“Sure thing! It’s the fastest growing city in Oklahoma, maybe in the whole big world. We’re not very old. Just started in 1889 when the runs for land began. But you know in those few years we’ve grown to almost 100,000. Folks are boasting that we have 90,000 inhabitants now; and like I said new folks are coming in every day."
Mabel gasped. Ninety-thousand people! Where would Papa be among so many? Will I be able to find Papa? She trembled at the thought, and for a moment almost lost her hope. But she remembered God had promised to never leave or forsake her, so she repeated to herself, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Mabel had never ridden an electric trolley. It went so fast that her head was in a whirl try-ing to see the buildings as they passed.
Before leaving the streetcar, she showed the driver her Papa’s address and asked which way to go. Following his directions; she was soon on the right street. Walking slowly along, she read the numbers on the few houses that had numbers. She was going the right direction. Soon she would find a number like the one on her papa's letter which she held tightly in her hand.
There it is, right in front of me! She gasped. Trembling with excitement, she knocked at the door. A woman opened it. "Does Simon Kelly live here?" Mabel asked.
"No, he doesn't," the woman answered. "He was living here, but he moved last week. He said something about getting a place so he could do his own cooking. I only rent out sleeping rooms."
Mabel trembled. She felt dizzy.
“You all right?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Mabel mumbled as she fought back tears.
“You look like you just seen a ghost!”
When Mabel recovered from the shock and could finally speak, she said slowly, "Do you know where he moved? I've come a long way to see him. He—he's my-my papa."
The woman saw Mabel needed help. “Say, Alfonzo,” she yelled, “do you know where Mr. Kelley might be living?” Mabel heard someone speaking, when they stopped, the woman gave Mabel directions as to where she might find her papa.
As Mabel walked along on the streets the woman had pointed out, she quoted again the Bible verse, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. On and on she went carrying her box that contained all her belongings. She was thankful for the handle, which Wallace had made when he tied it securely with new rope.
Finally, she found the house. "Does Simon Kelly live here?" she asked.
"Who did you say?'' asked the lady at the door.
"Simon Pleasant Andrew Kelly?”
“No, he doesn't live here. Never did. Although he might be the man who came asking about an apartment last week. How did he look?”
“He is very big, and has sandy-red, bushy hair,” Mabel answered.
“I think that might have been him. But he never came back. There are more apartments at the end of this street. Maybe you'll find him there."
Mabel walked on in the direction the lady had said. She was tired and her box seemed to be growing heavier every step. She had left Mangum yesterday but had to wait for the next train in Hobart and changed trains again in Chickasha. It had been a long night and she had eaten very little today. She hurried past a restaurant because she might need her money later. The delicious aroma of food in the air made the lonely ache in her heart worse. Oh, Papa, Papa, she cried to herself. Where are you? I've come such a long way.
The manager of the apartments at the end of the street knew nothing about a big man named Simon Kelly.
Lord Jesus, please help me, Mabel prayed as she walked slowly away. In an hour it will be dark, and I have no money for a hotel, and I don't know anyone in this big city. Please Lord, help me find a place to get in out of the darkness!
The train depot! I'll sit unnoticed on a bench through the night, she thought. Mabel was completely lost after going to all the different apartment houses. Now, where was the train station? The electric train did not run on the street she was on, so asking first one stranger and another, she finally found her way back to the depot. Dropping her heavy box beside her aching feet, she slumped onto a bench.
Mabel needed courage, so she untied her box and took out her Bible. Opening it to Psalms, she read, “As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him…The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting upon them that fear him, and his right-eousness unto children’s children.”
The next thing Mabel knew she was waking up. Looking around she saw that the train sta-tion was quiet and empty. She noticed the ticket agent glancing at her and then at the clock. Finally, he called to her, "There are no more arrivals or departures tonight. The sta-tion will be closing in five minutes."
Mabel jumped to her feet and ran to his window, "I-I-I wasn't waiting for a train —" she hesitated
"You'll have to find a room for the night, Madam," he said. "It's time to lock the station doors.”
"I have no place to go, and no money," she protested.
"I'm sorry," he said, as if it meant nothing to him.
Mabel walked slowly back to the bench. Then dragging her box behind her, she went out into the dark night. An eerie feeling swept over her when she heard the door being bolted shut.
Mabel knew no one among the 90,000 people in Oklahoma City!Will she ever find her fa-ther?