The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-28

No father, said FRED. II woman (
be right. You and mother need the
money! know that. Icouldn't do Il.
Mr.. Bailey could not urge It after
that
The next day Tom Wheeler ad-
dressed Fred carelessly. There will
be lots OF time when I sha'n't be using
my wheel. Bailey" he said. II wish
you would use it if you can. Then
youll be in training, you know, IN case
anything turns up and you can get a
wheel for the great day.
Fred accepted the ofer almost as
much to please Tom as himself, for
there was very little hope in his heart
AS time went on Fred was amused
at the great friendliness which jim
Forbes showed toward him, and at the
many regrets he expressed because
Fred could not enter the race.
Knowing Forbes. can't quite
think him honest. Fred said to Tom
Wheeler one day. Il should suppose
that he wouldn't want me in the race,
for fear I should beat him.
During the days and weeks which
intervened before the race, as soon as
each afternoon session at the academy
was over. a score or more bicycles,
each mounted by a dark figure with
back bent and muscles tense, glided
swiftly along toward the one hard,
smooth road that the village boasted.
Back and forth they rode, passing ana
repassing one another swiftly ana
noiseleesly. Bent over their handle
bars, with their eyes on the ground be-
fore them, they never stopped iof
friendly words or joyial greetings.
They seemed unconscious OF every
thing but their wheels the strip oil
road before them and their unswerf-
ing purpose to win the prize.
Fred Bailey joined this silent com
pany only whea Tom Wheeler was
away with his father, or had other
things to do. No amount of persuasion
on Toms part could make Fred use
the wheel during these recognized
training hours in any other clrcum-
stances.
Il am not training for the race" he
would say TO Toms remonstrancea.
'.Pm training for an emergency
Early in the morning. when the
birds were singing their choicest songs
and when the sun was waking all na-
ture. or at night, when birds and flow
ers were asleep, Tom would ride out
TO the well-worn read Up and down,
IN and down, he would race, begin
ming slowly, but spinning along faster
and faster, until the road was but
brown blur to his straining eyes
The two months had gone by, but
the something that Tom had hoped
for had not turned up. The forlorn
hope that Fred had cherished in spite
of inward resolutions had died away
when the day OF the race came.
II was nne June weatner-iust right
for racing, Fred thought, as he ate his
breakfast in feverish haste in the a.
mosphere OF silent sympathy that per-
vaded the little dining room. When
the meal was over he went out TO his
bench for mornings hard
work.
Once ais mother came out into the
shed and stood over him as he worked.
watching him as If TO guess what was
in his mind. You're going TO the race,
aren't you, Fred?" she asked, laying
her hand quietly on his shoulder
well, should think So l wouldn't
miss II for anything" he answereA
lightly, and his mother went back TO
the house comforted.
At about II o'clock a shadow fell
across Fred's doorway Looking up.
he saw Tom Wheeler's little brother
watching his busy hands with wide
eyed interest
Hello, Earryr' he cried out Have
you come to watch me work2" There
was nothing the little fellow liked bet
ter. i've got some beautiful shavIngs
for you this morning"
mo: I was to give you this, and then
90 straight home" answered Harry
He put a note into Freds hand and
disappeared into the warm sunshine,
with one longing backward look at the
curled shavings which COW
cred the floor.
Fred sat down on the edge of his
bench and read the slip Of paper has
tily:
my Dear Fred-Ive just had q tele-
gram from father to take the next
train to the city. That means that
shall have to back out OF the race, Of
course. It's pretty hard luck for me.
but you must take my wheel and 60 In.
Don't say you won't DO It. for nothing
but having you win will console me.
Youn fnd the wheel in the usual
place. Good luck to you. TOM"
Fred sat pretty quiet for two or
three minutes; then he got up and
took the note to bis mother
"Oh, Fred. I'm so giadT she cried
when she had read Il. ~You don't know
how unhappy ! have been about your
giving It up"
Then you think ought TO take the
said Fred. with a sigh Of re-
lies. TT seemed to me like taking adj
vantage Of Wheeler's hard luck"
Mrs. Bailey laughed. Tom means
what he says" she answered. Hes q
true friend: you ought to take him az
his word. and you owe it 10 him 10