The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-16

adverse pos essions held by the town under
the mining laws, but it would compel the
adjacent squatters like McKinstry, Davis,
Masters and Filgee, and Jumpers like the
Harrisons to buy the legal title, or defend
Slow but losing lawsuit. The holders CT
the grant-rich capitalists of San Francisco
were open to compromise to Jlose in actual
possession. and in the benf1ts CT this com
promise the INSCRIPTIONS Jumper who
had neither sown or reaped, hut simply dis
possessed the squatter who had done both.
shared equally with him.
diversity of opinion as to the effect of
the new claim naturally obtained; the older
settlers still chung to their experiences of an
easy aboriginal holding of the soil, and
were skeptical both as to the validity and
justice of these revised alien grants; but
the newer arrivals hailed this certain tenure
of legal titles as a guarantee to capital and
an incentive to improvement. There was
also a growing and influential party of
eastern ard northern men, who were not
sorry to see fruitful source of discussion
and bloodshed removed. The feuds of the
McKinstrys and Harrisons kept alive over a
boundary to which neither had any legal
claim would seem to bring them hereafter
within the statute law regarding ordinary
assaults without any ethical mystification.
On the other hand McKinstry and Harri-
son would each be able to arrange any COM
promise with the new title holders for the
lands they possessed, or make over that
actual possession, for consideration. 1t
was feared that both men, being naturally
lawless, would unite to render any legal
eviction q long and dangerous process, and
that they would either be left undisturbed
till the last, or would force profitable con-
cession. But greater excitement followed
when it was known that a section of the
land had already been sold by the owners of
the grant, that this section exactly covered
the dehatesble land of the Mckinstry-Har-
rison boundaries, and that the new landlord
would at once attempt its legal possession.
The inspiration Of genius that had thus eff
fected division of the Harrison Kinstry
combination at its one weak spot excited
even the admiration of the sceptlcs. No
one in Indian Spring knew its real author.
for the suit was ostenslbly laid in the name
of San Francisco banker. But the intelli-
gent reader of Johnny Filgee's late expert
ence during the celebration will have al
ready recognized Uncle Ben as the man,
aud it becomes a part of this veraciouS
chronicle at this moment to allow him to
explain, not only his intentions, but the
means by which he carried them out, in his
own words.
1t was one afternoon at the end of his
usual solitary lesson, and the master and
Uncle Ben were awaiting the arrival of
Rupert. Uncle Ben's educational progress
lately. through dint of slow tenaclty, had
somewhat improved, and he had just com
pleted from certain forms and examples in a
book before him Letter to Consignee"
informing him that he, Uncle Ben, had
Just shipped so cwt. Ivory Elephant TuskS,
S0peculs of rice and 400 bbls. prime mess
pork from Indian Spring." and another be-
ginning Honoured Madam" and convey
ing IN admirably artificial phraseology the
"lamented deceasen of the ladys husband
from yellow fever, contracted on the Gold
Coast, and Uncle Ben was surveying his
work with critical satisfaction when tho
master, somewhat impatiently, consulted
his watch.
Uncle Ben looked up.
Il oughter told We that Rupe didn't kalki-
late to come to-day"
"Indeed-why notP
81 reckon because told him he needn't
1 allowed toto hev' q little private talk
with We, Mr. Ford, if We didn't mind"
Mr. Ford's face did not shine with invita-
ton.
Very we'll" he said, ''only remember
have an engagement this afternoon"
"But that amt until about shutdown, y
said Uncle Ben, quietly. II won't keep ye
ez long ez that"
Mr.. Ford glanced quickly at Uncle Ben
with rising color.
What do YOU know of my engagement
he said, sharply.
"Nothin', Mr. Ford, returned Uncle Ben
simply; "but hevin' bin layin' round, lookin
for We here and at the hotel for four or five
days, allus about that time and not findin
you, | rather kalsilated you might hev'
suthin' regular on hand"
There was certainly nothing in his face or
manner to indicate the least evasion or de-
I'D nI hut lie
naivete, perhaps a little perturbed and
preoccupied by what he was going to say.
81 had an idea of writin' you letter, " he
continued, "kinder combinin' practice and
confidential information, you know. To be
square with you, Mr.. Ford, in pint O. fact,
I've got it here. But ez it don't seem to en-
tirely gibe with the facts, and leaves heap
o. things onsaid and unseen, perhaps it's
jest ez wall ez | read it to you myself-put-
ten in word here and there, and explainin'
it gin'rally. Do you sabe!'
The master nodded, and Uncle Ben drew
from his desk rude portfolio made from
the two covers of "a dilapidated atlas, and
took from between them piece of blotting
paper, which through inordinate applica-
ton had acquired the color and consistency
of a slate, and few pages of copy-book
paper, that to the casual glance looked like
sheets of exceedingly difficult music. Sur
veying them with a blending of chirographic
pride. photographic doubt, and the baShful
consciousness of a literary amateur; he
traced each line with forefnger linked to
the second joint and slowly read aloud as
follows:
"MR. FORD, Teacher-Dear Sir: Yours
of the 18th reed and contents noted"
81 didn't" explained Uncle Ben, paren-
thetically, receive any letter of yours, but
/ thought might heave in that beginning
from copy for practice. The rest is me-"
I'm reference to my having munney,
continued Uncle Ben reading and pointing
each word as he read, Sand being able to
buv Ditch Stocks an Land"
zone moment" said Mr.. Ford, interrupt
ing, II thought you were going to leave out
COPY. Come to what you have to say"
f'But | hev-this is all real now. Hold on
and you'll see, said Uncle Ben.
He resumed with triumphant emphasis:
when it was gin'rally allowed that |
had6ent a red cent, want to explain to you
Mr. Ford, for the first time secret. This
here is how it was done: Whom first came
to Iniian Spring, | settled down into the Old
Palmetto claim, near heap Of old Lailings.
Knowin't it were against roofs, and reg lar
Chinyman's biZness to WORK them diddn't
let on to eny boldly what | did-witch wos TO
turn over some of the quarts what |
thought was likely and Orriiferus. Dong
this KEN upon some pay ore which them
Palmetto fellers had overlook, or more
likely had kaved in upon them from The
bank unknown. WorkIn' ut 1t in cd times
by and large, sometimes afore sun up and
sometimes after shutdown, and all the time
keeping up a days work on the clame for
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