Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-01-22
BESSIE.
The Boomers Couldn't GO Back
on Her Decision.

ly before the door of the little wedge
tent.
Boys" he exclaimed, addressing
the occupants, chars a man on Bill
Stokes claim"
what is he dom thar" asked Bill
Stokes, emerging from the tent and
straining his eyes across the prairie
"Doin'P He amt dom nothin' only
stayin' thar"
"Wall, he won't be dom that long"
That's jist what | told him."
what did he sayP'
Say! Said he reckoned we'd give
him q reasonable length Of time ter git
off, an told him we wasn't goin' ter
be hard on him, and asked him when
IL would suit him to move"
"Wall, what did he sayP"
ale said about five years would be
long enough-unless we could git him
o deed in q shorter time"
The impudent dog!" roared Bill
Stokes. "Pll give him ter understand
that he can't give me no back talk"
Hold on, Bill" exclaimed Joe Box
ley. Il reckon he'll come ter time
when he sees we mean business they
allus do"
Eyes" answered Bill. 'but hits jist
q case of one man, an I'm goin' ter call
on him alone an settle the matter"
He was moving towards his home
when Ike Jones stopped him.
"Thar's no use of that, Bill" said he.
"The case must be reported ter the
leader, an the thing investigated. l
told the squatter we didn't allow any
outsiders ter settle in these parts, an
il he didn't want ter form IA pardner-
ship with tree an n rope, he'd better
pull out before sunrise tomorrow.
"All right" answered Bill Stokes
I'm willin' ter leave it to the league"
The first thing ter be done now"
said Ike. lis fer us ter go over an no
tify the other members"
A few moments thereafter Ike Jones.
Bill Stokes and Joe Boxley separated
and rode in different directions across
the prairie TO circulate the news that
some one was on one of the Boomers
claims
The Boomers were an organized col
ony OF settlers in Oklahoma, the object
OF the organization being to aid its
members in securing claims, and to
prevent outsiders from settling in their
midst.
4
err S claim. it did not matter whether
he had settled there first or not, he was
notified to leave the claim. and IL the
squatter refused to do so, force was
used. The Boomers being we'll organ
lied, they usually carried their point
1t was on the 22d of April that the
great rush was made into Oklahoma,
and as nearly thirty thousand homo
seekers entered at the same hour, 1t is
not surprising that in many cases two
or three would settle on the same claim
at the same time.
just at twelve o'clock on the 22d of
April, Amos Biggs had crossed the
Canadian river. thirty miles above
Purcell, and entered Oklahoma with
about two thousand other eager set
tiers. For nearly three hours he urged
his mules at a gallop, till at last arriv-
ing at beautiful little valley, watered
by n small stream, he stopped his pant
ing team and concluded to take claim
there, as it seemed to be the best place
he had seen since entering Oklahoma.
Meantime colony of Boomers had az
rived in the vicinity and taken up near
ly all the land for two or three miles
around. Scarcely an hour after taking
possession OF his claim, Amos Biggs
had encountered one OF the Boomers,
who had notified him to leave. 1t was
near sunset A balmy spring wind was
blowing through the tender grasses
and rocking the tops OF the sumacs to
and fro, and stealing through the
branches OF the jack oaks with a low,
musical sound A white-breasted bee
martin, perched upon the top OF a wild
indigo weed, poured forth his harsh re-
frain in q high key, while the sweet
perfume OF the wild-Howers was mingled
with the moro familiar odors of frying
bacon and boiling coffee.
Amos Biggs stood near a covered
wagon, at the rear end OF which two
mules were eating their evening meal
OF corn out OF the feedbox. He was
holding smoking frying-pan over a
blaze, while near by q little girl be-
tween ton and eleven years of age was
busily engaged in arranging some tin
cups and plates on pine box. She
was beautiful child, with cloud of
sunny hair falling about her shoulders
hair that seemed to have borrowed
its gold from the sunlight on tho ripen-
ing wheat-and eyes like the great vio-
let that grew in the deep shadows OF
the woods.
There. dear" said the father, setting
the pan down near the improvised table.
and putting his hand to his forehead;
ell don't feel we'll. You can eat your
supper. cant cat any thing just now.
Bessie"
"Papa-oh, papa" exclaimed the
child. 'T'm so sorry you are sick, "and
she put her arms about him. and turn
ed her large. lovely eyes up to his:
Cant help you In some way, papap"
mo. dn,ling," he answered. cold
SILVER passing over his frame. "l'll
be bette soon
And no turned aud approached the