The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-05-18

10 lodu up the cOntraptlOn--
But even If it did" broke in Lettss
eagerly, IT'D pay cause he'd be more
excited and"
81 amt aiming to get my boys ex-
cited. My line Amt revivals; It's adj
vertising. Now you run long outa
here while Tn still holding on to my
temper. Do you hear?"
Lettie rose swiftly. her face white
with fear. her eyes blazing with in
tensity. "You gotta listen. Honest.
you'd get more work out of your boys
I'll bring it; I'll show you; III"
"Get outa herel amt going to
bother"
"Holy Jiminettyl" cried the child,
with flare of anger. Cant you talk
sense? I'm telling you straight"
"Jack." called Mr.. Abbott. pat this
kid out"
"Ohi Ohw screamed Lettie. ''Don't
you dare" In binding gust Of
rage at the threatened indignity. she
clenched her fists and pounded the
frail old desk till the papers rustled
and the inkwell rocked against its
metal holder. A wrathful red had
surged into her cheeks; her narrow
chest Jumped up and down in agony.
Don't you darel Just have a heart.
Listen till L oh, let me alone.
Don't you dare; don't you"
Shrieking, protesting, flashing out
with her lean. angry arms, Miss PEN
field was being forcibly elected from
the office Of the Wideawake Adver-
Using agency. The boy Jack, with
unconcealed relish. had grasped the
child by thin elbow and was guiding
her to the door. Not without diff
Guilty, however, He was able to con-
troll the general direction, but not
without picturesque zigzaggings. Let
tie, alternating shouts of entreaty and
defiance, was executing a series Of
contortions about the fulcrum of her
own elbow which would have given
suggestions to a vaudeville dancer In
search of innovations.
you don't know boys" screamed
Lettie. "Leggo. dern you'll You don't
know boys. They'd rather work a
trick than eat. They"
"Shut up. you wild Indian" advised
the boy called Jack.
"Shut up, yourself" retorted Lettie.
you don't know boysl You don't
know" She stopped, abruptly con-
scious that she was addressing
closed door and a sidewalk empty of
life except for a pattering Airedale.
obviously not interested In advertis-
ing
Sitting with anger. panic-stricken
by failure, Lettie dashed down the
street, into o vacant lot where there
was a sprawling live-oak tree. With
small brown fists she began beating
the rough trunk. Wild sobs shook
her thin frame. Tears rolled down
her face; anger dried them on her hot
cheeks. only to replace them by new
flood.
With savage delight in her own suf-
ferIng. she beat the gnarled bark till
the blood came and her muscles
ached. Then her arms dropped: she
slumped into heap on the ground
no longer a will-driven human being,
full of fight and fierceness, but for
lorn little girl, hopeless and heart
broken. With all the gathered longing
of hard, dreary childhood, she had
set her mind on these holidays as
upon some idealized heights of bliss.
And now 1t was to be as 1t had al
ways been: no tree. no presents, no
party. no games. no anythingl
Next week she would prowl through
various streets In the early dusk,
stopping now and then before win
dow to watch somebody else's Christ
mas tree. spreading Its branches be-
tween parted curtains, dotted with
lighted candles that cleaned on tinsel
and gay red belis-just as she had
done last year-and year beforehand
year before Perhaps. as had hap
pened once, she would find a church
party. She would climb up on fence
and look In at the window-at groups
and groups of children waiting for
Santa Claus to give them presents
from the big tree with its deep. soft
boughs and chains Of tinsel and gilt
ter. Inside-outside What differ
encel And she. Lettie. would be out
side, clingfng to renee, looking In
upon good times that had never been
hers. Outside-always, always out
sidel
Her body shook with sobs. Her thin
fingers twisted in the dry grass and
the sharp oak leaves. :. Something
cold touched her burning cheek. She
squirmed away. The cold touch fol-
lowed. She reached to push 1t from
her, and her fingers fell on the soft
ears of dog. With wild cry Lettie
sat up and threw her arms around the |
shaggy creature. He licked her face. |
He was wise dog, a. dog of family, |
and he had seen small people suffer |
before, so he knew exactly what to do. |
He continued to llck-and Lettie con-
tinued to hug. He had offered his |
and she took 1t with greed,
and felt vastly better. Her tears were
checked
you see,"" she said aloud, her voice |