Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-01-07
PEGASUS
PETERS
The Story of a
Nickname
By cLARISSA MACKIH


Finney Lee was laboriously reading
items from a week old newspaper
when his tongue stumbled against a
new word.
Say, Peters," he interjected, "you
had some schoolin', didn't you? What's
this Understanding
Pegasus" replied Peters glibly.
Name Of battleship," queried Fin
ney guardedly. "or a new patent med
icineT'
"Name of u fellow explained Pc
tiers vaguely. for his schooling had been
intermittent and varied by continual
change Of scene. His father had been
a book agent, as well as a widower,
and Peters education had been mark
ed by long gaps between cities. Name
of a fellow he repeated more posi-
lively. He was an inventor-invented
shoe pegs he ended. with a sudden
burst of inspiration.
"Uh. huh. but 1t sounds kinder funny
reading here. Listen" And Finney
Lee slowly read. $50 Oscar Jones
mounted his Pegasus and few to some
enchanted isle, where he composed an
other OF his deathless poems What
do you make Of that, Peters?"
oh" answered Peters airily, same
guy named an aeroplane after old Peg
asus and dew away to some island.
guess this Oscar Jones could write
poetry"
Yes. 1t says he wrote a deathless
poem. | suppose that means one that's
mild and gentle, without KILN In 1t"
But Peters. the authority on litera-
lure. smiled in superior manner.
"A deathless poem" he said, "is one
you can't kill, no matter how much
you'd like to-
zone Of them ladylike poems that
you'd like to riddle with bullets, only
1t seems like cowardly thing to do"
growed old Roberts from his chair at
the head of the mess table.
But that was not the end of the dis
cussion at the Double X ranch The
next day Finney Lee met the pretty
schoolteacher and showed her the news
paper clipping.
How she laughed when she heard
Peters definition of Pegasus! But she
spent an agreeable half hour explain
ing to Finney Lee all about ancient
mythology, and Finney retold the story
to his pals, and Immediately they dub
bed the educated one Pegasus Peters,"
and the name stuck to him.
One April morning Pegasus Peters
awoke to the fact that he was in love
At first he had thought It was malaria
and took quInine without result; then
he met Miss Sally Barton again and
danced with her and looked into her
deep blue eyes, and, as is the common
fate OF those who look too long into
deep blue eyes, he fell In love.
The richness of bird songs, the scent
of sage In the rare morning air, the
lightness of his heart revealed the Sc
cret. So he scrubbed his handsome
face and brushed his black hair and
actually blushed when he met his own
gaze In the little mirror that was com
mon property in the bunk house of the
Double X.
Il say. Pegasus" drawled a voice be-
hind him. OF course you want to look
right pretty. but she amt going to be
here to breakfast, you know"
Feters whirled about, his face GRIM
son.
who amt going to be here to break.
fastr' he challenged
ANY lady you wanter name," evad-
ed Finney Lee impudently.
Il amt naming any ladies, and it
isn't healthy for you to, either. You
know. Finney?' Peters tossed this over
his shoulder as he went down the mar
row stairway.
When his broad shoulders and sleek
black head had vanished Finney wink
ed at himself In the glass.
81 wonder what he'd say II he knew
that schoolma'am knew that Pegasus
story! Lord. how she did laugh, f1t to
XIII. And him so innocent getting
sweet on her Poor old Pegasus"
Pegasus Peters did not feel poor as
he rode out into the glory Of that
spring morning. He was going over to
the distant range to relieve Smithers,
one OF the line riders
AS he rode he whistled and sang out
Of pure happiness. He had $500 in the
belt under his flannel shirt, and he had