The morning call., 1891-06-17
THE FORGOTTEN CLAIM
ICONCLuDED.l

West that day.
There was an extra rush of business at
Blaudy's the next week. The result was that
LvOla was on duty.
Blandv seemed uneasy. and sorted the
mail anXiOuSly whenever the Office boy
brought it in. On Thursday the expected
mlssive came. The watcher at the type
writer knew the handwriting 1t was from
HaStOn.
Hang itv' Blandy exclaimed as he read,
Il was sure l was rlght"'
He flung the open sheet on the desk and
went to a private map TO verify his claim.
Could the pretty clerk be blamed If she read
the letter lying SO temptingly near? Ii read;
DENYER (COlO9, Oct Is.
Deqr Blandy-You were mistaken about the
claim. II was already taken. but not long be-
fore. Don't know who has T.. Don't worry
about q. / was glad 10 stop over and see you.
any way. Am going 10y the Southern Pacific.
viii be oul again In March. Yours awtys,
JOE HAsTON.
The reader felt her heart give quick
little thI0b, but she did not display her emo
lions 10 her employer, who TaYed round the
Office in a QuarrelSOme mood; but finally
concluding that his friends excellent bust
ness Judgment must have found the truth of
the matter he dismissed the annoyance, and
in q few days the press OF business had
wiped out all recollection OF II, as we'll as
Of the possibilities that he once thought
Law in the wiShei-fOT claim.
March came, and with it came Joseph
Haston. His stay this time was not SO brief
as the former Que, and he found plenty of
time to talk to Lydia. he went 50 far now
as TO see her home, and upon these occasions
ingratiated himself firmly with the mother
by listening patiently TO her garrulOus tale
Of chow nice We used TO have things East"
1t was while he was in Sunda that there
came up one Of those wind-Sturms that no
State east Of the Mississippi can duplicate.
Day after day the wind came rolling uD
from the southwest, bearing upon its buck
tie dust and refuse of weedy feds until
every Creyjce IN wall or window casing was
marked by ridge OF pulveriZed sand, and
the faces of those you met were more like
jewellers in the tropics than Ike the lnhab-
itantS Of Kansas.
Tie third day Of the storm darker cloud
than usual came rolling over Sun1a. 1t was
smoke Fire to westward was sweeping its
way over the plain. In a few moments
every man in the village was at work Wet
barrels, barrels Of water, men and women
made up the motley procession vending to
the west side OF the hamlet Long burrows
we're cut through the sod and ready hands
dampened the grass aioug the edges.
None too soon! The thickening smoke
told that the enemy was az hand; then over
the crest of a buff came g dull red glow,
and IN semi-darkuesS men stood ready t.
fight the destroyer.
There was no danger here; but south of
town. along the river bottoms, tue long
the broad acres that stretched away. Men
were talking Of this wnen suddenly the
stranger who had lOiteTed that way, star
tied them by crying
Have you protected the Murrey placer"
'No, there was no time, replied 4 rough
looking man
Come on, then. some Of yOu!" and the
stranger led the way with giant strides.
AT the cottage a strange sight met their
view. a bUnded-up figure was trying to
ken rn.rl
driving q frightened team of horses at
tached TO and fro. Their efforts were vain.
for only the top Of the sod was scratched,
and the little fresh earth upturned would
offer no resistance to the sweeping fame.
You can't 10 this, Lydia, said the stran-
ger. approaching.
ION, Mr.. Hasten. must save the place;
II is all We have"
NO, no. my girl; here are plenty of will
Ing hands, and they shall save your home.
Come into the house, and he carried rather
than led the girl away.
He promised too well, however In a
moment a rough head pIoTuded through the
open door
'Yo gu had better git out er here, mister;
guess We can't stop her" he shouted.
The frantic mother ran sbrieklu to the
air, crying that everything was lost. The
sou was busy with his horses. Two pairs Of
hands we're left to save the little store of
household goods a few YaluableS and
keeDsakes were Snatchei, and with one arm
around LyOla's shoulders Joseph Haston led
her through the smoke from the already
blazing house.
so everything Is gone, Mr. Haston?"
asked IyOia, the next morning when he
called at the neghbor's house where the
despoied family had found refuge.
Yes everything except what we carried"
was the reply.
The land is there suppOseP" said the
girl half smiling.
Yes, TO bless somebody else" sneered
Blandy who had accompanied his friend.
well, we'll get some place for you, don't
worry" the landowner hurried on. 81
have to 20 back to the Office now Can't
you come up this afternoon. Miss Murrey?"
''Pll see" she said and he had gone
Yves, we'll find place for you, Lydia"
repeated Hast0n, as they walked along the
street together The wind had died away,
and an almost ethereal clearness flooded the
gTeening earth. and l want you to let me i,
ind place for you, Lydia, by my side. Be
my wife, darling"
There was soft-tinted hazs at yonder
rim of horizon, but il was not softer than
the hue that dyed the listeners cheek.
There was a Joyous meadOw-laTk hurting
forth floods of melody near by, but his song
vas not sweeter than was the reply thar
came from that same listener. But the re-
ply did not come yet. 1t did not come until
the speaker had told how his interest had
had its beginning upon his first visit. and
had deepened until 1t had brought him West
again, and had kept him here, determined
TO win the jewel he had admired, if possible
Then the answer welled up clear and strong,
and IL was yes.
So there were the usual 81 told you SOS"
There was a short waiting, quiet wedding,
and one afternoon in May a aewlY mated
pair were gazing alternately into each 9TH
er's eyes and upon the fading landscape,
through which an eastward bound Pullman
was rolling.
Il want to tell you something, joe" said
the lady, as she edged closer to her husband.
Tell me anything; it will be welcome, "
was the lover-like answer
You thought l was Door, Joe, when you
married me, did you nOt?"
Joe did not answer, aud she went on
well, AIN not quite a beggar. You know
that quarter section south OF town."
Yes"
''Its mine-that is. I've claimed it."
rs It possible" said the gentleman.
Aren't you going TO keep it?"
why, Of course; it is worth lots Of
money. l heard Mr.. Blandy say he'd give
the owner 5000 for it,"
"Why doesn't he do it, then ?"
"He doesn't know who owns it. He has
has not been to Wasturna to look at the
records"
"You should have some braking done,
Mrs Haston."
81 am going to when we get home. There
Joe?'
OF course Joe was glad. He would have
been glad II she had been talking of the con-
Jugation Of Greek verb, and he told her
this very emphatically.
1t was several years ago that these events
took place which made Joseph Haston a
married man and a landowner at one blow.
visited him al Sunda last summer. His
elegant residence stands in the midst of
his mammoth addition" TO the city. The
prophecies Of Blandy have been fulfilled
and solid blocks stand where once the
prairie fire swept at will. The old claim is
the most valuable part of the city.
After dinner, as we sat In the library.
Lydia asleep on a loung5 in the corner, Joe
told me the story of the fire ana of the Pull
man that have told you. Then he added: