The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-08-13
THE WINNING SIDE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

ami went aR The gravel path 70 tho
house. The great trees, archlng over
head. formed a roof Of bright yellow
green. Am around was spring. from
the white aud pink orchard on the hill
side 10 the robins nest lndlterently
hidden under the caves Of the house
Just as ne stepped ON the porch the
front door opened and girl came out
Tom was very much surprised. He
had hardly expected this. She was his
next-door neighbor In the city, and
heir relations may be guessed from
what followed. AT first neither spoke.
rom politely lifted his hat and the girl
raised her chin about two Inches.
rhen the silence became emharrass-
ne Tom asked "Is Mrs. Caruthers
at homer
"a es, she is" answered the girl stiff
".
"Do you think could seq herF
you probably could"
81 mean. may I see herw
"I suppose you may. WIN you come
lnfr
"Oh, I'll just wait out here. thank
YOU" he said,
"Oh. Mrs. Caruihers," cried Edith
rushing upstairs where an old lady
was quietly knitting
"Yes, my dearl I see we have CONF
pany. I was just going down. Can't
YOU stay few minutes longer2 It's
early and
"No, / can't stay, thank YOU but |
shouldn't II I couid. I know who that
man is. Mrs. Caruthers, and | want
to warn you against him. He's come
to get an option or something on your
land. / don't know what it is, Of
course. but feel sure he's up to some-
thing"
"How do YEA happen TO know so
much about him, Edith2
"They live next door to, IN town.
and dad had an awful time with them
about the line between the lots. Dad
had to take II to court and the VIII
sons acted awfully mean about it,
sBut why are you SO hard on the
young man. dear? Perhaps, IN fact
most likely, he had nothing to do
with II. !" il
1T don't matter, don't ever Iu-
tend to haze anything to do with any
Of them. If I can help 1t, and really
think you ought not to, either. 4onH
see. He'll sell you bogus stock or
something. But I think III slip over
home the back way now. 10 you care
If / 90 through the orchard and get
some blossoms?'
.Certainly not, dear; help Yourself
| THERE must 90 down now and see
my visitor"
Edith could not reach many bios
some from the ground, so, since the
trunk Of an apple tree was crooked and
bent. she crawled up into the brancheg.
Then suddenly she realized that
someone was below and, looking down,
she recognized that Wilson man. He
had spade and a box and was look
ing cautiously in every direetion'-ex-
cept up. He Didn't dream Of her near
ness, evidently.
sI knew i'll" thought Edith, triumph
antly. 81 knew he wasn't here for any
good. Now, what do you suppose It is--
money or the fiat silver? He'll come
back some night and dig it up. I'm sure
he has taken somethingF
Tom began to dig-not very deep,
but little hole just big enough for the
box. Then he covered It over with
dirt and departed.
Edith waited until he had gone. and
then. forgetting her blossoms, slipped
down the tree and dug up the loose
earth with her bare hands. The box,
of light pasteboard. came up easily, its
contents featherweight Now what
in the world do you supposel Bonds,
maybe-or perhaps paper aaeney.
"Ill 20 right down and tell Mrs Ca
ruthers" she declared. "Well call him
Tin and confront him with the cyl
dence."
But Tom was already In the house
II saw you burying this In the
orchard Mr.. Wilson, said Edith, ac
cusingly. coming into the living room
with the box. She handed It TO Mrs
Caruthers.
@You open it, dear. / can't see very
well"
"Do you mind if-lf I go out on chs
poreh?" asked Tom. 1T might be bet
ter for everybody
"No. think you'd better stay
here said Edith firmly, taking off the
lid.
Edith picked up an envelope-th'
only thing ia the box. 1t was ad
dressed to her. Queerl She openet
It and read
sDear Miss Edith: I saw you go u
into the tree. / hope you won't com'
down until get this written and post
ed ~ Grandma says you don't lik'
me. knew 1t before. But we WI
sons always get what we 20 after. an'
I've made up my mind that love yol
and am going 20 marry you. 1 hahn
chance Ia town with the familie
scrnpping but with grandma on M
side we're going to do what we can I
get you.
s4f youll only give me a little hop
m see that the pater digs up the hedg
in town and gives yours the six inches