The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-12-24
SERVING A SUMMONS
By CLARA iNEZ DEACON

BY CLARA iNEZ DEACON
1t was just between twilight and
dark that Jersey COW, owned by
farmer Hollis. jumped the field fence
into the highway and sauntered down
the road.
AS Miss Jersey stepped slowly along
enjoying the beauties OF the evening
an auto was coming up from the d.
rection of Glen Head. 1t contained
two young men and the chauffeur. IT
stole upon the COW unheard and hoist
ed her into the ditch and broke her
back.
The house Of farmer Hollis was
only eighty rods away but there was
no going back to notify him Of the
accident. The cow was dead, and
that settled that It has been stated
that the animal belonged to farmer
Hollis. So it did in way. In several
other ways 1t belonged to his daugh-
ter Florence. who had petted and
cared for it since its birth. 1t made
uu1le a ullltItHCt MlOSt COW IL was
Next morning the hired man report
ed the tragedy Miss Florence went
down the road and viewed the body
and wept and then returned to the
house to ask her father. who was par
TALLY an invalid:
well, what are you going to do
about it?"
1T was an auto SUPPOSE"
Yes"
And it may belong to any one OF
a thousand people,"
"Of course
"And be fifty miles away by this
time?"
"Just So"
well, there you are, What can I
do about it?' l don't see that any
thing can be done"
well, I do" was the vigorous re-
ply from the daughter
Half an hour later Miss Florence
was on the road with her pony and
cart. Two miles up the highway was
a road-house at which nine out OF ten
autos, bound either way. might be
counted on to stop. The girl drove
up and called for the proprietor to
come out
"An auto about 7 o'clock" he
mused at her query. "Yes, there was
one. 1t held two young men. 1t went
down the road, and must have passed
your house"
"And the young men-were they
strangers?" was asked.
We'll. yes and no. | know that one.
and he is the owner Of the machine,
is Burt Merriam, and the other is
Steve Dayton. They were great chums
at college, believe. They had two
beers here and went on"
And this Mr.. Merriam-where does
he live, please?"
"Over at Brookdale, I understand"
She drove into Glen Head and to the
office OF lawyer and told her story.
The lawyer said he thought there
was a case, and added:
I'VE might as well give the young
man a chance I'll apply for sum-
mons, and you better drive over and
serve 1t on him"
Two days later Miss Florence drove
over to Brookside with the legal docu-
ment. After a few inquiries she To-
Gated the house Of the father of her
victim, but only to be told that young
Mr.. Merriam was not at home, and
might not be for several days.
Her father said 1t would all end in
smoke and that the rich alone con-
trolled the laws, but on the third day
Miss Florence started out again to
serve the summons. She was half
way to Brookside when she saw an
auto coming. The pony was little
sklttIsh Of them, and she gave up the
whole OF the road and waited. The
auto slowed down as 1t came up. but
nevertheless the pony chose to per-
form. He was standing on his hind
legs and making ready to bolt. and in
her sudden fright the girl had lost the
lines and was screaming. when
young man leaped from the machine
and caught the animal by the head.
He was dragged several rods before
his weight told, and as Miss Florence
ran to him she saw that he was hurt.
Shoulder out Of Joint, I guess" he
said with a smile.
Let me see" she replied. you
must go to a doctor as soon as YOU
can. What q ninny I was to let Fred
act up so! can manage him now,
however"
The plans OF mice and men, you
know was on my way to see Mr..
Hollis on a matter Of business. Wish
this had happened later"
Business with my father"
Then you are Miss Hollis!"
Yes"
"And the young lady who called at
my home?"
The same"
WAS it about the cow"
ut was. sir"