The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-07-30

| around her fathers neck
But Dick Hines did not shoot. Either
he was too cowardly or he had a large
enough spark Of manhood within him not
10 FIRE at q woman.
Nancy had flung her strong young
arms around her father'sneck, and placed
herself loving screen between him and
danger.
There she stood in the little camp
6re's ruddy light before that isolated dug
out, such brave, sweet picture Of pro-
lection for her deformed father that
even Dick Hines, villain and rough char
acter though he was, was struck by it,
and wheeled his horse around as II he
would depart Immediately.
Stranger, reckon yer kin use ther
dugout ternight, but give yer warnin'
ter git offn ther claim afore tomorrer
sunset"
Eyer very kind, I'm shore" returned
Hamlet with quiet scorn, "ter low me
ther privilege o 'bidin' overnight On my
own property"
"Remember," said Hines, unheeding
the others sarcasm and putting his re-
volver in his belt, Eyer ter be ofFn this
hyer claim afore tomorrer sunset"
"Thank yer fur repeatin' It; my men,
Ory's plumb good yit," Hamlet made an
swer, in spite Of Nancys whispered warn
ing to say no more to the armed villain.
"Tve give yer ample warnin'," Hines
concluded. II don't want no trouble
with yer, but unless yer off'n ther claim
BY tomorrer night yer kin expec' ter be
waited on by q committee app'inted ter
tend ter sech cases as yer'n."
"Waal, ] Tow yer committee couldn't
wait on or better man than Adam Ham,
let" the new settler flung after Hines, as
he put spurs to his horse and rode swiftly
away in the darkness.
Next morning as they ate their break
fast Nancy said
"Pap, I'm thinkin' maybe yer'd best
quit the claim an save fussin'. Thst
Hines Is Q desp'rate man."
Eyes, low he Is, but I aim ter make
him heap more desp'rater afore quit
this hyer claim I've come 20 fur ter git,"
replied Hamlet, spreading molasses on
his cornbread, and eating his coarse fare
with keen relish,
n reckon It would be kinder hard fur
mo ter leave the claim now thet I've
been settin' such store on havin' o home
Of our own, after livin' on rented place
% long. It's mighty purity place hyer,
pap, an I'm gittin' 'tached ter livin' hyer
already" said the girl, as she gaSed
about her.
The large drygoods box which served
them as table, and at which they now
sat, was placed Just outside Of the dug
out door, and where they could com
mand an uninterrupted view OF the sur
rounding country for miles away, u
was q wild but beautiful view indeed.
Miles and miles Of trackless prairies,
clothed in richest green and rarest wild
flowers, Sloped gently away, until the
eye encountered line Of timber, firing
ing some stream in the distance. The
warm amber Of glorious sunrise bur
nished the landscape and Increased its
natural lovelinesa to Q great degree.
On some Of the little ''swells" In the
plain hooks Of cattle and ponies Of all
colon could be seen grazing on the be-
dewed grass Of early morning, while q
spiral wreath Of blue snol1e here and
there, outlined against O cloudleas slIy
and Appearing afar Of, marked the loca-
ton Of q aetn1rs cabin.
It was the Kansas Of nature, before
the settlers had turned her broad acreaI
into the fertile fields Of corn and wheat,
e the traveller 49, them today.