Phillips County herald., 1923-07-19
WHERE DOBBIN LED
BY MoLLlE MATHER
20. 1898. Western Newspaper UnIon.)

20 1923 Western Newspaper Unlon)
PICHARD STANDISH congratulate
- ed himself upon the silence and
beauty OF the situation. Here his prob
lens might be solved; the intricate
workings of the plan which troubled
him brought to successful fulfillment.
Then, too. his health would be benefit
ed. His privileged housekeeper Of
many years service had meanipgly told
him that his nerves were pretty
ragged on the edges"
Richard drew plans for great build
lngs and great bridges. He had decid-
ed to rent this old house In the coun-
try, after chance auto drive in Its
direction.
Mrs Brewster. his housekeeper, was
interested In the garden. She enthused
over the vegetables they were later
to enjoy, and Richard absently agreed.
but his happy peace was to be dis
turbed. Mrs. Brewster, her face red
with Indignation, came to him.
well, noww she exclaimed, "If we
haven't moved next door to fighting peo-
|
with this and that an you an archi-
tect, If Dobbin does wander into her
back yard, need she write an impu-
dent note?"
Richard, perplexed, brushed the hair
from his forehead "Dobbn?" he
questioned.
"Dobbin Is an old horse that the llv-
| eryman rented to me for the time of
our stay here, so that may drive into
town and back with our marketing.
And II he did get into that red-headed
woman's garden"
Richard interrupted. LET me see
the note" he said
1t was evidently hurried note.
Your horse" the communication be-
gan abruptly, sis running my potato
patch. He comes over and rolls on 1t.
If you do not keep him stabbed I'll
have to charge you damage.-Nora
0'Neil."
Richard. glancing from the window,
saw an angular woman. with bright red
hair. In the garden opposite.
bopoth, uctidTeu flClidru, must
be kept away from Miss O'Nell's gar
| den. I have no wish to enter into an
argument with that determined person
and I don't want to pay for her po-
tatOes."
He reached for pad nearby and.
lazily amused. scribbed line:
Dear Miss o'Neil: Pardon our wan
dering steed for trespassing. The liv-
eryman did not inform us Of his fond
ness for potatoes. We will endeavor
to keep him stabbed, Notwithstanding
the fact that we have no stable. If.
however, he should again roam from
! the shed that shelters him you are nj
liberty to use any means at hand 10
drive him from your gnrden.--R.
Standish. neighbor."
Distastefully the housekeeper deliv-
cred the note 10 the red-headed woman
In the opposite inclosure-who as un-
graciously took H.
To Richard. now seriously engaged
with his drawings. came presently an
answer.
'That ldlotic animal is In my garden
this moment. He has ruined about iif-
ty dollars worth of potato vines and Is
cavortlng toward the lettuce bed. In
stend Of writing silly notes come and
get hIm.-Nora 0'Nell."
Richard. In his absorption, was In
no mood to be rudely ordered regard
Ing nm old horse. But In Mrs Brews-
ter's eye was the light OF enjoyable
Rattle. If he was to live In continued
peace In this retreat he would have TO
see the irate woman next door himself.
lmpatiently he went forth to the task.
There was no one In view. so he strobe
on townrd the vegetable garden. there
to see wildly-gesturlng figure, almost
obscured by n playful horse. Dobbln
was giving the woman II chase. Then
a huddled object In the potato patch
cnught hls eye-a girl In blue. her
cheeks rose-colored from evident exer.
ton her brown hair blown and curl
Ing. II was she who ncc0sted Richard,
rising angrlly to her small height.
Now" cried the girl. you take that
animal or YOURSELF"
Then. from behind the dividing
fence, came, soothlngly Mrs. Brews
ter's voice; Come. Dobbln, come"
obedlentiy Dobbln cnme.
The red-headcd womnn stared nj
Richard, the little brown-halrcd one
snzed nt him reproachfully. ut was
my first garden she said, "nnd Il took
inc 50 long to learn to be fnrmerette.
and was going to cnrry on mothers
old home every summer, and mike
money for us, And this yenr's work Il
almost completely spoiled"
Richard had been gnslng into the
soft blue eyes. Eagerly 10 grnspcd nj
the possibility Of the last rcgrctful
sentence. almost" snld Rlchnrd
then you think there might still be
hope for the gnrien1'
'"i'bey plant some potatoes In June"