Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-12-04
JENNIE'S COMPLIANT.
He Alters Her Opinion of "Mr
Babcock, the Agent"

AS he came swinging up the path
that led across the prairie from the
Cross Roads store, Felix Stages pre-
scented 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
while the evening breeze came up laden
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 a
trembling tone asked:
HAS it gone against you, Felixw
YES" he replied, "it has"
Felix threw his slouched hat down
on the ground, and dropping himself
on the door step, gave a deep drawn
sigh and sat for several minutes with
his face buried in his hands.
1t 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 overit. It's great misfortune
to us, but it might have been worse,
now mightn't itp"
Il don't know how it could we'll
haua haay mrrea uauino 20 rix,a 49,,
the claim after we've lived on it this
long, and after we've worked and
saved and improved 1t, amt no trihing
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 coarse, soiled sleeve across
his face to wipe away the Precipitation,
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. All gone, swept away
at one sweep"
Reckon you can't be mistaken,
FelixP"
mo; l wish l 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 1t again"
What! After it is stolen from us,
60 to work and buy it back! Never"
when will we have to leavep"
II don't know. Old Joyce's agent
will be at the Cross Roads to- morrow
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-
severfng of the pioneers. and had sue
oeeded 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 we're in the right, were con.
fident that the courts would dec de In
their favor. But Bert Harris inform.
alton was correct, and the next day
the people collected in at the Gross
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 hat
expected to find the agent cross
sour, Grabbed old fellow, whereas h,
proved to be q very mild. affablt
gentleman, quite willing to give in
formation on any point connected with
his business.
Nov. gentlemen" he said, address
ing the crowd, collectively, II have
but this one proposition to make. i
you wish TO retain your claims YOU
can do so by paying me FIVE dollars
per acre. and the terms can be ar
ranged so as TO give you ample time
TO pay out"
but II we don't wish to buy tn,
land from you after we've owned 4
and improved It. then whatP" Har
asked.
ssIf Won don't Wiah 10 buv H. o.