The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-05-31

tttiH uufush8 out iout Satt| ~A"S''~'
sandwiches and half OF crumbles
cake.
I'm sorry--awful sorry I didn'
think--I was so hungry. Tn afrait
there amt very much left" he added
with rueful eyes on the sandwiches.
"No should say notl'' youchsafec
Rachel. her voice firm now that th'
size Of the burglar" was declared
Tabifha only gasped.
The small boy placed the food upcr
the empty plates. and Rachel's lips
twitched as she saw that he ciumslly
tried to arrange 1t In an orderly
fashion.
''There. ma'am--that locks pretty
good~ he finally announced with
some pride.
Tabttha made an involuntary ges.
ture OF aversion. Rachel laughed out.
right; then her face grew suddenly
stern.
boy. what do you mean by such
actl0nsT' she demanded.
His eyes fell and his cheeks showed
red through the tan.
Il was hungry"
'But didn't you know 1t was steal
mgr she asked. her face softening.
II didn't stop to think-it looked so
good couldn't help takin' it," He
dug his bare toes In the grass for a
moment In silence, then he raised his
head with jerk and stood squarely
ON both feet. Il hain't got any money,
bur Ill work to pay for Infringing
wood In or somethin'."
sThe dear child!" mnrmured two
voices softly.
1--WE got to find my folks, sometime,
bur III do the work first. Mebbe an
hourrl pay for If-'most He looked
hopefully into Miss Rachel's face.
"Who are your foIksi" she asked
huskIly.
BY way OF answer he handed out a
soiled. crumpled envelope for her in
spection, on which was written, REV.
John Hapgood.'
"Why--it's fatherw
"What." exclaimed Tabitha.
Her sister tore the note open with
shaking fingers.
'It's from--Paul she breathed.
hesltatlng conscientious moment
over the name. Then she turned her
startled eyes on the hoy. who was re-
garding her with lively interest.
Do i belong to youi" he asked anx-
iously.
IL don't know. Who are you
what's your name?"
''Ralph Hapgood."
TabItha had caught up the note and
was devouring it with swift-moving
eyes.
"lt's Pauls hoy. Rachel she broke
In; "only think of it--Paul's boy!"
and she dropped the bit Of paper and
enveloped the lad In a fond but tear
ful embrace.
He squirmcd uneasily.
I'm sorry l eat up my own FOLKS
things" III so to work any time"
he suggested. trying to draw away,
and wipIng tear splash from the
back Of his hand on his trousers.
But II was long hours before Ralph
Hapgood was allowed to "go to work"
His story was quickly told. His
mother was long since dead, and his
father had written on his dying bed
the letter that commended the boy
so soon to be orphaned-to the pity
and care OF his grandparents. The
sisters trembled and changed color at
the story OF the boys hardships on the
way to Fairtown:
That evening when the boy vas safe
In bed - clean. full-stomached. and
sleepily content, the sisters talked 1t
over. Rev. John Hapgood, in his will.
had cut OF his recreant son with the
proverbial shilling. 50. by law, there
was little coming to Ralph. This. how.
ever, the sisters overlooked In calm
disdain.
"we must keep him anyhow" said
Rachel with decision.
"Yes. indeed--the dear child.
Hes twelve. for all he's so small,
but he hasn't had much schooling. We
must see to that--we want him well
educated" continued Rachel. pink
spot showing In either cheek.
'Indeed we do-we1l send him to
college, wonder. now. wouldn't he
like to be a docforf"
Perhaps" admitted the other eau
tlously, "or a minister"
"Sure enough--he might like that
better: I'm going TO ask himl" and
she sprang to her feet and tripped
across the room to the parlor- bedroom
door, Ralph she called softly, after
turning the knob, "are you asleepr"
''Huhi N-no. ma am" The voice
nearly gave the lie TO the words.
n