The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1889-12-04
BRAVE NANCE.
How She Defended the "Profes-
sor's" Claim Against Jumpers.

sor's" Claim Against Jumpers.
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
snub to be an ornament. But she had
fine eyes-not large, but small, express
sive and fringed with heavy black
lashes. She was strong-limbed, we'll
developed and hearty girl of %, or there
abouts, at the time of this story. and
was known to the Skytown community
as fearless woman, and no less peculiar
than brave.
Peculiar, indeed She had no rela-
tives that any one knew of, and was all
alone way out in that Western country,
and for a woman to be alone in Dakota
in 1928. and especially holding down a
claim" ten miles from any one, present
ed spectacle of self-sacrifice and daring
rarely exhibited by the gentler sex.
But Nance was equal to the emer-
gency. If she had heart to dare, she
had an arm all-sufficient for her pro-
lection. She could handle a gun with
the skill and ease of a professional
ranger. and had more than once demon
strated her superb craftsmanship. 1
have seen her break the widest of bron-
chos to the saddle, and by a score of
similar acts proclaim herself the mis-
tress of her 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 into the store to trade it was
a treat for me to draw her out in con-
versation. She was usually very re-
served. but from time to time l CLEANED
a few facts concerning her early life.
She was born in California. There was
a tinge of Indian blood in her mothers
veins and her father was miner-a
''forty-niner." Her whole life had been
thrown in the most rugged surroundings,
and 1 could not but wonder how she
had grown up into her scatheless wom-
anhood. She was a diamond in the
rough could see that, and l 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 mysteries to us
all.
Along in the summer Of 'S3 a young
fellow from the East came to Skytown
and settled down among us. He was a
pale, sickly-looking individual, slightly
built, had blue eyes, curly yellow hair
and wore goggles. He was very refined
in his language and dress and carried
himself with such scholarly air that he
was Immediately christened ''Profes-
sor." 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
MIN the proper method for seeing the
greatest amount of pioneer life in the
shortest possible time. l advised him
to take up a claim, roll up his sleeves
and do as We Dakotans did. He followed
my advice to the letter. l introduced
him to Charley Atwood, and he pur-
chased of him the relinq punishment 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 Williams, and they grew to be
steadfast friends. l knew their friend
ship was warm, but did not dream it
was so strong as after events proved.
One night. about eight o'clock. Nance
Williams came into the store. She did
not show much excitement, but her eyes
blazed in manner that evidenced her
feelings. She approached me and said
in low tone:
I'D like ter speak with you, Mr.. Bar
low"
She looked sideways at two or three
loafers in the store and knew she de-
sired to see me privately. 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.
Il can not imagine, Miss Williams"
said /. in a tone of alarm.
They're over at Spangler's plotting
to beat the professor out o his claim"
''You don't tell me-"
81 do. though. You see, the professor
is out o. town an that gang knows it, so
they're goin' to try an steal his place.
But they can't.
'.They say they can. They say they'll
try an give the tenderfoot big scare.
anyway. Why, never heard o such an
outrage
.sHow dc they intend to go to work to
eet the professors claim?'