The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-25
s BY A MINUTE. I
By CLARA LOUISE BURNHAM.

49, EMS a match for any man,
lllNl II lI said Farmer Burchard, hi
WV lll- hard face harder as hi
@9@ spoke. ~she wos't go t'
her husband empty handed
either / calc'Iate TO give Helen Fores
Farm if she marries to suit me; ant
Forest Farm, Ezra Fairfax, is the pret
fiest property in Aliddlesex County
The farmer and his hired man were
driving along the road to the station
for sfr. Burchard was going OF on a
weeks trip to buy some cattle
Ezra made no reply to this boast He
had heard it a number Of times, and
as he loved Helen with his whole heart
it was not a pleasure to listen to, es-
pecially as he understood at this time
it was a warning note intended TO pre-
vent any philandering in bis employers
absence.
Il shall never have Forest Farm If
that is the price / have to pay" de-
clareG Helen herself a few hours later.
looking into her lovers honest eyes.
The two had grown up together, the
children of neighbors. II shall marry
you or nobody. Ezra. | love father,
but his ambitions can't make wrong
right Had he been the one to die in
stead Of your father when we were
children l might have been your
mothers help to-day The girl
smiled in way that warmed Ezra's
despairing heari.
IF there were only something could
do to change mattersr' he exclaimed.
/ hate the name OF Forest Farm.
wist Hosea Hinkley had never sold
it,
"He Wouldn't If he could possibly
have done without the money, that is
certain" remarked the girl What
triumph father felt it to be when he
secured it before good Mr.. Hosea diedT
"Yes, If that scamp of a brother of
his had got hold of it, l guess Mr.
Burchard might have whlstled for For
est Farm. Jim Hinkley's the biggest
rascal unhung. and he hates your
Gather. He'd have liked TO spite him
By selling to somebody else. Well"
Ezra heaved a mighty SIGH" for my
part I'D be willing Jim had got il.
ought not TO let you cling to the thought
OF me, Helen; it will spoil your life"
The girl gazed at him with fr0nk.
tenderness. His sturdy form and
bronzed face filed all her horizon.
"Can you stop thinking Of me? she
asked simply.
"God knows | can't" he answered,
and then he lifted his old hat with
reyerent gesture and kissed her.
The next day he was plodding along
the road TO the village filed with the
problem that always absorbed him,
when a stranger accosted him. He
looked up and beheld an elderly gen
tIeman with the stamp Of city life on
bis face. clothing and manners.
~Youag man, the latter began, "can
you tell me the whereabouts of a place
known as Forest Farm
Yes replied Ezra. Walk right
ahead and turn the first turning to the
left. and as soon as you cross the creek
you're there" Then, with a bluntness
that amused his interlocutor, he con-
tinued, "Were you thinking Of renting
it,"
The stranger smiled leniently and
tapped his hand with legal paper he
held. mo, / wasn't thinking of rent
ing it." he answered deliberately; Il
am thinking Of buying it, In fact,
have just bought it. Ny daughter saw
the place and thought she would like
it for summer home, and / have
come down to look at it myself, My
deed here will assist me in locating
boundaries. I'm much obliged to you"
The kindly stranger bowed and
moved on, leaving Ezra to stare after
him. his lips parted, his thoughts in a
turmoil
His face redeemed under its bronze.
In some uncomprehended way had his
chance come? Might he do for Allen
Burchard some service which should
win him Helens
He made a swift movement to follow
the stranger. as suddenly changed his
mind, and charged up the village street
at q pace that scattered the children
before him like leaves in the wind.
Squire WinsIow, sitting at the desk
in his second-story office. looked
startled as the young man burst into
his room. "WelIi WHAT'S the matter,
Ezra Fairfax exclaimed the old man,
pushing his chair back, images OF dire
catastrophes crowding through his
brain.
II don't know" gasped the other,
dragging a seat to the desk and falling
into it. Then with catches Of the
breath he told his story
The Squire pushed up his spectacles
and listened, frowning.
Certainly, remember the transfer
Of Forest Farm" he said. Il drew the
deed. You say Mr.. Burchard is away
Couldn't be have"
'No be has only been gone since yes
terday. ana he told me the day he left
he was going to give the place to his
daughter. Jim Hinkley's at the bottom
Of this, somehow or othef.r 49,