The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-05

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49, 49,
NANCY HAD FLUNG HER STRONG YOUNG
ARMS AROUND HER FATHERS NECK.
But Dick Hines did not shoot. Either
he was too towardly or he had a large
enough spark Of manhood within him not
to ere 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
fires ruddy light before that isolated dug
out, such brave, sweet picture of pro-
lection for her deformod father that
even Dick Hines, villain and rough char
acter though he was, was struck by it,
and wheeled his horse around as if he
would depar6.fmmediately.
Stranger, reckon yer kin use ther
dugout ternight, but T give yer warnin'
ter git of'n Their claim afore tomorrer
sunset
Eyer very kind, Tn shore" returned
Hamlet with quiet scorn, "ter low me
Their 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 of7n this
hyer claim afore tomorrer sunset"
Thank yer fur repeatin' it; my MEM
ory's plumb good yit, Hamlet made an
swer, in spite of Nancy's whispered warn
ing to say no more to the armed villain.
eve give yer ample warnin'," Hines
concluded. 81 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 committee appointed ter
tend ter sech cases as yer'n."
"Waal, I low yer committee couldn't
wait on er 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 thinlziR' maybe yer'd best
quit the claim an save fussin'. Thet
Hines is q desperate man"
Eyes, low he is, but aim ter make
him heap more desprater afore l quit
this hyer claim I've come so fur ter git, y
replied Hamlet, spreading molasses on
his cornbread, and eating his coarse fare
with keen relish.
81 reckon it would be kinder hard fur
me ter leave the claim now tibet I've
been settin' such store on havin' home
of our own, after Twin on a rented place
SO long. It's mighty purity place hyer,
pap, an I'm gittin' 'tached ter Twin hyel
already" said the girl, as she gazed
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 Aere they could com
mand an uninterrupted view Of the sur.
rounding country for miles away. II
was 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 a glorious sunrise bur.
nished the landscape and increased its
natural loveliness to great degree.
On some of the little 'swells' in the
plain focks of cattle and ponies of all
colors could be seen grazing on the be
dewed grass of early morning, while q
spiral wreath Of blue smoke here and
there, outlined against eloudless sky
and appearing afar off, marked the loca-
ton Of settlers cabin.
1t was the Kansas of nature, before
the settlers had turned her broad acre:
into the fertile fields of corn and wheat
as the traveller sees them today.
Amt 1t purity, papf asked the gtra
too deeply lost IN admiration of the scene
to eat.
'.Too purity ter be scarf from by allow
down critter like that snealin Hines,
answered Hamlet, finishing his coffee
and rising from the table
s'No, Nancy" he said, after a pause
81 think you an me an our traps will
'Dide hyer at the dugout q spell spite 0
that varInlnt's threats. His talks toe
thin fur me ter swaller.. he just aims
ter scar me off Their claim, but he'll bt
plumb disappointed, I low. Nancy, yel
kin jest go erhead an fix up ther dugoui
ter suit yerseif, while / hammer up some
kind O brush shed fur tho beasts. Vel
not spare Their time ter ask Hines eff he'l
willin'."
So saying, Adam Hamlet took spade
and ak and walked short distance dowr
o wide rayine, where he found load Of
poles and heavier timber which TX Pen
der had cut and hauled from the woods
but had not used. With this timber he
began the construction of rude shed
which would servo as a shelter for the
animals when it sformed.
While Hamlet worked away on hi,
shed down the hollow Nancy was moi