Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-04
CHAPTER xxvI-centInued.


Lettie patted him more absently,
more and more dreamily, her thoughts
withdrawing into the seclusion of anx-
ious meditation. She scarcely noticed
when he left her, at the call of his
own master. But his brief SYM
patty had given her courage. She
contemplated the shattered items of
her ambitious plan. That was one
trouble. She had been too ambitious,
hoping to make many dollars.
Out of the chaos new thought took
shape, beckoned with promise, sent
Lettie flying down the street again,
back to The Custard Cup. She pelted
through the driveway and into Num-
Der AZ. With a flash of black curls
she whirled into the bedroom, seized
her invention from behind the sleeping
box, and was off again, racing along
through the driveway and up the
street, running, running, balancing the
long pole with plunging compensa-
lions.
81 gotta have that tree" she repeat
ed over and over, half sobbing still. II
gotta. I promised. oh, Penzie, I'm
gonta."
She reached the Wideawake Office
utterly breathless and frenzied by the
inward struggle between hope and de-
spair. Her curls whipped across her
face as she dashed through the door,
the astonished Jack, and brought up at
the desk. The long pole wavered un-
certainly above the head of Mr.. Alb
bolt, who dropped his pencil and jerked
back in instructive reaction.
tHere!" painted Lettie through dry
lips. Here it's! Sector yourself.
You can have it-and the whole
scheme-make as many's you wanter
for a dollar Whole thing-a dol
Iar!"
Mr.. Abbott stared at the child in
speeches. amazement, his eyes uneas-
ely following the imminent gyrations
of the long stick. Lettie, watching
him with eagle gaze and seeing no
signs of success, clutched desperately
for further leverage. Perhaps apology
That was often what people required
of her. Certainly If an apology or
two would turn the scales, it was not
a time for personal reserve.
Excuse me-for getting mad" she
gasped out. II gotta beastly temper.
To home III pound it out, but you
you didn't have anything to pound
quick 'nough. And excuse me for using
your desk. II you'd had a gong, you
know"
''Holy smoker interrupted Mr.. Alb
bolt, with some faint indications of
plunging into another pocket of good
nature. Don't have heart failure or
jim-jammies or anything-not in my
Office. Sit down, sister, and grab on
to yourself Let's see If we can find
out what 'sylum you come out Of
With a humpy sigh Lettie Topped
into chair; and having collected a
modest supply of breath, she launched
into a demonstration of her model At
the end of the stick were two arcs of
wire which closed upon the card. The
arcs were held together by wire loop,
which could be released by two arms,
also Of wire, that ran down the handle
within reach Of the operator.
The contrivance was crudely made.
The wires were far from even, and
they were clamped to the long stick
with carpet tacks:. but as Lettie tri-
umphantly and repeatedly pointed out,
sit worked" Mr.. Abbott himself
worked it a number of times, not rap
idly but with undeniable results. Let
tie watched him in agonized suspense.
He shook his head 81 don't see how
qt'd save anything. 1t might in some