The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-15
MARY
MARSHALL
PARKS

and Julie swept, aired and busted tn
neglected house.
by noon everything was spic AM
span, and after dinner the over
wrought young creatures slept again
wherever they happened TO fall, Sari
on the kitchen couch and Betty ON th'
rug In front of the stove.
Late in the afternoon Sara was awak
ened by Nero's tremendous voice Al
she sat up, staring and palpitating. h
broke of with yelp and ran whining
toward the barn Then came a thun
derlng knock at The rarely used from
door
Turning the reluctant key in the
rusty lock, Sara wrenched the dool
open, and found herself face to face
with the blacklist frown she had ever
seen.
"Mr. Payson here? asked the strang
er, curtly.
He is not" Sara replied haughtily,
resentng his tone He will not be
home until late Saturday night"
Perhaps you can tell me what has
become of my apples" said BLACK
Brow" acidly
Your apples~ said Sara, with an in
describable accent
Yes, my applesw retorted the
stranger, sharply. Il bought them on
the trees two months ago" indicating
with his thumb the stripped orchard
sara's righteous indignation collapsed
so suddenly that she felt weak. She
turned dazed eyes TO the puzzled.
scared faces behind her
I'VE picked them she explained,
feebly.
Picked EN-? Wen, you've made a
mess Of IL, young woman. ] bought
'en on the trees. | tell you, and I've got
your fathers signature to an iron-clad
contract I've been counting OH em
10 ill important contracts Of my own.
l expected TO put men IN here Mon
day. shall hold your pa responsible
for all damages | cater to the fancy
trade, and prefer to do my own pick
ing What do We reckon pay big
wages to a gang Of expert pickers and
packers for: Where are those apples:r
With proud face but trembling knees,
Sara brought the big key and led the
way to the shed.
"Jonathans, by Jingor shouted the
man. I'D forgot He stopped and
examined pile with anxious eve aud
finger
How'd you pick EN-? Shook 'em off
and dumped 'em into the shed.
reckon"
We did note cried Sara, with
sudden burst of anger. we handled
them like eggs, and they are graded
as you sec"
The man twitchcd out his watch.
Got phoney'
NO. but the Wheelers-"
lie was gone. springlng on a big
black horse that stood at the gate,
be rode straight across the meadows,
sailing over fences and gates like
bird. AS he disappeared round the
Wheeler barn. sara's knees gave way
under her. and she dropped Imply in
the shed door.
''I'm worried 10 piecesr she walled.
Goodness. gracious. Saraw cried
Julie. impatiently. There are the ap-
pies. Let him come and take them"
a contract is contract" moaned
Sara. "and we've broken IT, / don't
know much about contracts. but
know it Is an awful thing to break |
one. All these apple men have their
own ways Of picking and grading, and |
we can't tell how much mischief we've |
done. And il he is mean man, he |
can make out that we have done a
great deal more than We have"
He has a yillainous face" said
Cora.
And he kicked at Nero" added |
Betty, hugging the huge head that
nestled lovingly under her arm. "And
! man that will kick at dog"
II don't know" demurred sensible
Julie. III dog came at me with it's
mouth Open l think I'd kick, too-lf /
Jared"
Father counts so on the apple
money! lamented Sara. 1T takes
OF Of money to run this place and this
'amily-"
There are so many OF usv' interject-
u Cora, looking accusmgly at her sis
ers.
"And last year. when the apples
allied. W. had very slim Thanksglv-
Rg-"
And no Christmas at all, to speak
'f"' chimed in Betty.
Ill go right over and t-telephone to
-father~ sobbed Cora.
You will Do nothing Of the kind"
aid Sara rising and resolutely dash
az away her tears Father and mother
Iaven't had real holiday together
lnce they were married. md we won't
poll it, II
There was to be no sound sleep for
ara that night. for when. just before
avn. she fell into troubled doze.
he was again awakened by ferocious
arking. She hurried to the window.
nd saw huge. sha9sless mass OF
just stopping at the barn /