The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-12-18


The farmhouse seemed farther
from the train than he had sup
posed, but he reached its enclosure
just as the engine gave a warning
tott and moved forward with loud
putting. Mr. Wallingford turned alb
ruptly. The dull glares of light that
marked the car windows were mov-
ing more rapidly. lie started to-
ward them, gasping and stumbling,
but one by one the lights disappeared
behind an intervening hill, and as
the last car began to fade away Mr..
Wallingford stood still and yelled.
Hey" he shouted. ~Iiey," but
the few remaining lfgiIts g1ded rap
idly out of sight, and Mr.. Walling-
ford was left alone in the midst, OF
the beautiful snow. At that moment
if there was anything he hated
worse than children it was the beau
tiful snow.
Mr.. Wallingford stamped on to
the porch Of the farmhouse and
raped loudly on the door. He knew
it would ruin his soaked gloves to
rap on the door, but he did not dare
to kick it for fear the farmer might
come out and shoot him. He felt
he was in rather delicate position.
If the farmer happened to be a sus-
picious or unfriendly person and
should refuse him admittance there
would be nothing for him to do but
to lie down in the snow and wait
for morning. Probably he would die
if he slept in the snow. 1t made him
mad to think that if he should die
his wife would not have sense
enough to sue the railroad company.
Therefore, he smiled when the farm.
er opened the door He tried to
look like a meek, genial, accommo-
dating, goodnatureA man. This was
quite a difficult thing to do. for
he was none of them. He was
pushing, grumpy, cross, iisagreea-
BILE individual, and felt So His
smile was hardly more than a pain
ed expression.
The farmer opened the door, first
cautiously, then Hospitality wide.
We'll! well! WE'LL" he exclaim.
ed How in the-Come in. Come
right in. But how in the. Got
team outside? No? Well how in the
dickens did you get here this time
OF night?"
Mr.. Wallingford peeled his oozy
gloves from his hands ami took off
his hat gingerly. AS he stepped to-
ward the fire to which his host
motioned him, his feet squashed in
his wet shoes.
He explained that through the il
legal carelessness of the soulless
corporation that owned the ever,ast
insly condemned railway he had
been left stranded. He explained
fully and minutely what he would
do to that railway when he got
home. He called on the farmer to
witness that his feet were wet. that
the bottom of his trousers were
wet, he would probably take a cold
and have pneumonia.
Sally said the farmer you just
see if you can't find some dry socks
for this man, will you? | declare.
I'm glad we had a light burning or
you might never have found the
house. Plumb luck me and ma set
up to trim the Christmas tree. now
wasn't it?'
Christmas tree?' said Mr.. Wal
lingford. so that's the foolshness
that made me lose that train, is it?
If you hadn't sat up with that
blessed nonsense / wouldn't have
got off the train, would 1? And I'd
be near Wampax Junction on the
way home by now. Christmas tree!
Tommyrot!"
Now | wouldn't say that" said
lht ldllhcl. II 1ldy look IKE non
sense to you, for l take it you
haven't no children, since you say
that, but it's sport for the young
ones, it is. And guess, maybe.
get some fun out of it, too, see
ing the young ones have their sport.
I've got quite a houseful."
Mr.. Wallngford mentally groaned.
Il guess" said the farmer, you'll
have to sleep with one of them.
We're little shy of room. Ma can
put you in with Reuben, he's got a
full length bed and he sleeps pretty
quiet, when he amt kickin' the COW
ers off. But don't you mind if he
does. It don't hurt him none He's
used to it."
Mr.. Wallingford was getting warm