Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-02-23

and let me 60 in and stir them up, and
when they came out of the
brush they were to fire and
turn them down the lake else
the brutes might stampede the mules
and wagon, but I'll be blamed if every
blasted one of 'em didn't pile right ont
and take after me the miaute | left the
team, tearing through the brush like
tornado, soaring the buffalo off in an OPP
posite direction, and We never got q shot
at them. The mules took frighttoo, and
fetched up against tree and smashed
wheel-that cost me ten dollars. | made
up my mind as We all trudged into Wa
tertown that night on foot that I'd keep
my mouth shut for all telling lot OF
green horns that there was game ahead
I've never seen buffalo since until to-
day, but didn't forget my lesson. Now
IL you have any more cussin, blaze away"
The savory meat had done much to-
ward soothing their disappointment, and
the drivers droll manner of telling his
story brought good nstured "all right.
partner" Eom every man.
ACROSS the lake yonder," he continu-
ed, DO you see mammoth tree? That 8
the point Of the Sioux reservation that
touches the lake. A big swindie the
pale faces perpetrated on poor 10 in
that treaty. The Sioux's asked for the
territory lying between Big Sto1e lake
and Lake Kempeska, that they might
fish in each body of water. Both are
literally alive with fish now. Well the
survey was run and the number of miles
on Big Stone agreed to, but it was fol-
lowed down to this lake in triangle,
Just one foot wide by that old cotton
wood yonder on the bank"
"Wss there no chance to regain what
they supposed they were to have?"
'GNo, the papers of the treaty were all
signed and passed over to officials before
they learned of the cheat, so all the re-
yenge they have is upon innocent white
people who had no hand in the steal"
"Are they becoming civilized on their
reservations"
ITO some extent they are; they will
not work if they can beg, but some of
them have quite good houses and comfor-
table homes. They live in tents and
wigwams during the summer, preferring
them to their houses. They dress Ike
white citizens, but they eat dogs, horses
and muskrsts, and IN many ways the In
dian nature and tastes hold fast to them.
They are compelled to send their chill
dren to school, and the next generation
may show more civilization. l hate the
red devils, and fear them, too. though
they never harmed me any"
The business hours of the . S land
| offices are from nine in the morning un.
til four in the afternoon, but by seven
o'clock in the morning the sidewalk wa:
crowded by men seeking admission tc
the office. Byron took position against
an awning post and took observations Of
the crowd. He stood head above the
majority there, and could note the ex
preston of their faces; anxiety, eager.
ness, impotence, rivalry, even despera
ton IN some cases, was stamped leglbly
upon the countenances. "Why it's az
exciting as lottery, this land business,
he soliloquised; Il believe our Professor
seems TO take it as coolly as any one here
and his eyes seem almost in blaze and
his cheeks show two hectic spots, but he
! beats tune against the side of build
ing with his fingers. as if his Thought,
we're only of sharps and flats and natur
ais. | hope he will get his claim al
ness at the bottom Of every benevolent
wish-I wish HIM well because it vii
add to Ny pleasure; we'll, that's no worse
than the rest of them do, after all !"
Presently the driver signslled his par
ty to follow him. you see," as they
reached safe distance from the crowd
81 want to get back to Dundee tonight
SO gave a lawyer dollar to get intc
the land Office early this morning and
correct a plat Of our township, where
most of you are after claims, and al
your numbers are vacant but the pro-
fessors-some one has gObbled his. Now
you all come into this lawyers Office,
and he will make out your papers, SO
that you will only have to be sworn, in
the lard office. and we can be off In an
hour. Each one file up and show him
| your description, furnished by the agent,
and he will fix it up. Byron, YOU lead
out" But that young man was talking
too busily with the professor to heed the
| remark.
81 don't care two straws about nv land
you say yours was near it, and ~ 9e is
Just as good. You take my claim, and
I'll do without The Prof was 1e2thly pale
from the time the driver announced that
his claim was 'gobbled.' 81 can not DO
that" he faltered, but home in Dako-
Ia means more to Inc than can tell you
it means manhood, happiness, every
thing; Tut III gain it honorably or not at
all; you are generous fellow, Byron, l
am glad to have met you, but | cant take
your land" There was that quiet de-
clsion in his manner that was far more
conclusive than braggart or noise. But
Lee felt that something must be done,
and that feeling with him, amounted to
every expediency that could be wrought
upon.
When the last one of their party had
given their numbers to the lawyer and
taken bis papers in return, he gave his,
asking the driver to bring the plat along
as ne wished to spesk with him.
'Show mo the location of my claim on
this speckled thing. Where is that Ia.
dy's homestead, who is building near ii?
Well, what kind of land adjoins these
two quarters?"
"Good; it's all alike there, only some
pieces have more hay land than others,
or more lake, or is more rolling; there is
not a strip of poor land in that town
ship. and know it, for helped sur
vey it,"
Byron communicated the drivers re-
port to the Professor. Now if you re-
ally want land. perhaps You had better
take this, next to mine. You know
nothing about it but the driver does, and
l believe his account of it, do you?"
81 hardly know what believe; Pm
not very practical fellow anyhow, but
if you say rlsk it, here goes"
"Stop, Professor, win not take the re-
sn0nsihilitv of this unless Won will aorpe