The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-14
BRIEF stop, and the train
pulled .mpatiently away to-
ward Tavares. The platforn

UunNM eNlJaAANn0y away w
~ ward Tavares. The platform
was soon left 10 the posses
sion Of two frult-farmers. who were
transferring boxes Of oranges from
their mule.wagons to an empty car on
q side track. and a small. sallow-faced
boy watched the operations Of the
men with a languid interest and then
moved slowly down 70 where seyeral
eases OF pineapnles were awaiting
shipment Seating himself on one OF
these. he appeared 10 give himself M
to the enjoyment Of the fragrance of
the fruit Occasionally he bent his
head TO gaze curlously between the
Stats OF the boxes. Clearly he had
never eaten pineapples. and wondered
II they tasted as good as they smelled.
Sometimes he glanced Up as II he
were expecting some one. but he did
not seem impatient. Perhaps he was
used 70 waiting
suddenly a gruI voice brought him
trembling 20 his feet.
''Can ye drive. sonnyT"
IL moughtr stammered the boy,
a frightened look creeping into his
eyes. Il worked a heap with mules
on the poor farm"
There. there. didn't mean to scare
We But I want some one 70 drive my
team over 20 the grove for another
load smith'n take the other team and
point out what yen do. I've got 70
stay here and mark truck
Il were a-waitln' fer paw. and ]
low l cayn't 80 right now. II il
weren't fer that ia accommodate ye,
sure"
He spoke deprecatingly. and bent
his shoulders az II he expected a blow
The man looked al him curiously. The
shrinking form and furtiye glances
reminded him Of some dumb animal
cowed By long abuse.
Don't b. feared. younker. I'm not
kurtin' babies" be said 10 more kind.
y tones. But I low your paw must
be pizen mean. and"
.'Afy paw never hurted mew inter.
rupted the boy. hercely. Twas the
poorhouse men that pestered and beat
me. My paw wrote FOR me his own
self. be did. and / come clean from
Car'lina on the ears. We're goln' TO
be pardncrs. he and l. lie wrote 80
Ny paws bigger than you. and he'll
fight all you 'uns that talk to him
bad He and are goln' to make an
orange grove. and be- wrote me the
money 20 come on paper. and the post
oflice man gave il 70 me. He's bigger
than you. and more favored The
sallow cheeks were flushed now. and
the eyes flashed angrily.
''Sho. sho'' expostulated the man. y
Tow I don't know your paws name.
and reckon he's a mighty nne man.
But II yen take my team over IN
make Il all right with him when be
comes. Likely he'll not be round be-
fore next train now. and yen Be back
long before that Besides. ye can
show him this when ye see him." and
he tossed up q silver quarter and
caught Il as IL descended.
Quite reassured. the boy clambered
into the wagon aud began skilfully
70 back the mules from the platform.
Seeing his team was IN safe hands.
the man turned hls attention to sten.
Cling the boxes
Yen be sure and tell paw I were
a-waltin'y shouted the boy before
be disappeared from sight
~Surer'
An hour and a half aftcrward the
teams drove up and the boy asked
eSgerly:
-Did paw Gomez
"Haint seen him" answered the
man. But perhaps he'll come TO meet
the next train. Likely he lowed ye
wouldn't Be round before then
Bus the next train pufTed 10 and oui.
and The crowd once more melted awny
from the depot and left the boy alone.
Soon after the man who had given him
the quarter came up.
"Your paw must have mistaken the
day" be said. kindly "That were
the last train. fe'd better come home
with me FER the night and tomorrow
ye can come back and wait for him"
The hey followed his new friend.
doubifully n must surely be back
early IN the mornin'." De observed
-Paw mousht think I got lost"
What's your paws name, Perhaps
] might have heard OF him.
John cr0ners: and paw. he lows !;
are good name His grandfather
were a car'n. he were"
The boy spoke proudly and looked az
his new friend with flushed checks.
but the man turned his face away
with a low whistle Of dismay. John
Croaers bad been ied away from fhe
feun oulg ibe week before. anl