The Press., 1922-07-20

was too superstitiOus to kill the fOal, or leave it to starve by the road"
 'Very likeIy-but Totty isn't gan gling twO-year-Old. She's her own pedigree Made right from nose to heel. Not pretty-pretty colts don't turn out world wonders. l know didn't I see half a dozen of them back at Uncle Dams? He sold two of them in spite of my begging him nOt-and says now, if only he'd kept them, we would all of us be rich"
 "Oh. you make ne tired !" Roy com pIained. What law against men and money? We must have money, or else lose out. You know 1t as well as do. So be reasonable. wouldn't cross you if 1t wasn't matter of necessity"
 Don't wOrry-yOu are not going to do it," Marcia returned prOvOkingly. When Bald COOt knows that l go with my Ally"
 "Why! He'll be hotter than ever for trading" Roy laughed. "WhO wouldn't be. Marsh-especially after tasting your cOoking?"
 "I might name several without straining my rememberer," Marcia said with a toss of her head that set it's tumbled curls framewise about her rosy face. It was not beautiful, but full of health, youth and charm. Bald COOt. otherwise Silas Jones, Esq, felt the charm as he ambled to the door of the rawly new framehOuse. so unfin- ished 1t was barely habitable, for all Marcia's brave endeavOringS with whitewash and packing box make shifts. Her threadbare glngham faded to soft dull blue became her wonder fully, albeit it was none so clean. She had no ornament beyond the thin wed ding ring upon a rOughened finger Altogether, she was a figure not 0f poverty. but of pinched and decent aspiration.
 As such, she did not warm the cal lOus Jones' heart-ratheF she stirred in 1t quicker touch of greed. Five hun dred for that young thing would be wicked extravagance-better say two at first, and go on to the quarter as if through an excess of liberality. SC it took him all aback to hear stead fastly spoken: "I'm sorry you've come back, sir-tO get no more than yOuI trouble for your pains. I ought to have told Roy up and down TOtty wasn't for sale at any price. As I didn't won't you stay to dinner with us just to show you're not mad with us?'
 With pIeesher," Jones responded smirking hard. ROy's sulIen face en cOuraged him more than the aspect Oi things general. Besides, he was sharp set-aS an old campaigner, he knew what surprises lurked often in country fare. In reward Of such faith he de vOured new potatoes, early cabbage boiled to perfection with . Scrag O1 ham, along with hot cOrnbread, fresl buttermiIk, and crisp young lettuce praising all effusively, and leading up after the cherry pie, to a renewed Offel for the. Ally.
 Three huRdred-couldn't think O making it less, after the way they haC treated him. ROy's eyes grew eager but Marcia's hardened-she had beer watching Jones narrOwly-searchinl for an elusive likeness. Suddenly Sh' caught it-and likewise caught he breath. He was the fllly's giver, O his twin@-either way. there was neet to beware. Hence she shook her heat more decisively than ever, saying "NOt for three hundred, nor five-nO even a thousand. T0tty's all the bab I've g0t-I am not going to sell her."
 Look out you don't lose her-hOrs critters die mighty easy sometimes, Jones all but snarled.
 The snarl walked the man in Roy Very ciyilly he said: You better b moving. Mr. Jones. Understand, wha my wife says is the word with tn mark on it-I stand behind her al the way" Then. as Jones vanished "HOney-I don't see the way Out-bu we won't be sorry, so long as we cal keep together"
 Marcia's eyes were starry. Sh could hardly speak for trembling "ROy, Jones brought TOtty here-i he had come by her honest, don't yO know he'd craim her now? He'll tr to steal her--and match her up wit her pedigree. Not openly, Of course 'I"i through SOInP t'tl."" e-"nolt"
 "Honeyl Are you sure?" Roy gasped Let's so look TOtty over carefully-'
 ''NOt yeti" Marcia cautioned. :" hid her-down by the sinkhOle. Al soon as it's safe-why, there sht cOmes-running. Honey lamb, what Ii the matterY 9.
 TOtty tried to tell them-she wal scared. but more angry-almOst to tn, point of sQueaiing. The welt Qt. say age slash along the flank, her very frs blow, explained her state, as the dan gling bark halter explained that ] thief had tried to drive her away witt him. As Marcia cOmforted and quiete' her, hearty voice called from thu stiie:
 Lord! What action! Never say the beat of it. Say, is that yOuni critter got any blOodf'
 We wish we knew, squirrel" RO, answered quickly. Then all in a bud dle the whole story was told to SQutr Allen, their richest neighbOr Afte hearing 1t, he whistled "Mr. Sila Jones will bear looking after," he said setting spurs to his horse, which ha, blood and breath to sgo with tn speedy and stay with the stout.
 Watch out!" he lung oyer his shoul der, 2R Gray Nick RrQka into gMesr