Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-05-04
Florence Bingham Livingston
Copyright by George H. Doran COMPANY

too" he finished.
Lettie's lips curled.
He continued. "She's int'rusted in
KIDS that don't int'rust nobody else.u
Ihis subtle fiattery was allowed to
permeate Lettie's consciousness he
fore Crink overlaid 1t with a further
contribution.
We're going to have stew for sup
per-"
Lettie gulped. Her armor had been
pierced In a weak spot. She had had
nothing to eat since breakfast-apd
that a meal Of exceeding sketchiness.
You come long to supper and let
her look you over" he proposed.
Did you say stewT
"Uh-huh."
Meat in it7"
"Uh-huh."
is 1t an honest-to-goodness invite?n
Sure"
Lay down, cut you in twoY'
Crink took the oath.
I'll CO." she shrieked. "You can
have all the junk here" She swung
her arm wildly and rose.
Crink did not move; he was we'll
nigh paralyzed with strange glimpses
into a life far darker than his own.
Get up" she shouted. you little
ninnyl I'll lick you if you go back
on 1t now. Rattle your bones
lively"
When they had gathered up the
surface treasures, Crink escorted Let
tie through vacant lots and friendly
alleys to The Custard Cup-even to
the high privilege Of the back-door
entrance.
"Penzie," he shouted, plunging into
the lean-to in high excitement. "Pen-
zie, look what l brought you. It's
Ten-Second Lettie."
Mrs. Penfield set down her fiatiron
and turned to see what she had un-
expectedly acquired. A pair of
bright black eyes stared back at her
unwinkingly out OF small sun
Drowned face.
BLESS my soulP' exclaimed Mrs.
Penfeld genially. "Ain't this nice
Come right In, Lettie-"
Lettie did not move. Her express
sion was noncommittal-the hard,
wary expression Of over-experience
estimating, preparing for possible
combat. Her curly black hair framed
her face in ragged waves. Her pres
entation gown was Of the simplest-a
onepiece garment, obviously intended
to close in the back, but long since
refusing to close at all. Finding this
a hindrance to untrammeled action,
Lettie had faced the garment about
and laced it down the front with bits
of Irvine, making use Of the original
buttonholes and accidental perfora-
and stockings was no affair Of recent
date. With the mere substitution Of
a trifle of fringed grass for her scrap
of shredded cotton, Lettie might ap-
propriately have punctuated the peb-
bly, beach Of sunny island In the
South seas.
Mrs. Penfield, feeling her way In a
situation which she was far from IN
Outstanding, took refuge In general
hospitality.
"Sit right down here. Lettie," she
invited cordially, showing along a tub
of soaking clothes and wiping the
bench free Of spatters. II guess
likely you're friend of Crink's, amt
your
The cautious Lettie was not pre-
pared to say. She took the offered
seat, but Immediately fixed her wary
eyes again upon her hostess.
DO you live somewhere round
here. Letter" inquired Mrs. Penfleld
gently.
No answer
Crink. wriggllng uneasily by the
door. felt that the time had come to
talk up his exhibit
"She's awful strong, Penzie. Amt |
any bulldog stronger'n she is, by
cracky!
Lettie visibly expanded, wrapping |
this tribute about her as lady might |
ber silken robes For the first time |
her gaze vanderbilt a busy sauce
nan on the stove from which issued
savory odors no longer to be ignored;
for the first time she spoke.
"PIl stay TO supper" she conceded
with marked condescension.
"sure you will" agreed Mrs. zen
deld warmly. Were going TO nave
a grand parsnlp stew"
Crlnk vastly encouraged py the re
oeptlon OF the first point. proceeded
with another, 60
.say, you oughter see Tep.seeonp
[.ettie aght. never saw nothing IKE
t-honest, ! never She sp''s nN'
scratches and pulls and ,.s
Lettie. Immensely pleased i'"s'p
rightly into Mis- Peonelas ia"
I'VE got helluYa temper" sue ~
plaeldly Al.
elIaye you, nowT inquired ~
'endeld conyelsailonaliy Wy Z