The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-06
The Daily Short Story
TABOR."
By Mary Louise CerMicf.

sLABOR.~
By Mary Louise Csrnief.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
H. dicate, Inc.)
Through almost q quarter OF a
century Aerrimac Mills had grown
accustomed to the sight OF "Speck"
and his fat grey mare. 1t was sell
dom indeed that one was seen with
ou1 the other. In the days when
he horse was nimbler of hoof and
Jealous for toll Speck had chris
tened her Labor" And Labor she
remained. in spite OF bullying sides
and an increasing tendency to
rtai the pace OF snail.
At 8 O'Clock in the morning
Speck would start on his round of
the town in his ofiicial capacity Of
ash collector. At half past in
the afternoon his familiar blue
cart would be rumbling along the
river road on its way to the vacant
lot, which served as a repository
for the days collection. 1t was
during the course OF one of these
late afternoon trips that Speck at
tracted the attention Of Mrs. Hora-
ito Littletield, president of the
Town Improvement society, and
provided her with another of her
big IDEAS
II should think the town would
get sick OF looking at Speck and
that dilapidated ash CART" she OBJ
served disdAinfully to Horatio Lit
tlefield. And as for that fat, lazy
mare-well, Just look 1T her. Dis
graceful! What Merrimac Mills
needs is q truck"
mo doubt about it, my DEAR
agreed the amiable Horatio Little
field. but you can't teach an old
dog new tricks, Laura. Speck would
be absolutely lost without Labor
NONSENSE" snapped mis- wife
"As president, shall put the mat
ter before the Town Improvement
society, and as chairman of the
board Of selectmen, you are expect.
ed to do your duty"
Horatio did his duty. As for the
board, they thought 1t unwise to
oppose MerrimacJ Mills heaviest
taxpayer. And in due course Z
big, shining red truck was present
ed to the utterly bewildered Speck
But I never drove one Of them
construed things in my life," he
protested. Besides, what is to be;
come Of Labor
You can learn to drive" replied
Mrs. Horatio Littlef1eld majesticai.
ly. '"The town will sell the horse
! Of course"
Sell Labor!" exclaimed Speck
The thought aroused him and hi
launched into a flood of Sitter pro
test. But the board-and Mrs. Hn
ratio Littlefield were adamant
That night Speck put an extra car.
rot in his pocket when he went Il
the town stable. For the last tim.
he fed the old mare. washed hel
sleek coat and combed the string,
name with elaborate care.
It was some time before Merri
mac Mills grew accustomed to tn,
new lash cart" Sbeck himself new
Of became reconciled to it. He be
came in time an expert driver, bu
his resentment toward the big re,
truck WAS unmistakable. He hate,
the c1humefous bits of machiner!
that were In constant need of, OF
tention. When he creased the gear
or filled the tank he found hifnsel
thinking Of Labor and he MISE,
the joyous, friendly whinny tina
was the reward of his kindness t,
her. On moro than one occasion
lSpeck decided to 90 before th
board and demand the return OF hi
companion. But he was no longe
young aud the fear Of losing hi
Job weakened his determination.
One evening as he was drivin,
h0mewAfds in tho October dusl
tBteck> was startled ~ . familia
sound. 1t was the rfutfacted whin
| NJ Of . horse hCfse IN paih. A
his truck rounded = bend in tn
Rive1 foaA tA1 oh collector cAugh
| sight of 1 efay mare lying in tn
dust Of the highway. Over th
animal stood . short, thiek-set ma
bfaadishinx . whip. Whsn III
mAfe hiled To abandon her positio
the driver brought the whip dow
lviciously across her ears.
Il stop that. you ravin' idiot!
i shoutod Speck He stopped q
truck and ran t61ard the 6fIeAae
Ais 0ce turned ashen under ~