The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-05-23
"Snowball"
By WILLIAM FALL
al issi. western Newspaper uni0a.

many years, Lydia
"And let US continue the same. DAN
lei."
The scene was in the neat parlor OF
the yIllage home Of Miss Lydia Park
er. spinster. Her caller-and suitor--
was Daniel Bracket, ten years u Wild
over.
II have waited . long time 10 ash
you the question nearest TO my hearty
he won't on. y am disappointed.
LydIa--and a triae hurt"
"Banicl." said Miss Lydia. I'VE can
be straightforward with each other
was the school girl friend Of your
dear wife. I am the friend Of her
lonely. wandering boy, You have asked
me II I would marry you. will not
answer that question I'LL you have TAX
en- wIlfrid back where he belongs
to your home and your love-"
Daniel Brackeit took up bis hat and
left the house. lie was not only trou'
bled. but sad. wilfrId. his boy. had
been a wild. reckless lad. One night
the son was q member OF Halloween
party which wound up In an accidental
blaze. A farmers barn was burned
down. Mr.. Bracket paid fifty dollars
to prevent trouble for wilfrid. and
bnnished him from the house.
"when you have earned that fifty
dollars and repaid H." said the father
sternly, you may come back 10 your
home. Not before"
That was six months since. From
that day until this no word had come
from the homeless lad. Forty miles
away from Brandon, however. at fhe
very hour when that important inter-
view was In progress, young Wllfrid
Brachett. brisk, bappy-faced and
bright Ms a dollar. was making his
way down a stretch OF railroad. whis-
Ting merrily.
wilfrid had 'made good"
Hilfrid stepped aside TO allow a
slow moving freight train 10 pass him.
Then he gave a great start as Its last
cars swung around the long curve. lie
stared 10 sheer wonderment at the
figure OF little girl not more than ten
years of age. cllnglng to the top Of the
iron ladder on one side Of the car and
huddled Up against its rounds.
''The mlschiefT uttered the astound-
ed boy. "She must be scared to death,
or the plucklest girl I ever saw."
"See here, little girl" gasped Will
frid. "what are you ever doing hereY
"Snowball." was the single re-
sponse.
"who's Snowhallr
"Shes cur own dear COW. They're
taking her away from grandma, who
Is sick In bed.
"And where Ia Snowballw Ques.
toned the bewildered lad.
"Shes In this car. / saw the man
drive her in here from the cattle PEN"
Just here the train took n siding
and halted. Wilfrid made the child
climb down to the ground and rest her
tired arms. by telling her that he
would "see about thlngs.r
A brakeman and another man came
strolllng from the caboose. They
stared strangely at the pair. WilfrId
began to explain. The man with the
brakeman smiled before the narrative
was concluded.
"Poor little thingw he said. I'm
sorry for her, but she don't under
stand how affairs stand. I'm a con-
stable from the county seat. Mrs.
CRANKY owed some money, and there's
an execution out. l didn't want to dis
turb her by levying on her household
goods SO l took the cow"
"And this brave little child followed
poor SNOWFALL" said Wilfrid. "Ohicer.
Is the amount very much7"
"Forty dollars and COSTS" was the
reply. with a sympathetic look at the
child. "Td pay It out of my own
pocket II wasn't poor man."
"If can pay 1t. will you release
the cow" asked Wifrid.
"Yes, and throw off my fees. gladly"
replied the officer.
The officer wiped away suspicious
from his eye as the little
girl threw her arms around the neck
If the snowy white animal, cried over
her recovered pet, and then laughed
FOR Joy.
An enterprising reporter eagerly
gathered up the material for good
story, and when Wilfrid left the happy
,hild and her pet at their home, the
wires were clicking an incident Of
rare human interest all over the coun-
.ry. The afternoon papers had 1t, In
,ludlng the Brandon Evening Tele-
gram.
II told you Wilfrid was worth while.
knew he had the making Of a grand
nan In him-and what do you say
low, Daniel Brackett?" demanded
Miss Cynthia at the Bracket home at
light o'clock that evening. She point
ID to the newspaper she had brought
With her on her impetuous, uncere- |
nonious visit.
"Yes." answered Mr.. Bracket hum
'ly. "Wilfrid is a splendid boy"
"You start right out finding him,
Janiel Brackett," ordered the spin
ter sharply. 'or I'll never speak to |
lou again."
mo need, fatherl Miss Parker!"
'ried a CHEEKY voice, and the boy In
lupsfinn b,,rcf t,,tn TIM ronp,