The Glenwood post., 1923-07-05

that suited him, and without chang
ing position had let 1t fly. 1t caught
the unsuspecting Filibuster on front
leg. There was yelp of pain from
FIJI, screech Of rage from Lettie.
"Ohl Obi You've hit him. You've
killed him."
Mr.. wopple reached for another
stone.
Filibuster Caesar, by no means
killed but rendered strikingly discreet.
limped swiftly out Of range. Lettie
heard him; but beyond realizing that
he was able to move, she paid him no
attention. Instead. she faced her
neighbor with fury that gave him
pause. Her thin chest rising on
high wave of anger, her cheeks fam
ing, her black eyes shooting danger
sparks, she was beside herself with
contempt and wrath.
"You beasti" she screamed. ITO
hit dog! You're worse'n no good
Penzie says she don't see why the
Lord ever made you. Sol"
"Wha-at!" gasped the astounded
Mr. Wopple, for the moment over
whelmed by this revelation.
"Yi! Yi!" shrieked Lettie. '"That
got you, didn't it? I'll give you some
more. I'll" With quick swoop,
she picked up a stick and threw 1t.
1t glanced past Mr.. Wopple and struck
a window behind him, shattering the
glass; but Lettie, blinded by rage,
scarcely noted the disaster. She dart
ed here and there in search of a Sec
ond missile, relieving her feelings
with all the stormy phrases she could
think of.
"Penzie hates you-hates you'll" she
repeated, having produced more effect
with this information than with any
thing else she had tried. "She loves
most everybody, but she hates you.
She says she don't know why the
Lord ever" :.
"Lettie!"
The one word had an astonishing
effect-not merely upon Lettie but
upon Mr. Wopple. His conduct under
went immediate reversal. He did not
glance at Mrs. Penfield. who had come
quietly around the house and was
still standing on the community
walk rather. his attention was wholly
absorbed by matters in his own yard.
With nervous jerks he detached the
old hose and coiled it carefully, an
operation noticeably contrary to his
custom.
AS for Lettie, Mrs. Penfield's voice
had been to her like the breaking of
a SPELL She went suddenly limp.
Rage dropped out of her face; frenzy
released It's hold of her muscles; a
strange expression took the place OF
anger in her eyes-an expression of
realization, of frightened dismay.
"Lettie, go into the house."
Lettie went.
For a brief space Mrs. Penfield did
not move. Her troubled eyes Travelled
from one bit Of testimony to another
Its a nice day, Mis- Penfield, amt
itY' volunteered Mr.. Wopple ingra
tiatingly.
She did not reply; she seemed moi
to hear. Slowly she came forward.
"You seem to have watered lot
in one place." she observed presently
"And thank you for sprinkling my
yard, too"
"Well, now. see here, Mis- Penfield
you wait a minute and I'll tell yor
how twas"
ut isn't necessary" she lnterposed
"Lettie'n tell me-"
"Sure she'll tell you her side. Bu
you can't trust little vixen like
that"
Il can always trust Lettie, Mr.
Wopple. That's the reason l go
faith in her. So long as you can trus
a person, you got something mighty
firm to pin to. One thing like 'bou
Lettie is: she don't never try to hide
behind somebody else"
Say, now, l WANT Say. Mis-
Penfield- Say"
But she had gone.
In the kitchen Mrs. Penfield fount
Lettie, down on the floor, grading thu
small FIJI Caesar in her arms, Groom
Ing and sobbing In a remarkable com
binatiOn.
20 Penzie. his legs broke and Tn
'fraid he's killed inside. See, hi
won't let me touch It, Darling FIJI
Crink never'll forgive me. Oh.
wisht T."
Let me take him. Lettie. Get mt
the liniment and IA cloth out of the
| piece bag. Filibuster's bout the sim
| plest problem of the afternoon"
But when FIJI Caesar had acquired
| the badge of honorable injury ant
been invalided to an old rug by tht
door, Lettie's anxiety, subsiding a
| one point, bulged out at another.
"What you going to do with me
| PenzieT'
81 do not know" admitted Mrs. Pen
field wearily.
"I-rm awful sorry. PenzIe. Yo,
see he-he makes me so mad I"