Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-30
CHAPTER xII.-contInued

you like that?'
At the words, the child's fear was
swallowed up in recurring anger. Her
beloved Penzie had been criticized.
Don't you dare talk bout Penzie,
she flashed. Get outa here, you
nixy stiff! Get outa-" She dashed
toward him with outfung arms, as
one might to brighten small animal
then stopping so abruptl.' that she
swayed dizzily for a moment. Excuse
me- she muttered. 20 Lord" She
turned and flew into the house, bang
Ing the kitchen door behind her. The
minutes that supervened were troubled
by thuddy humping, as of drum
gone wrong.
When Lettie reappeared she was
carrying an armful of boards, a to-
mato can of old rescued nails, and a
Ratchet with a notched blade. The
household did not possess a hammer,
an implement too highly specialized
to be afforded the Ratchet had
squeezed in by its diversity u service.
Frank Bosley was stills there, sitting
on small stump, smoking cigarette.
He watched lazily while Lettie spread
her materials down on the walk.
What's the nifty notion?" he
drawled.
She gave him brief glance. "You
here YETI"
Sure, and talking. / asked, what
you making?"
I'm going to make coop for"
She broke off and sat back on her
heels, considering.
"For the pepper-andsalt ship
wreckYo he put in helpfully.
"'Tain't a shipwreck." defended
Lettie ITS a Plymouth Rock, guar
anteed, and it's going to be a good
one. l gotta name her." She reflect
ed deeply, trying out names sound
lessly, with lips moving. "I'll call her
Bonnie Geraldine" she said aloud.
This decision, honoring the two
daughters of Mrs. Weatherstone, was
the highest kind Of tribute, being
spontaneous and given without inten-
ton of f1attery. The young ladies
were only names to Lettie, who had
no more thought Of ever seeing a
Weatherstone than she had Of glimps-
ing the North pole, rising out Of its
cake Of ice and bearing aloft the flags
of the various nations that ha dis
covered it.
Better call it the Calico Curiosity"
ne suggested between slow puffs.
Lettie bit her lips till the color left
them. Taking up two pieces of board,
she propped them together to see if
they would form the conventional
gable roof of a chicken coop. They
would not. With sigh abe discarded
one and took up another.
'sYou can't do-it," observed the man.
s'You don't know how"
"Why don't you help me, then?"
'T? Child, have better things to
do
Eyes, you havel" che retorted.
"Such as sinking in the basement
door to see the cross-eyed mani"
With his finger on the clasp of HIS
cigarette case, he paused. Lettie,
watching him calmly, was quick to
see that her shot had told
"And the little man that carries
cane," she continued.
eff 1 was in your place." Lettie pro-
ceeded with relish, 81 wouldn't leave
my machine in the same spot all time
It's kinder notic'ble, tween them two
eucalyptus trees on Everidge street,
and Here Bonnie Geraldine" she
commanded, turning to her new acqui-
sition, "stop Topping round so. That
dog amt going to hurt you. Here,
good old FIJI, treat her decent, can't
you? You gotta get 'quainted and be
friends. How can love you both if
She heard steps behind her. Switch
ing about, she encountered the white
anger Of Frank Bosley.
"You imp of satanl" he growled.
s'Hold your tongue in your head if
you don't know how to use 1t. You
hain't never seen me in any such
place. If you want to play safe, You
won't get me mixed with somebody
else and go blabbing."
Lettie stood up and confronted him
coolly, thin shoulders thrown back,
dark eyes undaunted.
IF it wasn't you, what're you get
ting so mad for? How do you know
amt praising your"
81 don't care what way It's Who
ever you saw, 'twan't me. Dyou I'M
derstand? You needn't get me mixed
~, Nth onvhodv nlcn
81 hain't got you mixed up, Mr..
Frank Bosley. got your number,
and l know lot hain't told. 1 seen
you three fellers moren once; and
way you stink, I know you're 'shamed
of something. All is, If you want me
to keep still, you get outa here and
keep away from Uncle Jerry"
With an assumption of recovered
composure, he returned to the stump,
took out another cigarette, struck a
match, and contemplated the child
with well-simulated indifference.
"Dont worry, spitfire."
Lettie was immensely disappointed.
She had thought she was making
Roadway, and here she was back
where she had been in the first place.
It took scarcely ten seconds for her
anger to rise.
"Get outa here,'' she shrieked. "Get
out and keep out"
"Dry up he retorted. "Tve heard