Evening Star Newspaper, April 24, 1921, Page 66

THE SUNDAY 'STAR, WASHINGTON, o ©=C.. APRIL' 24" 1921=PART "4 3 THE LELL-HOD ARMISTICE Sturnelli who desired to show a-man- Maud ly independence of his own. Miss Withee did not look exactly pleased. but it was not her nature to quit. “I'm not throwing myself at either of you men—understand th: Bygones can rest, especially at ou Mustache stares. “Howsomever, considerable can be done.” suggested Sturnell. “We used| to know hot in the old days, Hod!|the grounds were the hitching-places What!” He giggled. for horses. 1t was the custom at the N “It seems good to be back working camp-meeting for the men. most of age. I'm perfectly contented, running | with you again, Lell. It takes two of | them. to send the womenfolks and the my farm by myself, the-way a Iarm‘ as a team for a desperate job. children inside at the moment of ar- ought to be run. But I can’t bear to| -We can 'tend to one of her outs rival. and then. reliéved of that in- bavel it lon Sy lconsciencolithat Il | righeinow | cubus and restraint on free. speech, O dinen, Onte L ihe doWR- | The spout which fed the trough was the men lounged about and had a grade and didn't do anything to help |, 'y ,,.‘;M thing of narrow boards real time of it talking crops, politics When I found ‘em at the bottom.NOW | ou5q with strap-iron. Mr. Sturnell|and—horse. 1 call on the doctor to witness: When | pricd off a lenglh of the iron with his| The partners IWtched the mare, you two men can walk into my door- |, i knife. doubled it and pinched it| thTew over her the hooded blanket in yard and say that you have aquit ol R % 00t s “Thatll dim | which trot-horses are exercised dur- your foolish fighting and are friends | G¥CT the marce nostrils, tF Ling the cooling-off process, and and are ready to help each other on | £ | strolled about renewing old acquaint- the upward way, I'll have something | * % x ance. They had decided on a program interesting and helpful to say to the | g5 they lighted their pipes and | 6f general indifférence, and they in- resolved themselves into a commit-| both of you. But hark ye, never | formea all inquirers ' that, having who'll only tear all my goodness 1o tee of two to discuss ways, means turn my band to do for the kind ommeihing | entivelv to ‘(he. ducen's 4 , in the way of a greer mare q"he:::.'fn“;nwz’;‘fl’;f,';:kafidotfi: INE. | methods and prospects of the new ‘hreatened with speed, they guessed She clapped the reins on her horse's | partnership. The maticr necdea ¢ {fur wtion. Prosperity was they would hold tight and pull down flank and drove away at a smart clip. somgsmoneypuext geason, A e long way ahead, and they were start- But after about half an hour of thir R. PULLYARD opened the satchel, | ing from the bottom of the hill, as climbed down. SEPTEMBER Sunday. sun with calculating Towle and Sturnell to pa. blessed, ought to be peaceful in rural surroundings. And if Peace incarnate were secking a- particularly appropriate nook for meditation or a nap she could not pick out, under ordinary circum- | stances. a much better location than under the big willow beside the wa- tering trough at the foot of Breed's hill. in the town of Harmony. Trill of bright water from the spout into the mossy trough, lisp of the willow leaves overhead— = Dr. Pullyard, V. S, was looking for- ward to that dell with anticipatory relish, and he expressed that relish ! with a combination smack-cluck to he trappy bay gelding he was dri ng. The doctor had a flask in his atchel, and he always liked to touch up the contents of that flask with running water. And. so he reflected, while the bay sipped and nuszled, there would be time for a restful drag at the old e. Then he turned t! alder growth and saw two elderly They had not come to camp-meeting in order to take part in any ceremonies inside the gate. In a little grove outside considel saw half a dozen shifts pui through. and dickering was going on 1l about them. They withdrew apart i kind of indifference they discovered - were making no progress produced a bottle and glass and | Miss Withee had suggested. He mixed his dose| “If only somebody would ride pas he corner of the % with the running water, drank off | here once in a while. we might be| yphene meant all right In adyis- :‘&enn;how::::ln?s:lfia;: UL e dram, c,,,,fd his throat ahd Able to strike up a dicker,” complained|ing us. Lell.” ¥aid Mr. Towle. “but Towle. SRElig el other e e Then, all at once, the Sunday woman stood up in » wagon and laid the braid onto them with a horse- whip, energetically. persistently and impartiaily. “Well. Horace P. Towle and Lle- wellyn Sturnell and Tryphene Withee, expostulated Dr. Pullyard when he arrived at the trough, “haven't you heard that they've quit having any more wars in this world™" Messrs. Towle and Sturnell stepped farther apart from each other, and Miss Withee tucked her whip under her arm. “I intend to be a lady in all 1imes and places. and mind my own business. - But here I sit, Dr. Pull- vard. enjoying calm and comfort and letting my horse drink, and up comes Hod Towle. towing that!” She pointed a derogatory finger at a horse and race sulky outfit at one end of the trough. “And then out of that meck of woods appears. Lell Sturnell,witha peck measure of oats on one arm and a halter draped on the other; and the next thing on the docket, they fall to rowing_and jawing about a moose and a bear and a plot and a hol race and the land knows what else! 1 couldn’t make head nor tail out of it. And then— * ¥ * ¥ DR Towle broks in. He was a thin | man with bowed legs and a pie- cutter beak, down over which was pulled the scoop of a driver's cap. He had a querulous, high-pitched voice. “Tryphene. it ain't fair for you to say you don't understand what I toid you about him ste’boying his wild bear onto that vallyble hoss, stand- ing there, and——" *“There you go again Are you | erazy™” | “Yes, he is!" declared Mr. Sturnell | with vigor. “But 1 ain‘t—me that‘s‘ been roaming the woods and tramp- | you take a woman like her, who ha s gone a level gait straight with no slipbacks. and sh: now how hard it is to get an start from the bottom. pecially when you haint ot wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I noon calm gave way to bustle. There “The two of You better come along Was an effect as if the highways were here, have a snifter with me. shake | ihe bed of a brook. and hitches and hands and then go seek your fortune. |horses were water, and a dam had 3 T've got to say that there's sure some | broken somewhere up on Breed's Hill ing to stort with” was Stur- trappy woman There were buggies and open wagons|neil's bitter rejoinder. 2 “For myself, T ain't a rummy,” and double-scaters and carry-alls. and| “You ain't slurring my fore hoss, are EXPLODED MISS WITHEE. i OF4EIGHT GOOD ONE: “LOOK AT YOURSELVE! “A FEW YEARS AGO PARTNERS WITH A WINNING STR! J RESPECTED AND LIKED!" stated Mr. Towle. “I never got myleven a hayrack filled with men and/you?' Mr. Towle had resolved to be come-uppance drinking licker." women and children. Messrs. Towle meek, to be placatory, wnd to avoid “And I ain't going to take 7o land Sturnell asked the first man who more of ihat striie which chances on youy handing me a dose | etopped at the trough to let his horse Wrought for him s, disasirousiy of bot mixture,” declared Mr. Sturnell. | drink to tell them what all this to-do | the past. But ing fields, trying to ketch a moose.” | sourly. meant. | Sturnell's assats still raniced. . ’ . el e “Hod, listen! Be reasonavle! Can 1} Go moose-hunting with a halter| pr pyllyard, V. S. climbed back [ ‘Opening S HAIMOD Y REamDl o, o hito aiimun as & (hoss swapper : meeting.” sdid the man. Mr. .and and a peck of oats”’ demanded the lady. “Doc, if you don't order both of these lunatics sent to an insane hos- pital, I shall think that you ain’t tend- | ing out on.your job.” “What has a cust old vet'inary got to do with jedging my brains squealed Horace P. Towle. He was on the farther side of the trough, and he started-around the end, shaking his fists. It was evident that Mr. Stur- mell did not consider the combat fin- ished, and mistook this advance for a signal for further hostilities. He kick- ed Mr. Howle on the shin. The vic- tim sat down on the edge of the trough and grabbed his leg in both hand: “It's broke. He done it. That devil- into his wagon and restored. the bot- tle and glass to the satchel. “Seeing ¢t 1 ain't a moose specialist and can’t raise hosses from the deadi— he looked Mr. Towle's mare over with | ar b turnell grabbed professional and utter scorn—-and | Maud's bit and led her into fhat road. seoing that you'll never get high |1 came down this way. hunting for enough in the world, either of you. to | the moos«, and I know just the place hire a veterinary again, I'il tell you {—just the checker! Camp mecting, two old busted. razoo ringer-racers|Hod! If we don't do business on to go plumb to Tophet with your !Swappers' row there today, then you pockets full of redhot doorknobs.|and me better go hang ourselves with There's my word! Think it over™ And jour galluses.” he too went off at a smart clip. |, In'a glade in the Woods they went For fully half an hour the Sunday |to work with the promptitude of men ! Phush was not broken except by the :who knew just what to do. splash of the water from the wooden got to be freshened. Hod, | spout or by the voices of the little his partner s sole and birds that came to drink from the on. With his handy trough and to argue in regard to the - whittled littie pegs from | ish old pjle-driver has broke my leg.” | tablcau. that he found in a “If_you two fools don’t stop your| Mr. Towle sat on the sulky seat M AToW Elquaste fighting and shut your clappers in the | 6lbows/on knees, and rolling rasping ! an et imons e presence of a lady, I'll use the butt|thumbs around each other. Sl ol end of this whip on the both of you Mr. Sturneil. sitting on the roadside f-'"-"\lfl f_‘fl]fit fl“ o il ?;lah' s'olne‘mn Now. Dr. Pullyard, is this moose- |bank across the highway. beside his anyadjoiniiis pastuieRwitlijoniattn bear 3 peck measure. ha 'ound a piece ol is3 ' or vr:?';:fi:_-?me of thelr ravings.| {00 ) and was whittling moodily. At PactiofRIE Stacnel The ddctor ‘scowled. ‘Théy just| M€ end of the half hour ofsilence he hurt no sood hoss, Lell about broke up the Milo fair yeeserany. | E1anced cauticusly at his former part- in old mare somebods Don't need furthern that. da' yous | RO, and found Mr. Towle looking that ¢ wa; ! “Its only borrowing in a good Seeing that you're in so much of a either spoke. They stared at each | ¢2use. Hod. and this late in the se hurry and have got in hand the im- : I'son she won't by d ha other for ten minutes or £o. somshelwont ibesncedin 2 portant fact that they'd better be left| Then Mr. :Sturnell shut his jack- | ©0 her tail to fight flies with alone to kill each other off, I'll watér | knife with a loud clack. “Horace P.|haven't pawed over the asset my hoss and drive on.” Towle, esquire, of the two I'm the !them fecd-pails under the sulk “Don’t you pay no attention to him, | most grievcd party. and it ain't for | I'm taking it for granted Tryphene.” raged Mr. Towle. leaping [ M€ 10 82y the first word.” PR e e up in forgetfulness of the broken leg.| . YOU have just said jt.” Tae boHee i “He never told the truth but once,| "It Wasn't a word—ii was only a|as quing business fn the old :and then he was overheard to do it in | 524, t0 & balky mule! S R O A TS his sleep.” supplemented Mr. Sturnell. | HOW do vou figger it that you're Sl st G - | most grievea” was stirred; 1 ain't tuckered vets |, s Cmoom Las ockite the woods she warned. “If I dom't get this|on.,l Shan't ever find®him. But ng quick Il whale the three of [ §oiV° 2¢ Your hoss back again. Mr. Towle had been speaking in a low voice of self-restraint. He straightened and raised a denuncia- tory arm, and his tone was a squeal of protest. “All I've got left is a heaves-bellers and a whistle and— " Sturrell looked at Mr. Towle. the partner returned the look. There was the opening of a wood you-— 1 can seli that them oats. righ if you can sell but a deef man, hened,” imple B knife birchwoo peck here left to run his ns should. and talk trade, and 2sk bim to roil up her lip, and be darned to him. and dent in his thumb anywhere he’s | a mind to, and tell him to gaze on her from snout to crupper. and defy him {to find that she has wheeze, whimper. |bumu or pimple? No, I can’t, and you know I can’t.” assets, ¢h? Getting into this partner- | ship b¥ false pret.nses. and daring to |stand up here and talk like that to the Iman who is doing i alll “All of what?" queried Mr. Sturneill truculentl:” Ail the investing.” two doll:rs I showed speaks for itself. measure and ond now. Dut marc to anybo o ahead :nd try it 1 But in the back of Mr. Tow'e's head llurked Miss Withce's promiss of a |reward for concord. He respettcd her abiliiy to perform—he woaderel what was Up her sleeve. “You're talking Pha'sh. 1«11t It don't do to fly itangent in a time lik “Go xell her IMr. Sturnell. laway on his shart Ipromenaded slowly bowed th {rather than observing. Hiz thoughis were solemn ones. Whatever his own- ershipwf Maud mizai count for in hix swn mind as an asset, he was obliged ito it the truth of his p-rtner's of ihat asset when it came oubles, Mr. Towle fcund himself standing in front of »n jupstandinz. flen-bitten gray: he istored hard a! the horse. but in h' She's got to be | abstrac eing the that piece of|an He awnke when fpatied hirn 0n the arm. Mr. Towle informed himself that he We'll make ‘em do. frestened. Hand me board. Sturnell's big jacknife was more or less of a handy-tool affigir. With a|had never seen this individual before £play thumb-nail he priced up an nwl|he did not need to search hik memory and began to poke small holes in the!for an instant in that point. The man } board. Into those holes he shoved the (had one white eye and a harelip—an \little. sharply pointed pegs. Soon he ' effect as if a quarrer section were cut had a sort of paddle, armed with Ut of a pie. Mr. Towle promptly won- pegs, thickly set. {dered what it would sound like when “Has she ever been pumperdickled, | that man talked. ~Therefore, when the Hod iman continued te pat “I've mever done it to her myself, | TOWl: asked amiably what he could d and in her, present state of mind i |foF him. i The- doctor put up his hand and checked off on his fingers. “Lell wa. on the grounds with an animal show, consisting of a bear and a moose Hod was there to trot that—what- ever it is—he calls a hoss.” Further disparagement of the animal hitched | but_he ceased and doubled forward into the sulky! “Bear got loose and |in bis former posture and shook his chased hoss off to hackenney, some- |head. “It ain't no use—it ain't no use: Theres, when hoss kicked him. Moose | We've been all through it so much N . an. . in revenge. tolled | that there ain't a_chance to punch | guess she s g fti_ But curlosity In regard to sound was ymoose off to same or other piace by | another hole in the sieve. 1"aint | EVer has been done 1o her > ' '*{not gratified. *The man peinted to his Fiving the imoose.call. I see Hod |going to argue whether you or pre is| “Well, keep £0od strong holt of the |O%n €ars and shook his head: he point A7 S0t back his hoss. As for—"|most grieved. past or present. Toihalter in case her mem ry revives .| c0 o his mouth and shook’ his head es. and I've got five pounds of 'me It looks fifty-fifty bt let it go: | that's all™ M ouic Dad s ety igood idex ot i They unharnessed Maud. rigged a rather helplessly for more confirmation. He got it. A passer-by furnished it. him, mister. from Purgator “What do vou suppose he wants of me?" ifquired the wondering Towle. “Probably wants vou to sfap horses with him. He has been cottoning onto others here today. Tried to get me to {swap. But according to my notion, a ! hoss-shift that is conducted without conversation and without a chance to get in the fine shades of dicker-talk ain't no more satisfying than a wind- pudding with a fog-sauce on it.” The informant departed. 1 * x ok Ited for a moment an 0 use 1o trv to talk t. That's Dummy Mills. Dear steak lashed into that sulky.” !l ajn't going to ask you what assets ’T‘l::....“? h“::-::.fl triumphantly. | yod have got. I'm simply going to|sort of twist bit. and Mr. Towle us- SNethinguT e ill taste {say that I'll etart over again in part- | sumed the role of the anchor, assisted e s Ligp, {METSBID With you—taking Tryphene's | 0y a double turn around a sapling. o e Sturnell 2 Mubby man with i advice % Sturnell began to pat her with ot apen e oroened hat. beat his; -If we had took it before now. we'd paddle-pegs. At the first stroke, | sufferer in this thing. He stole amon{have been better off. probably. She's | her air of rumination and d pondent | Trom me the only brotting m’ 2wy {all business! T'll mect you halfway. | aloofness left her promptly. She men- | floelmeihe onix erorine hICkohl_:lfl #5-line partnership, 1 suppose | tally _abandoned the higher cther o = ! i Well. it won't be no wild animil the abstract and came down to thei e es. and look st her—iook at hep| What Wil we start with [earthly concrete. Then, physically, | shere” She 'standr Jameniea' e |y TRETER nothing (o start with but | she went up with all four feet off Towle. “Run heltewhos £ [ ustacheMaud here. | e ; bear till she is wi ndh‘:o:gn:zrirt?:m:} M Stumnell eithptiiolaic ofia calou -, 5 cockon (cinas beeniidonegitonner, case of the heaves onto her thatlating capitalist. tipped his hard hat|before, and that mem'ry has been makes her sound like an nirbrarel}on one side and scratched his ear.|Woke up,” stated Mr. Sturnell, retire A L Gl TR P S e ing from the danger Maud's first even.” But Mr. Towle got such a | LFAnsport threatened. SRR O e Bt But with a grim determination he vears ago|ihat he promptly corrected the state- ) FéLurned to his work. 1 partners with a winning string of | ment. “I meant to say eight.” o aatthatotk twe meabt to pro-{N[ - owie looked tromithojgesticu, elght good ones. and men 1 reapected | -3Mr. To e e atla puce in the artistry of “freshening”|~'" lating Mr. Widd to the flea-bitten and iked! "And” you Lell 'Sturnel | the past was (hat we stareed in cheals | brcae 4BPATent rght aways minute | gray and felt very helpless. An ides down to making a fool of yourself|ing each other: and now. by the——- | PIsters came puffing up under the|c ' 0%, o “pF GEP IS SR K ©o-cent” animal{ “Hold on a second, Lell! I'm on ; o aEedipaddie: t % " Teepshow—and you. Hod Towle. With | trying to stand up for a trot-hoss that | go0 13t hog ILto & hoss—1 hate to|pockets and found a little blank book ;fll‘l: ri“ ';fm:":;; ;&-;;';'.u’;g:. (-vdto: had prospects till her nerves was all | toe cépfif‘wvdch;fsi;Kd&v:l.{nm?urn‘ed which advertised an epizootic remedy. T heon ety o G nnAmull'rn‘:bflbnhul ‘what h_annon:r:‘u", around the sapling. There fva"flca' He licked the end of a stubby lead pencil e e e e ot e taney eve e ER-brer | respiration. “Hod, I reckon you'd bet- | deaf-and-dumb man grabbed aw: me: "I have been'a friend to hoth | Ipss, a1l merves and muscle. it ain’t|ter take that strap-iron off during the |ana pencil, made l‘crm .yd:wk e G e b easy to iudge | present ceremony® If we don't #i b H o% IRy Mr. Towle fiddled his forefinger un- | page and shook his head. “Can’t read or write—can only make your mark?" demanded Mr. Towle, un- able to adjust himself to the situation. “Yes, that's what he means.” he went on, answering himself. “Well, all I want to say is this much, seeing that He ' horse-liniment; they followed that|!'™M carrying on the whole conversation: with a slicking of sweet oil and:l don't believe it was designed out that Mr. Stoenel] fished ed all With the wet moss. The | a deef and dumb dollar biil from his vest pocket and !t ceased to flow from her eyes.|n oo maniahoaidieyeciows nointed to the peck of oa's and the; Her whistling died down horsewoman, I'm as » 1 horsemen "Fou" cnhamed of you 88|, ¢ Tis nose. and =quinted at the re. Fan tn fEht and cheat cach ot Mored partner. “Lell. 1 don't be. Nobody gets anywhere in this weeld | 1ieve we shall ever have another cross That way when thev're partners. Why ' Wword. We have found it don’t pay don't vou settle thic taing between | Sauare and fair between us after this! | ou in man-fashion and shake hands!No misunderstandines' Now. as for | and hitch up =gain tomether and get tack where you belong “It ain’t no use.” t che - “It_you would guaze. her vent, she's liable te blow up on us nally, Mr. Sturnell the surface had been ciently. “The wust iy past, Maud, the must is ast.” gaid Mr. Towle consolingly. we're going to soothe ye!" &ave her a good rubbing with decided that gone over suffi- | ! settied between us as partners iassets is in sight right here. ¢ cocked inquirinz brow replicd in stop wing and wee the Tng You would act like h lan- men in- i -x;?\l'n.ntilu;_\sl"' !halter. “So's mine” he said. i Jir Sturnell had been standing off Then Mr. Towle looked at the man, at They did not reply 3 Bl i T N iis work. | the horse and around the I 5 fen. you know mighty well where ' MP Towle meditated some more—| Nauqs ba was umooth and sleek. | g e [iherisRdacapejand my farm is in this town You used [OT & long minuie he wonder was | elt more helpiess than ever. less obtrusive. . Wis indorse. | last words of his acrimonious partner for a few more of | were ringing in his ears! -Here was | the deaf man, providentially supplied. re and painted “Well. tim-ding ye,” sald Mr. Towle, natural colo.:continuing the conversation, *I can With liquid glue and patience they | make some motions that vou'll under- Thel They harnessed Maud and set them- ! the }:‘;:a:f;wh:p:::':!:g::u‘nol ot :’:fi:“h lves on either side.of her. like| "Ho examined teeth, inspected fore- citous squires: of a dame, and jour- | ¥ e o guines of a dame. and Jour- | head-dents, prodded certain suspicious p'ain that he was trving his best to | correlate past conciliatory resolve s new situation. I want to i say this—and thix onlv. Mr. Sturnell: i that for 10 come hanging round know. I'm a prett woman. I'm golag to sav ing here and now where our crd, Dr. Pullvard. can he: When two were doing well and acting right there was a time when | was | was pretty alm? trying to make up my mind which | the age of my n one I'd take And it has been on “It wasn't from any my conscience that 1 may have been{ hout you or the mare. Hod. reaponsible for starting some of th dea < that T didn’t want ¥ feeling between you. Now be asithink that T had lost all my onen as 1 am. Was it as a dickerer and a hos there times . blunt the ee-sentials, They put the sira with great ¢ blend with the a ron back on st to intention 0 They nodded their heuds despond- | pusted parinership. You wouldn't e S { burdpe) with My thumb. lited up each ““le"m mighty sorry. and when 1 do|¥ANt a cussnation fool hitched up| oL e ete critical survey ‘of the rong. 1 want to try to make It Tight | op1 eke ooy W oy as vou mean | HERE i8 @ high board fence| When he stepped back, in order to ar as I can.” S around the Harmony camp-|take more completc view of the pros. ' course. the row worked off i onto hoss-matters later. and up all of our attention in that ne” confessed Mr. Towle with the air of a man of the world who didn't re to have a woman believe that she had wrecked his life “TU =ay the same. not wanting to mahe rou fecl rry,” stated Mr. both for Maud and me. Bring along vour assets.” Mr. Sturnell looped the halter on the sulky-frame and poured the oats into a smack which already held a few! ‘xquarxu of feed—his partner's property. | " 1 grounds, and a single gate admits, | PeCt, he found his partner had joined most Salvation. of course. is free, but there | Poygoir" inquired tre certain expenses connected with| “what's what?” . A : “I'm the one to be as i running & camp-meeting. and two of), "k, U 28 oy L N, Bic sanrs the tristees of the Harmony Associu- |y ' “Are you in partnershipr or aint tion were taking money at the gate.|your It was not necessary for Messrs.' . “I ddn't propose to discuss private Mr. Mr. Towle had climbed down. He tuck- ed_the peck measure under his arm. The two stovd back and surveyed g had | halter and a peck of oats for| somebody his” arm, Mr.: what this meant, but he looked around | Widd, | /Sturnell, | B | businday before a third party | thy _refofnder. 3 | T “Wall, it can be disqussed all right in thi# casé. 1 have been and found that deAf m&h you was so kindly ad- viging he about. This is him. 4 u‘snf:"' inquired the part- 1dd. 0 headshake and vacuous exptétsion made for immediate con- | victipn - in_ the case of Mr. Sturnell. e’ I3 dummy, all right enough. | Hod. .1 had 4n uncle was one, and 1 know their pdints. Get out vour pad.” hé of@ered Mr. Widd, making calli- | gtaptiic motions in the air with | thumb and forefinger pinched. i “HE& cam't write,” said the other i parther, . “Thdn I'm going to heave into the i plirtndfship mnother asset. Hod. and | after this vou can't twit me like 3ou've been doing. Me and my uncle AIWALA used, o get to an understand- in¥, dyen though I never knowed the tfi2criwagtalk. Stand right back and cavt (b feller to me. Before mak- ing 4 hiotion, I can see by his eye that he is-in a_hoss-swaping mood. U'll snow vou what brains whed someihing has got to be done.” Nt. Sturnel! pointed to the flea- Litten gray, then directed the other's atteftion to the shrouded Maud. pat teu His trousers pocket like a rooster clapping its’ wings, shook viblently, stretched out his arms and adé motions reins, dived digits into the air first in oné directiof and then aud crqcked his palms together once smartly. Mr, Towle saw no sense in this at all, but it was promptly plain that che * performance had started some- chiingt in Mr. Widd's case. viglently that the toughness neck wiis proved by the fact that th head Stéyed on. He tossed his hand abové his, head and made a funny noie in his throat. He pointed to the mare ‘and snapped a finger into palm and made up a face that caused Mr. { Towle to blink in apprehension. Then he patted the gray's flank and stuck un two fingers. He rammed his hand linto hls trousers pocket. took the { hand out and shook it to show that it was embty, squatted down and smack- ed his Hand, fingers outspread, on the gréund four times, shook hands with himsalf,.made another of those funny | noises and pointed down the road. . ! Afr. dturnell grabbed him by the iarm and fushed him across to where Miud was hitched, stripped off thc ‘ blanket and, danced Widd around the joutfit in a sért of fantastic rigadoon. | _“Well, by tripy." communed Mr. | Towlé with himseif. He wemt over fand caught hold of Mr. Sturnell's el- | bow. That gentleman irritably shook ! oft the cluteh. led on Again { busifiess. h ‘want to know-—" Leave alone of my arm!" in a way that meant i 1o, mad, ve” whined the partner. “But t's ferfible being shet out of all un- { derstanding of this dicker alk, like 1!bridge in a hurticane would be a safe int. Shor am! ‘1 just want a little Then per- bullétin. 28 ye might say héps 1 cdn sort of follow some of the gist of it. Please, Tell: “Well, him and me done a lot of | downi Brief and to the point. I says 0-Dymm, | ood teller woul hitch in right heer and now. “On other hand, i.e says his hos worth twice what ourn is. and he won't‘think-6f an even swap. Says the only reasén in the world why he is willing to let this hoss go at all is becausé he Is too high-spirited for a poor dumb ‘mgn wko can't holler | "Whoa! 8ays he wax looking at our | ! though she don’t seem to have no spe- | cZal Tife in her, still she's good enough { BY JOMN L. MARTI ECRETARY OF THE NAVY ED- WIN DENEY is a peace loving i man who wants a fighting navs H the “fightingest” and “fitienest inayy in the worid. | . wants a big navy with a big {morale. and, from present indications, ‘heis going to get both. | Congress will say how big our Na "is to be. but Denby will say what its {morale is 10 be. dur'ng the next four venr- ‘at least waoken an impressive prologue. fn welecting two captains to be Jburcan chiefs. thereby establisaing He jumped up in the air. and when | 3 d hiis head so hé came down he wagkled his head so £0 casy If tha On this point he has i A Story I} Holman Day can dojarciher funny noise. | his headmatter: e a man yanking on|(nin | in another. |St 4 {getting busy with the harness. i 1 But Mr. Towle fasten- | thej i i Say,'100K a-here. Lell, 1 don't mean !stiil more. E u and get | the matter of MF. | a1king’ in short time. and I'll boil it!and ought to know the hoss better'n ; tlat we considered him alto horn i and didn't propose to try ) : 1 any gum-games on a Poor deef-and- ain't got—and that's the courage of dumh-man. . Secing that he is such as'm he Is, we wouldn't ask for boot, but wrathfull sweep even and unhitch-and| thaste, is|the ends of the reins and lashed i wars, “tize’ principle of giving promotions to | hot: who are in line for them, and iin issu‘ng an order permilting of- ficers to wear oivilian clothes when ‘nor on duty, Mr. Deaby has shown la knowlcdge of human nature which he may be expected to empioy effec- tive n deveioping the esprit de corns ef the Nav. y Hix handling of personnel questions thus far and his uniform order un- |qustionably have made a big hit with che rank and fiic of the service. . They !have showm the intense human side | !of him. These decisions were made e ¥ ush they fitted in with Mr. Den- ooncsption of justico and tie Nav! jthém. "1 love<the Nav ary’s first public utterance after taking office. And it is not stretch- ing faéts to say that the Navy, af néurly t#o months' experience with his efforts to make the service more attractiva to the officers and men beginning to fall in Dénby !ost -Americans had never heard of M. Denby when he was given the Navy portfolio. He was the “dark hotse” “of ‘Mr. Harding's cabinet, and no one was more surprised at the s¢lection "than Mr. Denby himself. Wet. on. the very day following his innaugariition. the country heard from him in 2 way that convinced it the -President's selection had . been well considered.” Speaking at the Navy Ledgue banquet, in Washington. he Anngupced his policies for t! in straight-fram-the-shoulder fashion. “I would belie every utterance of my, matire years,” he sa “and every thaught of my mind if 1 did no* believe .in making the Navy great enough to meet every contingency that ‘may confront our couniry, and if I did not, believe in making it a fighting Navy. I have never known a time when the American Navy and the Ametican Marine Corps were not ready té fight. but I have known the time when they were not fit to fight. The men: Yes! The equipment: No! And the Navy ought to be ready to fight, and ought to be fit, trained to jthe minute and with the finest possi- blé equipnient that the people of the Unijted Stdtes can give to their first line of defense.” * k x-% . This. declaration was less than a month old when the country began to realize that'Mr. Denby not only loved was the Secre- love with Mr. And the {the Navy, 'but knew it, from keel to toprhasi. Ahd that he proposed to util- ize that khowledge in developing the highest sfciency attainabl Essentially a Navy man, having served as gunner's mate on the Yo- semite dufing the Spanish war and a matine ih the late war, Mr. Denby did the natural tiing at the outset—spent a few' dRyS.After his appointment get- ting~his“office in order and then left for a visit 1o the .Atlantic fleet off Cuba. His Aids will never forget that trip. inspected , everything from | boillrk to crows’ nests. When he lefi ithe offiferd and crews knew the fleet had héen inspected by a new type of {Eecretary—one who knew ships as well as'men. : | “Mr. Denby's knowiedge of the Navy 50d 'his love for it have impressed themsélves so forcibly upon .those with whom he has come in contact that one of the popular queries con- nected with the new administration is, “WRo_recommended him to the President e does not have to delve far into:the Secretary's record i is | s necds—and bccause the of-; |fietrs praeticaliy to a man wanted ! | | 1 ] he Navy | {g i | i | | her whistle | should. by he'll swap for $20 boot. There! T'll go to beating him down on boot.” * % % % exercise Mr. Sturnell scrubbed the sweat from his brow with his fore- arm and turned to his guping. and goggling partner. “He has got that idce of twenty dollars to boot rooted into his condemned old harelip mind solider'n the foundation of old Mount| Pisgy. I've put out more muscle than it would take to saw a cord of wood. and all I've done to date {8 to get him down to fifteen. There he squats. Hod, how much money can you dig up, any- way vurious pockets eight ome-doliar bills and small_change. mustered ten dol- lars. Mr. Stirncll grabbed the money. added his ragged two-dollar bill. and stuc Widd's no: Mr. Widd pccket. slapped the pocket and made |the head was doubled under the bod {in_a fashion that told its own" sto: was fully his hoss again, ut 1 got so wrought up over your deef-snd-dumb business that i hav: bad my mind all taken off'm other intending to go over Well, yo1 don't for one minute on four legs. d> you?" demanded Mr. snell. taking his side of Maud and | to leave the swap wholly to you,” said Mr. Towle, -0c- cupied on his own side. I havent been able to- gauge the state of his mind—but considering the looks of the hosses, seems to me he's letting §0 easy if that gray hasn't gol some “1 have had nd if he has got, a big out, you're going to hold me responsible, be ve™ “I'm simply saying that you done al the dickering and i “Get busy! Here he comes pulling is wagon. “He certainly ain't deef and dumb int his fingers. to get unharnessed this quick.” said the partner. Mr. Widd was also very spry in har- Then he hopped into his road-wagon and drove away. The partners stood starifg after him. This precipitate departure was nut orly rude—it was suspicious. t's best for us to be thankful that he's deef.” said Mr. Sturnell. “Hear l | h nessing. sound died. “That hoss of his seems to be tame. * said Towle. starting to- ward tneir new acquisition. The gray was standing l'ke a statue of a horse. ile Towle held the sulky's thills fr. Sturnell backed the'horse in. after v had harnessed the znimal. Get up and start him,” said Stur- nell. But Mr. Towle scratched his ea- and looked dubious. He wag wondering Especially was*he wander- ‘the out” was at stern. ing whether 3 the front. A ship's amidships or at sulky | refuge in comparison with Lell. it seat in reach of a kicker. ems to be a case where you're the principal operator. seeing that you ave done ail the talking with Dummy I.ain’t no kind of & hand on another man’s business. There's one thing I've got that you what 1 do. convictions,” stated Mr. Sturne! “I'll proceed to show you He mounted the sulky seat with made a cat-o'-two-tails with flank of the flea-bitten gray horse snorted, leaped forward, took a few steps and fell down. Without any volition on his own part, Mr. Sturnell dived to a strategie position necar the horse's head. recovered him- self and sat on the thresting head. hoss when we hitched her up, and|Then. with the assiseance of his part- | i {dr, a humble deef-and-dumb man and | hardly necded to have his fears con. SECRETARY DENBY WANTSNAVY . THAT 1S ALWAYS FIT FOR A FIGHT ner, he helped the horse to its feet. Mr. Towle. out of his experlence, to find ample reason for the Presi- dent’s action. and it is quite probable Mr. Hardling knew his man and did not act upon recommendation. When it is considered that Mr Dienby is a lawver. u former member of Congress and a veteran of .iwo having risen from private to rank of major in the war with Ger- many is casy (o See where his qualifications come in. He has the viewpoint of the congressman. callec upon to consider NAvy appropria- tons; of the sailor and marine and of the officer, having served in all capacities. He sees the Navy prod- lem from the outside, as the pubiic sees it, and from the inside. a5 the man_in service sees it. These qua‘ifications caused Co! Robert M. Thompson. former presi- dent of Ledgue. to remark that Mr. Denby had entered office with a four-year advantage over an other Secretary the Navy has had. And Col. Thompson aptis epitomized the situation. * ok ok ¥ The Secretary’s love of the has infected ihe Nav N nes or | the lette patriotism became fa out the service. Now the Navy. those talks have taken on new meaning. They were pleas fo; truth and justice and love of country principles, which are «xpected fta guide his actions in offica. The Nuv: is convinced he is goinx to give it a quare deal.” His orders tr have hinged entirely upon efficienc: onsiderations. and pull and politics apparentiy. count for nil with hir in June che Secretary m. another trip, {0 Witnass the effar e of the Army to put the capital ship out of commission. The bomb! take place probably pe Hatteras. Mr. Dea- by has kept out of the a'rship- ship supremacy controversy. but tia he is confidents the cupital <hip wi come out of the test with colors (iy- ing_may not be doubted. “Our naval . progra through and our built u i could be no beticr indication of hir be .;r that the capital ship is herc s And when you ask why_this uro-' gram should Fo througi, ¥ think I n best unswor that as u Yankec) hrough- that ke head shou'd .o should he another. question: "Why not™ 'Have we not a coust line inpe enough to protect? Do we ot possessions vital te our continued national cxistence Lo defend-in_ the Pacific and in the Caribbean? Don't we need this splendid insurance” “And the desire for a navy as big as that of any .other country in tne world does not mean that .we are go- ing to creato sirife. The oaiy 1. that now cxceeds ours in stren that of Great Britain. L “I think that everybody is per- fectly agreed that the mont horribie calamity that could now overwheim humanity would be a war between the United States and Great Erita God forbid that shall ever come to us' “It is impossible that any one can believe it can come. “The mere contemplation of its results, aside altogcther from any other consideration—the " mere con- templation of the immediate material consequences to the world—ia suf: cient to make the thing un: - iy horrible: s “There are two great merchant fleets carrying much of the world's food and the other materials that are vitally’ necessary to the.-worl continued existence and prosperity, and, in case of war between these two great countfies, those fieets, at least one of them. would be swept off the sea. then would be to. the .world I do not know.” s H Mr. Denby considers the -time has come. when the nation should make up its mind to depend. more -upon foresight and less upon luck i wars. ~ Though the Navy luck is tradition of which he is proud, pre- paredness is his creed and he is go- ing to preach ii_ religiously to the country and to Congress as long as he remains in office. (Copyright, 1824, by The Wasaingioz Siat.) fne firmed, but he yanked his cap off and waved it in front of the gray's eyes. TRe horse did not blink. e AFTER ftteen minutos of violent ! didn't mi us! “My Gawd, this is what vour deefing and your dumbing has done to us: He's blindern old Aunt Piliy's bees: Now | wax paint “She did have speed—Maud di railed' Mr. Towle in his highest fal- tto. “She ment. in hit Language failed him at that mo- He drew back one of his thin legs and kicked the flea- the bell, The gray m to had speed. even had been conmiderably flustered by the incident immediately preceding. The new indignity stirred unwonted effort. Towle, dredsing, taking out of | tearing off, swung in wild circles and went smashing out of sight over the edge of a steep embankment. fo the whole amount under Mr.|The flea Messra Towle and Sturnall made a ce of it to the embankment. bitten gray lay | smasked eulky and the crushed feed- mmed the cash into hispalis. The animal was motionless, and Xhe declared. “On your way ot have looks. I might have cured her wind, give me time and get that damnation bear o' yourn out of her But now look at us! oofered down to notking but a gorraffered old tumble-bug. Only Look at itten gray He went top of the pers’ Row, partners, sound of Even the if she But, of a tune by felicitous up. Try all the ti this—-" [ | At | boots ! | men.” | rm Towle ! delegation from the danizens of Swap- . had managed to separate the process was something dreadful. ing the moeting chme. the reproachful saints stood Mr. Towie and Mr. Sturnell. bleeding and bruised Horace P. Towle' self to her full once ! but the uproar during the The the conflict brought put the good folks from the inside of the fence. elder who had been address- In the circle of 1l the throng. their wavering gaze found Miss Withee 10 be the mos: vivid picture of rebuk flamed there before them. And then Mr. Tow!e added to misfor- She fairi; about the most in- man could conjure it hadn’t been fo: makirg remark ‘phene. it you and what you said down the roi .“Not one word from you. sir’ “But you drove him and me back into partnership, when 1 knowed better me, and youre to blame for She drew her- and extended “Off with vou' March your he'ght aigit way steady That Misg Withee. we have arrested these protes 2 running_this thing, constab! Ben Nute Horace P ted onme of the Mr. Towie, fullr realizing that thers The asseis of the new firm of Towls | ¥45 Nothing else to do, picked up his HEY faced each other. Mr. Towle dropped the cap that he had been k we could be stuck by anyininuz ! CAITYIng in his hand, and Mr. Sturneil ! threw down his hard hat. * % k% Th coniessed Mr. Towle.| & Sturnell had been wiped out! considering none of the fine points of their respective grievances. They mere- ly were wildly conscious that their emo- tions must find vent. Five minutes later two ewnstables siip. and then had called round on her stivver s hard were But no longer ‘uss 4 woman what comes of | Mr. | still a-wonderinz as he plodded along. though the subject of his wonder Was can and daparted. She faced about in the opposite direc- tion and extended th “Llewellyn Sturnell, at monitory arm. that way'! Now Mr. Sturnell pushed the dents out of hat and went on his way he muttered. “This ting "am advise ve. Towie's meeker spirit was the fiea-bitten gray. “if him jand me had mada a go of that parin and a trustee, aided by a considerable' for that word. T wonder f | To Be a “Cofnicil Artist” ‘ By Ring W. Lardner body O the editor—A letter come to: brought it back one letter at a time me the other day from a.voung his father wanted him to go through college and learn to be a-Dr. or something, but on They waited till the/acct. of it takeing 10 or 12 yTs. to even % be a horse Dr. now davrs, the young man folt like he didn't want to waste tha:’ much time and besides he hearted young man that wishes every- it he was a Dr. wou'd half to change his mind and man well a that nd wish everrbody sick. So he told his Dad that he would| And then, of course, they's the ques- e Deor y/av/z { . is a good why posed to he ha cartoo, -he MINUTES BE | which took seven trips as the word was garment. * % ¥ % 7THE public has maybe wondered it is that the word “bam" occurs in the last panel of so many comical strips when one of the char- acters has been hit in the eve and is falling over backwards. for this is that the character is sup- The reasen be hit so hard that he thinks been hit by a bomb, which the t thinks that's how you spell “I HAVE KNEW COMICAL ARTISTS TO FUSS AND FUME FoR TWENTY TO TWENTY-ONE . COULD THINK 1P ENOUGH IDEAS FOR THE MEXT FOURTE rather go in newspaper man where you don't ha waste no time in college, but can meney old azines my ing T wou'd like better tha h ol quest few that drawing ard vou wile T r 1 bee! where some profession like u | vou are learninz, s and etc., n said he didn't know noth nbout 1he newspaper business or w and -the on of 1 o | b fourieen idreds of 40 he wrole to me 1o Sre | Gue: some information and | hims it says be a it iz pieasant work and p: oney m funny emeont lent for dru T hav if LL. I s 1 of the s {koy " haif ‘1o th seifs’ won't -hal? to Tn rezurds month. > -s,cmretd ey iprint the word iree ul 2 emdar 33 weil tne tawmments, thea st Ts for whe voung n xo | may as well tell in t etzer what 1 know about it and marie | ve some of them from going Inic a.| i profession that tli and will wished they hadn't. “Well, in the first place. they’ artists 1 . “aient bothered Wit 1 will novics that wWhen By the time taxis for himself and E seems to me they’ piciures in the com Iy as 1 ing. -0 3 it really pleasan it and a * % x % uppose tley’ man interested ¥ are not comicul e w iree or ar wonder wha to salary ain't 6 fzures o what the offsct that, nave £ T at lease my ol would you be 1| me how much ntted res on it €2 1. «) n reading ads in ail the mag- this one all ready, and: Would I ha: (2) 1o draw sup- | pejeces it ool hese men e of & other Gue dears. I have suvs and fume 2¢ minuies be: encugn ides dars’ work. me o then:, bat nd ihe riist puts the . times Lave 1 sprang =< in the past me. wh ¢k meaus 10 to 1 wh wils hs thinhs up an- inke ils place. By the ‘¢ art.e: aas thought up to morninxg Physical 1 thez: j T then, _ earning b problem whut they ts is different and | * ze: anoib th.roat as uns up 1mto the! ey s xamplo that|aad Con ter tickets, I1ed for ihis great profession. not for me to judg: them personal member that col v, but ; mical artists and not made that way and w! little boys running around hom the other children gemeraily miways| them some pet name slike Sili th Eivi e o Joe or Softy. Ts it ple they must be in making people lau artist_is always ® laughing ‘at. hi Paper. But s 1000 times, = ‘“:"n‘uu ‘can make. 2 entire without words, and 1 strip they's from x .te seven words of .over four.let- ters whies means that ma the dictionary, and 1 knaw And ‘what the.outcome |cause n picture average comical he has pai asant work? Well, I suppose a certain . satisfaction gh and a comic ure of ome person uff, both wh‘m :c and when he sees-it in the aper, ‘Bt it pleasant mea No. it - trips- o e artist er | idivons for|1 6 whs. he ) lveate the So, wil hat is' e ‘when 1don’'t kuow knew one of them t=ionds, enter-; with brain fever and presents ‘or e will be lucky if ¢ $9,990.55. e "hether or mot a_man 5 Doy ®*h ancugn these womemon that cam: doclors was irying 1o sauree of the irouble. in ail, the > o into it unlest he is pecuiiar- 1 rosguimel ) lh‘!pn’c‘o( neur that <, |1y ntted. Pecul ¢ yon cared. ht. Some Temperature. THE Quaker’ times - dece; his real f¢-Iingn. There was an oc- ~asy.| 0 hon «n which a certain Philade!- Be-iphiu Quak habit ef calm some- ‘es onlookers &s 10 erw ocountenance afouscd in the heart of her niece. ¢ “world's people.” “1 don’t see,” maid the miece, “how sou couid- sit.there, Aunt Abigail. and man talk and never lock nx “There 1 was boiline 2 hat had 3 gag.with a Iong: word injihe utterances of that unprinc it obce and the dictionary was on aiman, und nat even 5> much as onc of on bes the t stand wiy acrost the room from where !b.e ‘rl‘w’!nt board was focaied and} every day for two wka. he forgo: it|helow the cap p baek to the drawing vourd till finely he give um trying toc remem- ihe whole word ~al once and, Ablgail sour cap ruffles stirred.” thee could have meen suaately, Bwen- thut [ was lLoiling zlso, but withoui stesm, oy child.” ruffies” replied Aunt “thee would “hav-- S, ’ -