners, and there never bein' enough
girls to go around In this western
country, and Bud bein timid, COURSE
he was one of the left-overs. Old Mrs
Brockton sails in about the time fol
the game to begin, and sees him settin
there with his chair tilted back
lookin' like he wasn't entoyin hisself
Come on, Bud" she says Jolly, :"
amt got no partner"
Course Bud bein' crazy bout Nettit
/ was powerful tickled to git chance
, to please the old lady, SO he starts
forward.
A panied look comes over his face
He leans back again and says he be
lieyes he don't keer to play.
"Oh, come on, says Mrs. Brockton
holdin' out her hand friendly.
Then Tip Taylor lets out his big
/ boigterous laugh, which calls every
body's attention to the fact that Buds
mop OF hair has stuck to pine kno
IL H.