The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-11-21
The "DESERT PAL"
BY ARNOLD WAYNE.

A crowd gathered as there tangled,
roared, clattered up TO the edge of the
pavement nondescrlpt mass OF
wheels and ragged and dust-deluged
canvas. A form sprang out Covered
with dirt, face and hands splotched
and speckled with oil and grease,
bright, glowing eyes only showing an
irresistible animation, there was added
10 the already startling presentment'
humanity in its strangest phase
The vehicle was what might have
been IN automobile. Ii had solid rub
Der tires, it was uncouth of shape, oddI
and old of make, yet 1t had come rip,
ping down the street like cyclone!
Across the back was what had oncel
been black-lettered strip of whitel
muslin. Barely traceable was the,
legend: "The Desert Pal-Home orr
Bust -
"The Desert Pal" spoke its owner,j
broad of smile and resonant Of tone
"twenty-three days from the old alkall
stretch. Home, that's here. You don't :.
any OF you remember me? I'm Bartj
Morton; left here ten years ago, made!
few thousands, got homesick, traded /
my camp togs and horse for that old
auto and I've hit the end of the trail.
Only few of the townsmen recalled
the homeless vagabond boy living here,
there, anywhere, over decade since.
II was far home cry, for he had neveri
had any. Somehow, however, his
bruSque bearing, his fearless ways,
the tang of courage and venture to his
words stirred up the crowd. The old
est inhabitant warmed up to Il friend
ly chat, the youngest one admiringly
regarded man and vehicle that had
spun half way across the continent,
homely, yet sturdy-looking, arousing
rare fancies of daring and variety in
the juvenile imagination.
For three days man and machine We're
the current topics of interest. Then
Bart Morton cleaned up the old rattle
trap, donned a more modern attire aud
became d familiar figure around the
one holel Of the place.
I'll got lonely out there and I'd
about reached my ambltion--iive thou
sand dollars" reported Bart, I'D like
10 buy into some respectable business
and settle down among real humans"
Then one day Bart asked the hotel
keeper what had become of Evan
Hughltt. "You know worked for him
for year and he was like father to
me" he said.
Evan Hughitt was dead, came the
He had died five years
previous. His wife and Juanlta, their
daughter, lived at the old place, but
for three years had been fighting day
by day, inch by inch, the claim OF
Wolfe Dysart.
The blood rushed TO the face of Bart
Morton and he uttered what resem-
bled ferocious snarl as he heard the
name of the man who had nearly
him to death, who had
led Evan Hughitt into evil ways.
"Dysart is under Indictment in this
county and does not dare to appear
here. but through schemlng lawyer
he is keeping Mrs. Hughitt in litiga-
lion. hoping to finally force her to
give up part of the property" ex-
planned the landlord.
Two days later Bart Morton saw
Juanita the child of eight, now the
girl Of eighteen. Within the week it
was known that he had supplied to the
awyer Of Mrs. Hughitt what was
most needed--money TO battle the un-
Dysart.
Often a pleasant smile followed the
Desert Pal as Bart would whiz by,
Iuanita by his side. II Bart had not
yet found a home he had found love,
which eventually always leads to the
happy hearth.
One night Bart, returning from the
Hughitt place, CHANGED to pass the Of
ice of the lawyer of Mrs. Hughitt.
up at its lighted front he |
,hecked his machine and set his teeth |
lard. For the first time in ten. years !
ie saw his old soulless prosecutor, |
Wolfe Dysart. The lights went ont |
md a moment later Dysart came hur- /
wing TO the street, package under his
urn, A quick suspicion came to the
'eady mind OF Bart The plotter had
'entured here to steal documents upon |
he production of which rested the |
Widows chance Of winning her case.
Wolfe Dysart swung into the saddle |
II mettled steed standing at the
,urb. In a fash he was plunging down
he street. In an instant Bart had |
irged the Desert Pal into action. The
lorse turned into the highway leading
mt of town.
Dysart glanced anxiouSly behind
lin and urged up his steed, Bart rea-
lied that his suspicious were aroused.
Along the sides of the road for mile
an deep bitches. Where they ceased J
he horseman could turn into the tim
,er. where Bart could noe follow.
Everything depended ON his overtaking
he man within that mile.
Kl0ppetty-klop the horse. Whizz,
vhangi the Desert Pal, nearer. near
r. Dysart was fully aroused now.
Bart reached behind him with one
land. Ii was to seiSe lariat, faith
ul mementO of his old desert days.
Tbf1 Inst whore Tho rn1d furund /