The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-01-16

ran across the sandhills to the lit
tle schoolhouse 70 which the Hopi chill,
dren trail down from the mesa top TO
be taught In the ways of the white
man. All the white employees of the
government school were busy with
scrubbing brushes-so busy that they
did not look up frem their work as
they said, sorry. we can't bother
about anything now. We're cleaning
up for Roosevelt" "But so am l."
cried. Yet they only went on scrub
blng.
AT last spied a silent and empty
motor car man on horseback
seemed to be the owner. II am go
ing to meet Col. Roosevelt" he said;
''too busy to help you now. You can
have as much gasoline as you like II
you get il for yourself" ] fetched
a handleless cup from the sehoolhouse,
but gazed at the car in despair. ]
was as ignorant of its inner workings
as an Indian. Presentlyfa handsome
and deep-tanned youngf cowboy in
blue oyeralls passed me, aleadlng some
horses.
II wonder If you could get me some
gasoline from this carr" ! called. u
am allowed to have IL. You seesn
continued confidentialIy, 1--WE are all
trying to clean up in honor of Col.
Roosevelt-he Is expected today some
time" The young man smiled, and
few minutes later he lay In utter
chivalry under the car. milking gaso-
line into my cup. thanked him
warmly and sped away. ! was glad to
see that he was just as weather stained
as l. M
AS climbed the crest of one of the
sandhils | stopped short, open
mouthed in wonder. A stalwart figure
on a COW pony was riding up the hlll
alone and unattended; without any
flourish of trumpets, Col. Roosevelt
had arrived His sunburnedsface was
partly shaded by a big felt hat,
red handkerchief fluttered at his
throat. and he, too, looked as though
gasoline might improve his khakis.
waved my sombrero and cried "Hail
to the chief !" No one had expected
the great guest so soon, but it was
like him to be ahead of the rest of
the world.
He leaped from the saddle and we
shook hands warmly. ''This is capi-
talp he exclaimed but don't spill
my gasoline" / cried. every one In
Hopi land is trying to clean up for
you'll" He laughed heartily. You
must meet my boy" he said, and called
loudly, "Archie !'--and at this the
knight in overalls appeared!
I'VE have met today before" he
said, with a smile, and glanced sig
nificantly at my cup. 1t was nearly
empty. The desert sun was drinking
up all my efforts, but | did not care.
The stars were still alight the next
morning when we left our camp fire,
hut we paused for moment to fill a
bottle with hot coffee for the colonel,
who had made his headquarters in the
schoolhouse When we reached the
schoolhouse, the colonel's room was
empty. "One must indeed get up early
to be abreast of Theodore Roosevelt"
we told each other, rather shame
facedly.
{ Now, to climb the Walpi trail,
steep GOO feet, even on horseback Is
no pleasant task before daylight (and
breakfast) But when we scrambled
on foot to the summit, tired and
breathless, there stood the colonel, \
strong and secure, among the topmost
rocks of the Hopi buttes. silhouetted
against the yellow line" as the Hopis
call the dawn. The little incident was
characteristic of his natural drive of
energy, his unfailing promptitude and
his inborn quality of leadership.