Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-23
CHAPTER XII
A Rusv Dav for the Conc.


"Fil Caesar, be stillp' commanded
Lettie severely. "You can't have this
chicken, cause I'm going to raise It
for Penzie. Poor little feller!' she
crooned. Were going to grow you
into nice hen, amt we? Get away,
Filibuster Caesar Penfeld, tell you.
This here chickens been chawed into
already. Think I'm going to let it be
ct any more?"
Her hands being fully occupied with
the injured chicken, she emphasized
her attitude toward FIJI by vigorous
thrusts of her foot She was sitting
on the back steps, binding up a long
yellow leg, the accidental bruising Of
which had been the basis of this gift.
No one would have thought OF giving
her a whole fowl; but when she had
been found lavishing sympathy upon
this MANNED specimen, the owner had
bestowed it upon her with relieved
carelessness.
And Lettie had accepted it eagerly.
The half of a 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 she
was living; so far her brief years
had been filed with 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
it with.
"Awkl 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, spit1re. 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 superfuous
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 hard
knot.
rs he at homer"
didn't / tell you I didn't know
where he WASP" inquired Lettie tartly.
He shrugged his shoulders in way
that discredited anything that Lettie
Penf1eld 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 string to the
well leg of the chicken and fastened
the other end to nail on the outside
wall Of the kitchen.
Frank Bosley laughed-not so much
in amusement as in lazy defiance.
"Winstonp' he called, with his eyes
on the loft. "Hoo-hool Winston!"
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-lina
poles and smiling at her scornfully.
"You said you didn't know where he
was"
IF he was here, I'd know 1t,
wouldn't II" she returned with equal
scorn. sHe amt to home. Do You
get it now?"
Looking up, he gave shrill whistle.
'sHoo-hoo, therel Winston p
Lettie, tying FIJI Caesar to the new
wire fence to forestall further interest
in thu injured chicken, frightened
the KNOT Will jerk anu WneeleQ
around. Her lean brown fingers were
working. Don't you b'lieve what I
say? When I say he amt here, don't
you b'lieve meY
He gave her an impudent look irons
his prominent, heavy-lidded eyes. s'No,
/ 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 "Pm going
to be a fne woman sometime. Penzis
! says Tn to be. Sol"
Frank Bosley threw back his head
and laughed. Strengthening to catch
his breath, he suddenly bent forward.
as if limp from merriment. Lettie
watching, felt her rage turn to fear
to cold terror. Was it possible that
Pennies love had held up a false hope
to encourage her and that everybody
else looked down on her?