The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-07-05

coming fast and hard, the long wet
grass swirling about her little bare
feet and ankles. Thoughts Of wild
animals that might DO lurking In her
path filled her with a sickening fear
but she must not turn back-the face
Of her sick father rose before her and
urged her on.
Every bush or shadow was construed
into fcrocious animal; and the sud
den croaking Of frog filled her with
a nameless terror.
Presently the road grew dim and
indistinct-she had travelled for miles
how far she could not tell; but she
was growing tired and weak, and her
steps came slow and laborious.
''Oh. its so far, so far" she cried.
her breath coming fast 'Oh. papa
papa
She altered low scream OF terror
and half turned from the path; but It
was only night bird that flew within
IA foot Of her with ''whish' OF rapid
wings. and disappeared in the dark
ness.
The great stars rose higher and
higher in the purple sky; faint,
ashy light stole up the eastern hori-
zon. and the sound OF waking birds
came from the patches OF sumachs
Still the heroic child hurried on as
| fast as her wearied and aching limbs
could carry her. her face pale with
| pain and fatigue, her feet and ankles
| bleeding from coming in contact with
| the ''saw-briars' that overhung the
path.
She had struggled YEARLY to the top
| OF d little hill. when suddenly dark
mass OF moving forms broke on her
vision. She startcd-uttered a low,
aconizcd cry, then turned half around,
and sank down senseless heap IN the
damp grass.
| A band OF twenty mounted and armed
men were riding along the dim road
in the direction OF Amos Lees cabin.
..Jim," said Bill Strong. the leader
OF the party. addressing one OF thu
men that rode BY his side, Il reckon
ole Lee'll wish he'd obcyed the in
functions NV the League when h
sees us comm"
Guess he won't have much tim'
ter wish after we git thar was tn
answer.
That's my unanimous opinion.
reckon it's hang this time. amt 1t
Bin?'
you bet. and the speaker shook
rope that dangled significantly from
the horn Of his saddle
| II was during those terrible days II
the history OF Southeastern Kansas
when the local warfare was carried o.
by the Union League against al
settlers who contracted with the rail
: road company for the claims they ha
settled upon. A large tract OF land
, covering nearly three counties. ha
+. been granted to the Gulf Railroa
Company. and in order 10 compel tn
company TO sell the land 70 settlers a
the regular government price, tn
, Union League" was organized
The first action OF the League
was to notify all settlers not to con
tract with the railroad company 70
! their claims. and when a squatter re
fused 10 obey this order, he wa
dealt with in the most summary man
/ ner.
A month previous to the time OF tn
! opening OF this story. Amos Leo ha
settled on claim about three mile
/ from the old ",nilitary road" an
! erected rude board shanty. A wee
/ afterw ards his wife died and left hil
alone in his desolate prairie home, wit
= only his little ten year old daughter
: | Annie. tokeep him company and shar
4 his sorrow.
) He then resolved to return to Nil
souri,; but first he contracted with III
railroad company for his claim, NAL
ing a payment on the same.
This fact becoming known to I'll
Q 'League," he was at once notified
/ leave his claim within forty EIGHT hour
: or suffer the consequences. But III
next day Amos Lee had been stricke
$ down with typhoid fever. and the r,
port reaching the League that he ha
9 failed to comply with their orders.
band Of armed men was at once di
d patched to the settlers cabin. with il
k structions TO make an example I
}. him.
n Hits about time" continued Bi
r Strong. "fer this yer League ter ste
d warnin' an orderin an 60 ter ham
D. in, an see II that won't have the NOR
effect NV stoppin' these fellers th'
. contract with the land comp'ny; b.
" blamed II some people ever larn an
% thing till rope il round their necks-
The leaders horse swerved violent
10 to one sidc. then came to a suddde
70 halt. uttering a peculiar snort.
et Bill Strong turned his gaze towaI
P, the path ahead, and saw the limp ii
ure OF child lying In the damp gras
Y. almost under the horses feet. He quie
h ly dismounted, and still holding Il
le rein OF his refractory animal, advancs
i q -