The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-05-04
CHAPTER XII
A Busy Day for the Gong


Lettie severely. you can't have this
chicken. cause I'm going to raise II
for Penzie. Poor little fellerl' she
crooned. Were going to grow you
into a nice hen, amt we7 Get away,
Filibuster Caesar Penfield, l tell you,
This here chickens been chawed into
already. Think I'm going to let 1t be
ct any moreY'
Her hands being fully occupied with
the injured chicken, she emphasized
her attitude toward FIJI by vigorous
on the back steps, binding up long
yellow leg, the accidental bruising Of
which had been the basis Of this gift.
No one would have thought of giving
her whole fowl; but when she had
been found lavishing sympathy upon
this MANNED specimen, the owner had
bestowed 1t upon her with relieved
| carelessness.
And Lettie had accepted 1t eagerly.
The half of persons kingdom was
as much as she ever expected. and
that half considerably battered and
tattered. The time had not yet come
when Lettie would wonder why abe
was living; so far her brief years
had been filed with q desperate
struggle to keep that life existent
without regard to its purpose. and
until recently there had never been
anything but the merest scraps to do
| II with.
/ "AwkI Awkr' complained the
| chicken
"Woofl Woofl" worried the dog.
"Shut up, both of you" advised Let
tie sharply. My landy patience, amt
you both the limit? Keep still, hen.
can't you? Don't you never want two
legs again?"
"Hello, spitfire. Where's your
Uncle Jerry?'
The child's black eyes flashed as
she looked I'D. Instinctively she dis
liked Frank Bosley. and the feeling
was constantly being strengthened by
his treatment of her as superfiuous
thread in the fabric of humanity.
She made no reply.
where's your Uncle Jerry?'' he re-
peated.
Il don't know" declared Lettie
briefly, tying the bandage into a hard
knot.
rs he at homer
Didn't I tell you l didn't know
where he WASP" inquired Lettie tartly.
He shrugged his shoulders in a way
that discredited anything that Lettie
Penfield might say.
She glared at him, started to speak,
then paused. A plan was springing
into being in her mind. She would
do something for Penzie. More than
once she had seen Pennies face grow
sad and troubled when this man and
Uncle Jerry went out OF The Custard
Cup together, and her lightning intu-
ition had told her that Penzie disap-
proved of the friendship between the
two men. Now here was a chance to
show Frank Bosley how the family
felt toward him. Then perhaps he
would let Uncle Jerry alone. Penzie
would be delighted.
"You'd better go home" began Let
tie directly. She tied a string to the
well leg of the chicken and fastened
the other end to a nail on the outside
wall of the kitchen.
Frank Bosley laughed-not so much |
In amusement as in lazy defiance.
winston p he called, with his eyes
on the loft. "Hoo-hool Winstonl ~
Lettie turned on him. what d'you
mean? Didn't / tell you he wasn't
hereT
''You did not" denied Bosley coolly. |
leaning against one of the clothes-line
poles and smiling at her scornfully |
"You said you didn't know where he |
was"
eff he was here, I'd know II, |
wouldn't II" she returned, with equal |
scorn. HE amt to home. Do you
get it now|
Looking up, he gave a shrill whistle.
'Hoo-hoo, therel Winston !"
Lettie tying FIJI Caesar to the new
wire fence to forestall further interest
in the injured chicken, frightened
the knot with a jerk and wheeled
around. Her lean brown fingers were
Don't you b'lieve what i
say? When / say he amt here, don't
you b'Neve meY"
He gave her an impudent look from
his prominent, heavy-lidded eyes. mo,
I don't, If you want to know. What
do you think you are, anyhow? You
amt anybody. And stop sassing me.
darn your"
A flush rose In Lettie's pale cheeks.
She stamped her foot. II am some
body, too" she stormed I'm going
20 be a fine woman sometime. Penzie
says I'm to be. Sol"
Frank Bosley threw back his head
md laughed. Strengthening to catch
lis breath, he suddenly bent forward.
Is If limp from merriment. Lettie,
felt her rage turn to fear,
o cold terror. Was 1t possible that
Pennies love had held up false hope
o encourage her and that everybody
Use looked down on her?
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The first Instrument known fe