The Coconino sun., 1902-12-27

that he toddled out through the arch way into the street bent on finding ten white horses, after seeing the tenth of which and throwing one fn-. ger over the other ten times he was to bring back the precious prize to his mother.
 White horses are scarcer than red headed girls, and though Jimmie didn't know anything about red headed girls he soon found out that nearly all the horses in the world were bays and blacks. On, on, on, he went. He grew tired and worn. Then he thought of the little moth- CT waiting for the prize. and new strength came into his little legs and new light into his searching eyes. He passed the big park and came into the section of struggling houses. There was a great fine street, how ever. stretching on and on. Fine carriages were being whirled along and some people rode by on horses. It began to get dark. Jimmie sat down on curbing. He was getting pitiably hungry, but he held back the tears when he thought of his mother. He thought once of turning and going back, but he would find the white horses and the prize. Had he but known it he couldn't have gone back had he wished, for he had not marked his way through the wilderness of city streets.
 
 Finally his head fell over from very weariness and his eyes were about to close perforce when, loom- ing up at a distance through the deepening dusk. he saw a white horse with a rider on it's back. In his eagerness Jimmie sprang to his feet and crossed fingers on both hands at once. Then there flashed into his mind remembrance that Freddy had told him that if he saw one white horse he was pretty sure to see an- other right away. Only one, and Jimmie must see ten. Jimmie ran into the middle of the street to get better view. Surely there must be another white horse. The white horse and its rider were close. The animal was on keen trot. Tired little Jimmie stumbled and fell. The horse shied violently. The riders horsemanship saved him from fall. He checked his mount and in an in- stant was on the ground holding the bridle with one hand and with the other picking up the mite of humani- ty that had fallen in the dust.
 Jimmie was too tired to help him. self much, but he was unhurt. The electric lights along the boulevard flared up on the instant. The man with the white horse took long look at the boys face, and then something strange came into his own. The lines about his mouth frightened and his eyes seemed to be looking back somewhere.
 What's your name, little one2" he said.
 Jimmie Talbot" was the answer. land I'm out looking for a prize for mamma. The man said she must get money for him or we must move. and Freddy Nelson told me if I'd see ten white horses and cross my fin gers I'd find prize for mamma. But yours is the only white horse I've seen, and I must get nine more or mamma will go on crying"
 "Your father" said the man in a voice which Jimmie, if he had been older, would know was strained. "where is he?"
 "He's dead" said Jimmie, simply.
 "Jimmie. we'll find your other nine white horses tomorrow. Where do you live? I'll take you home to mamma"
 Nineteen Culbertson court, two flights up."
 Jimmie was too tired to make re- sistance, and in a moment he was on the back of the big white horse with the man riding behind clasping him . s-l n. l. A II II