Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-10
JENNIE'S COMPLIANT.
He Alters Her Opinion OF "Mr
Babcock, the Agent"

that led across the prairie from the
Cross Roads store. Felix Stages pre-
sented picture of utter despair. All
about was peace and joy. The broad
prairie spreading back for miles in
every direction in one broad level
plain. was green with the spring grass
with the sweet scent of thousand
wild flowers. The surroundings were
certainly all that one could ask. but
Felix was blind to it and stumbled on
with his eyes cast down.
Mrs. Stages met her husband at the
door of the little sod house, and in
trembling tone asked:
HAS it gone against you, Felix?"
YES" he replied. sit has"
Felix threw his slouched hat down
on the ground, and dropping himself
on the door step. gave deep drawn
sigh and sat for several minutes with
his face buried in his hands.
It was quite awhile before Mrs.
Skaggs felt able to say any thing more,
but at last steadying her voice with
an effort she said:
''Well, Felix, it's bad, but we mustn't
worry over it. It's great misfortune
to US. but it might have been worse,
now mightn't it?"
Il don't know how it could well
have been worse. Having to give up
the claim after we've lived on it this
long, and after we've worked and
saved and improved it, amt no trifing
matter. can tell YOU"
mo, know that. Felix. It's bad
loss to us, but we must bear up against
it."
Felix shook his head doubtingly, and
drawing a coarse. soiled sleeve across
his face to wipe away the perspiration,
went on:
''It's easy to talk. lilly, but it amt
easy to bear such losses as this. Re-
member the years we've lived here.
toiling and struggling against droughts
and pests, doing every thing we could
to get home started. And now, just
when We begin to see the light, and
beginning to feel that our efforts are
going to be rewarded, here comes this
land-grabber and takes it all away
from us and turns us out in the world
with nothing. ALI gone, swept away
at one sweep"
Reckon you can't be mistaken,
Felix?"
mo; I wish / was. There's no
chance for any mistake, lilly; none in
the world. Bert Hart was telling us
at the store that the case had been de-
cided and that the settlers would have
to give up their claims or buy them
over again from the land grabber. Bert
was up to the land-office yesterday, and
so there can't be any mistake about it.
Old Joyce has got the land and we
have got nothing"
Perhaps we could buy it again"
What! After it is stolen from US,
go to work and buy it back! Never"
when will we have to leave?"
II don't know. Old Joyce's agent
will be at the Cross Roads tomorrow
to meet the settlers. and reckon we'll
find out then all about it."
For eight years the settlers in a
certain section of Kansas had labored
to improve their claims and build up
homes. confident of the titles, and
little dreaming that the day was COM
ing when another claimant would
appear to dispute their rights and
GUST them from the land.
Felix Skaggs and his wife had been
among the most Industrious and per-
severing of the pioneers. and had sue
ceeded in saving up money enough to
build them a neat house which was
almost finished when the trouble came
on them.
For long time the matter had been
In litigation, and the settlers, feeling
that they were in the right, were con-
hdent that the courts would decide in
their favor. But Bert Harris inform
alton was correct, and the next day
the people collected in at the Cross
Roads store to hear what the agent
had to say.
felix went over early and was
standing on the platform when the
agent came up. Mr.. Babcock was the
agents name. and Felix was a little
surprised when they met, for he had
expected to find the agent a cross.
sour. grabbed old fellow, whereas he
proved to be very mild, affable