The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-27
The Professors" Claim.
BY WILLIAM WALLACE COOK.

Nance Williams was not beautiful, In
the ordinary sense of the word. She was
.sunburned and freckled. and her nose
had too much the suggestion of a snut
to be an ornament. But she had fine
eyes-not large, but small, expressive ano
fringed with heavy black lashes. She
was strong limbed, we'll developed and
hearty girl of twenty-five, or therea
bouts, at the time of this story, and was
known to the Skytown community as s
fearless woman, and no less peculiar than
brave.
Peculiar, indeed9 She had no relatives
that any one knew of, and was all alone
way out in that Western country, and
for woman to be alone in Dakota in
1928, and especially "holding down q
claim" ten miles from any one, presented
a spectacle of self sacrifice and daring
rarely exhibited by the gentler sex.
But Nance was equal to the emergency
If she had heart to dare, she had an
arm all-sufficient for her protection. She
could handle gun with the skill and
ease of professional ranger, and had
more than once demonstrated her superb
craftsmanship. I have seen her break
the widest of bronchos to the saddle,
and by score of similar acts proclaim
herself the mistress of the situation.
Yet, with all her masculine qualities,
she was feminine to the greatest degree
in some of the sweeter virtues of her sex.
She was ready -witted, bright and tender
hearted, and whenever she came to the
store to trade it was treat for me to
draw her out in conversation. She was
usually very reserved, but from time to
time I cleaned few facts concerning her
early life. She WAS borne in California.
There was tinge of Indian blood in her
mothers veins and her father was miner
"a ''forty- Her whole life had
been thrown in the most rugged sur
roundings, and I could not but wonder
hows he had grown up into her scatheless
womanhood. She was diamond in the
rough-I could see that and gloried in
it, but how she supported herself and
why she buried herself away out in that
lonely region afar from womankind and
civilization were mysterious to us all.
Along in the summer of 'S3 young
fellow from the East came to Skytown and
settled down among us. He was pale,
sickly looking individual, slightly built,
had blue eyes, curly yellow hair and wore
goggles. He was very refined in his Ian
guage and dress and carried himself
with such a scholarly air that he was i'm
mediately christened professor. His
father, he told me, had sent him West for
his health. He had come to Dakota with
the avowed intention of roughing it, and
wanted me to advise him the proper
method for seeing the greatest amount OF
pioneer life in the shortest possible time.
I advised him to take up claim, roll up
his sleeves and do as we Dakotans did.
He followed my advice to the letter.
introduced him to Charley Atwood and he
purchased of him the REIMBURSEMENT OF
fine quarter of ground, three miles
from town, remodeled the shack little
to suit his convenience, and started in to
experience Dakota life. In some manner
he became acquainted with Nance Will.
Jams, and they grew to become steadfast
friends. I knew their friendship was
warm, but did not dream it was so strong
as after events proved.
One night, about 8 or 9 o'clock, Nance
Williams came into the store. She did
II, hut hnr
blazed in a manner that evidenced hel
feelings. She approached me and said
in low tone:
''Td like ter speak with you, MIR. Bar
low"
She looked sideways at two or three
loafers in the store and l knew she de-
sired to see me privately. 1 was some
what surprised, but conducted her to my
little chubby hole of an office.
''What do you suppose Rice Fielding
Tom jenkins an all that gang are goin
ter do tonight"
Her voice shook with passion.
81 cannot imagine, Miss Williams,
said in tone of alarm.
"They're over at Spangler's plottin' tt
beat the Professor out o his claim!'
''You don't tell mel"
~ do, though. You see, the Pro
fesSor is out O town an that gang knows
it, so they're goin' to try an steal hi
place"
but they can't"
"They say they can. They say they'll
try an give tine tcnderfoot big scare
anyhow. Why, never heard of such al
outrage"
elbow do they intend to go to work It
get the Prof essor's claim:'
u heard EN- talkin it all over. Sal,
they'd take along keg O whisky an
move into his shack an stay there
They're goin' up tonight. They won
have any time tomorrow cause the Pro
fessor'l get back then. You know h
went to Jimtown Tuesday. Can't yo1
do somethin', Mr.. Barlow"
1.-THE law won't uphold them, Miss
She snapped her fingers.
"That for the law 1 tell you thes
fellers shan't get into the Professor
shack if I can helpit." :"
She drew herself together like an angr
Amazon and her eyes were twin Goals o
fro