The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-12-18
THE SOLICITOR
Ry LOUISE OLIVER.

pals and turned around.
Carrie, breathless and flushed from
running put her hand to her throat
"Say, dad, you're awful deaf. I've
been calm and CALM"
"Hey2 Well. what is itf Cribbses
want TO borrow the mare agaln2 Tell
them to walk to town. They lamed
her last time"
mo, dad, it amt Cribbses after the
mare. It's Sam Karns. He's back from
the city and he's sollcitln'."
"What7'
"He's solicltin'."
"What's that7 After somethin'T
swell, sort of. You come on down
to the house, won't you, and talk to
sam? It's about a new buildin' In
town. He's all dressed up and sittin'
on the front porch. Hurry up an
come on, dad"
"All right. I'll be down."
"When did you come back to town,
Sam?" Carrie, in her glngham Dress
with white collar and cuffs and
dress-up apron, was very pretty. Her
hair, corn-colored and wavy, touched
off a complexion of roses and cream
that reminded Sam of the big bisque
dolls in the city windows. Her eyes,
with their long, dark lashes, were big
and very deep gray.
81 came back last Tuesday. I'm run
ming the campaign"
"CampaignI oh, are you trying to
be elected?"
Sam laughed. mo, it's not politics.
I'm an organizer. That's man who
takes charge Of things and makes
things come that nobody else viii
bother with. When a town wants
new library or hospital or chamber OF
commerce building, they send for me.
Then I roll up my sleeves and go TO
work. The old town here wants a
library, so that's why came back, to
get them what they wanted. Oh, I'm
the man that put the g in get, all
right. We're after fifty thousand dol
lars"
Carries eyes were big. rs that
what you're solicitin' for?"
EYES,"
"Iie won't give much"
"You just wait and see. I'm after
hundred dollars"
Goodness p Her eyes widened.
"Why, he won't give me and ma
enough money for new hat"
"But won't it be fine to have a
library in town."
II wouldn't know what to do with
It."
"Why get books and read them,
Magazines, too; and all sorts Of things
A pretty girl like you wants to know
a lot, Carrie"
81 know enough. can bake the
best angel food Of any girl in Clark
county,"
"All right Maybe you can, but I'll
bet you don't know who Shakespeare
contemporaries were"
"What did you say?" she asked be-
wildered. "Oh, here's dad now"
Sam began instantly. II came ia
get your subscription to the new
library, Mr.. Weigel. You've heard
about 1t, i suppose. Let me see, we've
put you down for hundred dollars
"What?" cried the old farmer. "pll
be hamjugged If l will| BE pushed
back his chair, crossed his knees and
fumbled awkwardly for his pipe
'What's the darned thing for?"
"a library for the county. Books
you know. Books" And then San
gave a dissertation on the blessings
of a library in a tone calculated tC
waken the mumnies in Egypt.
And he got the hundred.
"Goodby, Sam," said Carrie, putting
her hand to her smooth, snowy throat
"Goodby, Carrie" said Sam, ant
then In a tone which Egyptian mum
mics could never have heard he leaned
forward and said, I've learned t
know what beauty Is since I've beer
! away, Carrie, and you're the lovelies
, thing I've seen in that line ever" HI
! pressed her hand gently-and was
gone.
. A year passed. Ferdinand Weige
was going for the cows one day wheI
[ Carrie called, dad, oh DadT
) The old man turned. "Hey? Well
what is it? Cribbses want to-"
mo, it isn't the Cribbses, dad. It'll
Sam Karns. He wants to see YOU"
wants me to build another library
} does he? Well. tell him to 60 ant
J talk to the chickens. I'm busy. Whats
) he want7"
81 don't know" Carrie smiled ant
] dimpled. "He said to tell you hei
3 soliciting" Carrie had picked up oil
( her G's since reading books from tht
! library, and she had found out jus
what "Shapespeare's contemporaries
meant.
At the head of the hill Carrie an(
her father met Sam, who came VI
! energetic, irresponsible, smiling. Th'
Z old man had to acknowledge that hi
visitor was splendid looking, but nev
ertheless he retained his scowl.
"How do you do, Mr.. Welgel?" salt
Sam, pleasantly holding out his hand
"How doT responded Ferdinand
suspiciously. 'What do you wan
now? Solicitln' again. Carrie says"
"Yes, / am, MIR. Weigelw
9 sexxt,,4 far now 9lt