The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-24
WHY cHuckY SHARED HIS PRIZE.

/ ,
crowning ambition, and bestowed upon
him for a birthday gift the old muszet
which his father had carried in the civil
war. The widow Cocl1rell had already
! patiently borne some Of the odium at
| taching 70 her boys escapades, and il
was with many misgivings and cautions
that she saw him. with loving hands and
| Frightening eyes, foldle the old weapon
that had stood so long in her closet with
the faded. tattered Uniform OF the man
whose memory, and the stories OF whose
deeds, were all that Mrs. Coekrell knew
or dreamed OF heroisn and romance.
She had two sOns-Clarence, who was g
and the model child OF the neighborhood.
and Dexter. who in some unaccOuntabie
way had earned and worn the sobriquet OF
'Chucky." It was struggling little set
tiement, which had grown UP about
country church and a convent orphauage
school, in which about a score OF gentle
nuns, shrinking. timid little commu-
nifty, clustered and mothered over twice as
many boys and girls, who knew no other
home OF came each day TO attend the
school. Boys older than L were not per-
nitted in the classes. though some of
the girls were verging upon wOmanhOod,
and remained either because they had no
homes of their own or because they had
become postulants TO the Sisterilood.
Father Tearlake. the good pastor Of
y
guardian angel of the place.
1t was the next day after Chucky's
birthday that Father Tearlake was sud
denly summoned from his home by Sis
ter Martha, who sent word that Pom
pey was acting queerly." FOmpey was
an old dog that impartially divided his
time and attentions between the parsOn-
age, and easily maintained a prestige as
one OF the characters Of Marysvale. Thus
. lire cd
disciplined and reliable member of the
community that the announcement that
be was acting queerly was quite an event
in the place. Father Tearlake threw on
mis- mantle ana hat aud strobe away 10
the rescue. Cockrell's house lay be-
TWEEN his and the convent and as he
passed he saw Chucky idling on the fence
rail, with a stick of slippery elm ia his
mouth.
Beware OF fdIeness. Dexter" said the
pastor, stopping. Have you no work
TO do for your MOTHER"
The boy hung his head, chewing away
at his wooden cud. but the mother came
out with a courtesy and said: please. /
Father, he's MIXED the cows and fed the
chickens already" So the good man
gave his ear a friendly tweak and hur-
ried away.
You had better keep all the children
indoors today, Sister, said the pastor
tc Sister Martha, who was peeping with
excited eyes from the door.
You don't think Pompey is mad, Go
you, Father??'' she gasped.
Don't terrify yourself, and above all
don't frighten the Sisters and the chill
dren," he answered, watching the dog
sinking away. I'm afraid he is. or
soon will be-
It was an anxious day for the convent 4
The school doors were locked until noon
the priest patrolling the grounds, stick
in hand. watching Pompey. and the Sis
tiers with pale faces watching from the
windows like prisoners in a beleagured /
castle. At noon Father Tearlake caused (
all the children TO be assembled in the /
study hall, the nuns leading them in by |
columns and ranging them round the !
walls four deep. They knew that some |
terrible catastrophe was in the air. He !
told them that he feared POmpey had |
gone mad, and that they must remain in !
the building until the dog was disposed of. (
And now he asked, have any of I
your parents got a gun or pistol. for al 4
though 1 regret anything that may SAVIOR /
OF cruelty, yet for the safety Of all I 4
fear it viii be necessary TO kill poor /
Pompey.
There was a moments silence, and then |
Clarence CoclzreI raised his hand and /
piped: Please. sir, Chuckys got a gun" /
q
craning Of necl1s at this astonishing an
nouncement, for Chucky's name stood for
all that was lawless, daring and heroic /
in the school. But q gun, 1t was almost
Incredible. Father Tearlake smiled sadly /
and shook his bald head at Clarence, but
as he went home puzzing over the con-
execution, Chucky was vet sit
ting in the sun dangling his bare legs.
is it true that you have a gun, Dex-
ter2' asked the pastor
Yep" snapped the lad, splitting smart
~ at a hOrsefiy.
The good parson with many explana-
tons and much depreciation of the use
of firearms and other cruel weapons
finally proposed that If Chucky would kin
the dog ne might have a dime But the
boy shook his curly head and said he /
must have a quarter. The surprised
Father Tearlake had consented before /
Mrs. Cockrell came out. and learning OF !
her sons audacious bargaining. insisted
hat he should become Pompeys execu-
TONER without fee. Chucky growled I
that he was scared o mad dogs" and
begged to be excused, whereupon all talk
Of his free service was abandoned.
"Pompey IS under the summer house. +"
explained Father Tearlake, and YOU
must be very cautious He may bite
you, end-' the rest Of the warning
ras lost on the now eager boy lie was
soon marching down the walk with his
nusl1et on his shoulder. From the win
lows Of the school the nuns and the forty
children saw him coming.
Boldly he stepped across the wide, green
avn, shouldcring his weapon or shifting
{ dexterOusiy, like some gallant champion
lrIcking forth TO destroy a monster The
mail bows envied him. the girls ritied
him. and the Sisters looked askance al
he iHcorrigible Chuciy, whose truan-
les huntings. swimmings snarlings and
general outiawry had long been stock
Farming to The good children % Marys-
'ale. But every. eve watched him as he
"a me midway between the school and
7ompey's retreat. and paused gracefully
r. load his gun II was his first attempt
With the weapon. and he put IN enough
powder 10 launch one-pound shot
Three marbles followed the powder.
But the dog hs6 crawied under the
'aaus. SO that Chuclzy couldn get q
cir shot. He refrested 70 the school
window and summoned Clarence 20 his {
I'D. The brothers became joint heroes
n the eyes OF their small world and when .
+iareuce, stick IN hand. went 20 pokine
e the quarry. the Sisters held their
reath and called to him 50 BE- careful ,
ia paused p moment. with his tace e.
anEerous proximity 70 the beast Thsr.
20 the CONSERVATION Of al. he pulled q
triug from his rocket and deliberately
'cosed Il about Pompey's neck. Father
'earia6e fearful that his faTorite pu-
i would be- bitten was running - theiF
.e'r. when Clarence suddenly pulled th5
log ilt0 the open ana erred, shoot
an. Chucky. shoot.
The CID uiusket roared forth a desfen-
'g reHort that set half the children 81
creaulnE- 4 cloud q cast aey iata :
BE air. and the pastor and the SISTERS
ne running as CauclZy ro.te1 heod oFc~
eels from the iupact 81 his overloaded
-uu- But be- had reEatrei his feet before