The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-10
HOLDING DOWN 4 GLaIQ
IN A BLIZZARD.

was setting up type in the office of the Bloomington Spike one bright day in February, 1882, when l heard a voice at the window saying Hello, Seagravesl wan to hold down yer claim?" The speaker was sneering in at me through his mittened hands. l shook my head, but motioneh tor him to come in, which he did.
 As he stood before the rusty cannon stove remonstrated with him for his rashness.
 "Now, Pm an honest man, Moore. 1 don't want to take advantage of any one, not even a drummer for farm machinery. The fact is, Pm danger ous. Why, there ain't a man in this territory that would ask me to go out on the prairie with him if he knew my record. Pm sure death.
 "What do you mean? Explain yourself"
 w will. Pve been out on that pre- .emption of mine promptly at the end of every thirty days ever since the last day of October, and every time it stormed damnably. The first time it rained, the next time it showed and blowed like the devil and all, and the last time Murray and l went out to the claims we spent three days in his twelve by fourteen shanty with the horses. Why, can't go to Heron or to Belleplain but terrible storm sweeps down on the poor people. Therefore the boys fight shy of me-"
 Moore was whistling through his teeth at my yarn. He didn't put much importance upon it.
 "Oh! I know all about that but 1 don't scare worth cent, and, besides, look at the sun shining out there. Now, you get yer toggery on and we'll be off after dinner. Bailey's going too. Now rustle-Pll see you later"
 This settled the matter, and accord ingly got things into as good shape as possible in the office, and went early to dinner at the Western house. The boys at the table were also talk ing about going out on their claims, and cursing Sparks, of the land office, because of the ruling which obliged them to be on the pre- emption once 8 month, no matter what the weather might be.
 "I guess we're about all in the same fx," said Adams; "there's Bailey and Moore and Shelby, myself and -"
 "And Seagraves," I said, quietly.
 "Wh-a-atl Not you, Seagraves?"
 "You bet am."
 "That settles my hash if Seagraves goes, I don't, you can bet high on that. Pm not ready to turn up my toes for the coyotes to gnaw."
 "Gentlemen, I'm sorry for you, but Pm going to break my record or try a dying"
 And about 3 o'clock, behind Moore's little team, we'll nigh buried in blankets and robes, we drew out of the main street and headed west, amid a chorous of yells.
 "Git there, Elil Seagraves is sure death; push on the reins;" etc.
 The sleighing was excellent, and the vast level plain, as bare as the bosom ofa frozen sea, was sparkling under a brilliant sun shining from deep blue sky. Our course lay straight into the wilderness to the west, distance o1 nearly thirty miles-an easy trip il the roads are good all the way.
 Bailey and Moore kept up lively chatter over their huge buffalo-coat collars, and hailed every passing team with jolly shouts, and when we were about ten miles on our way, Bailey said, "I guess Seagraves will escape this time.n
 lifted my head and took look al the northwestern sky; then said: "No boys, we're in for 1t sure"
 And we were; tor, borne on thu wing of the north wind, . great fleecy