The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-15

REAL TEST OF VALOR
BY IDA SPEED.

i
hand at high finance. He took the con-
tract to paint the D Bar windmill for
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 f1nicky 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 Twin at it.
For, although he was a 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
ern 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 Teller 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
party at your house tonight, Net" he
says careless.
"Oh, don't have 1t In my house."
says Nettie. I'VE can't 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 pacif1ed.
Come ahead them
Old Mrs. Couzens come in Just then
to buy hank Of red yarn, and as the
boys walk out Of the store l 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
Teller there that had on regular party
toys, 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 a sorry
lookin little cream-colored, summer
flannel one hisself, that bein' all he !
had left.
His hair set up In front In kind of I
a 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 norther about time for
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, hayin' took off his wool
cow-punchin shirt and put on a cotton
one with that little flannel coat, so
he sets over next to the stove, his
head back against the rough pine
partition, and listens to the others
talk.
After while Tip, who always keeps
the ball rollin at such places. gifts
UP and proposes to play Take Back
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 for
the game to begin. and sees him settin
there with his chair tilted back
looktn' like he wasn't enjoyin' hisself
Come on, Bud" she says Jolly. 81
amt got no partner
Course Bud bein' crazy bout Nettie
was powerful tickled to git a 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.
neves he don't keer to play. |
"oh, come on says Mrs. nvcc,Sa.
holdin' out her hand friendly.
Then Tip Taylor lets out his bir
boisterous laugh, which calls eytr.
body's attention to the fact that B;.ls
rNNlR Af h,f, i,