The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-08-06
ers, standing in the door, read slowly
but distinctly the following letter;


To Whom Il May Concern:
By this here Presents be Il known that have
traded my claim on Deer creek. In Cherokee
CO., Kansas, to one Adam Hamlet OF Pinkney-
vile, Illlnoy, who did by mutual consent turn
over to me 10 head Of big steers for this sAid
claim.
To my old friends out there l recommend
said Adam Hamlet Is an honest citizen, and
isAAo N. PENDER.
Hines and his gang listened while
Byers read the letter, and as soon a. he
began folding 1t up they started away.
But Tom detained them q few minutes
to say: Hold on, Dick Hinesl ! want
yer to understan' thet Mr.. HGmlet's
right ter this hyer claim is genywine,
and will be supported by all the worthy
citizens o these parts. 1t won't be well
fur yer ef ketched prowlin' round Deer
creek. Now goI''
And they went.
Tom Byers fingered at the dugout
long after the sound Of the horsemen,
whom be had put to flight so effectively,
had died away upon the calm night air.
Adam Hamlet resumed his seat and
his pipe outside the dugout; Nancy
| AclAAlCu hfA4AlAbk tAO uO0A way AAAo . bAAoA-
ing, dropping wild rose under the clear
starlight; while the young ranchman,
brave as Trojan and handsome o. .
prince, stood by his pony's side, one arm
laid carelessly across the saddle.
I'm plumb glad yer rid up jest when
yer did, Mr.. Byers," Hamlet remarked.
81 was jest gittin' back frum Fort
Scott, and thought I'd ride past an see
how yer was maxim 1t, Byers explained.
~ wasn't countin' on findin' Hines an
his gang hyer. But yer seemed ter take
theF visit mighty composed like"
"Waal, it's no good gittin' dustered,
never think; besides was mixed up
in too many hot spurts with ther enemy
durin' ther late war ter b. scarf out easy
now. It's been kind o trainin' ter me
ter bristle up ter every situation Of dan.
ger thet may rise up in my path, ;" said
Hamlet, putting away placidly at his
pipe.
$50 yer was in the war jest closedT
Tom Byers asked little curiously.
"Not as q reg'lar soldier. They
wouldn't take me on count o my back,
though plead fur 'em to. But was in
ther Union army, connected with ther
commissary department, an was q nuss
in ther hospital camps on the Ohio river
fur erbout eight months. l never seen
actual service on the battlefield but once,
an thet was when he'd hand to hand
struggle with q Confederate. soldier,
tripped him up an captured thet ole
musket yonder," and he pointed with
pride to the trophy which his muscular
force had wrested from the hands Of .
foe.
Tom Byers examined the old musket
with interest, listened while Hamlet re-
lated two or three war adventures, then
mounted restive Popcorn to ride on to
his ranch.
81 don't think Dick Hines will be apt
ter bother yer any more, Mr.. Hamlet"
he said before starting. Hes er coward
an won't do yer no open hurt, an ther
fact that I've got onter his game ter get
yer off o ther claim will tend to keep
him scarce. Yer heerd what told him
erbout thet mule business? kin
tell yer more yit. Arter sellin' ther
mules ter TX he hired two O. his gang ter
run ther critters of inter Missoury an
sell 'em, when Pender was down sick
with the shalin' ager an couldn't help
himself. It's q plain case, an all I'm
watchin' fur is little more clear proof,
an I'll fx his cake fur him. He lives
over on Lightnin' creek with brother
in-law O his who amt no better'n Dick.
"But Hines amt goin' ter molest yer" |"
he said, with swift, admiring look d.
rected toward the girl, fur | aim ter
keep an eye on his cavortin's. Good
nightr and waving his hand he gal
loped rapidly away over the prairie.
Adam Hamlet began improvements on
his place at once. He broke up the sod,
which was soon planted in corn, beans.
sorghum and pumpkins Byers let him
have good milk COW and . fine little
riding pony for Nancy, while one Of the
neighbors spared them some chickens,
and Joe Dugan q pig. So the new set-
tiers had fairly started their life on the
prairies.
Adam Hamlet wished to secure o legal
title to his land on Deer creek. But some
| Of his best neighbors, who were ardent
supporters Of the "land leaguers," Just
then vastly stirred up over the dispo-
sition which congress had made Of the
Neutral Lands on which they lived, had
repeatedly requested him not to con-
tract with joys agents. Hamlet was
not in particular sympathy with the
"leaguers," being . firm believer in the
power and wisdom Of the United States
government to adjust all land disputes,
but the settlers had treated him kindly,
and he did not care to anger them. He
could wait for the excitement over the
land question to subside.
In August, when the sun scorched the
prairies with almost torrid breath, Ham
let became o victim to chills and fever,
and much Of the time was too poorly to
leave the dugout.
Added to her customary duties, Nancy
had to be her fathers nurse and look
after the stock.
One evening As darkness was fall.
ing over the hot prairie she went down
the creek to drive the COW home.
She had proceeded a half Of q mile,
and was Just crossing . wild plum
thicketyhen voices arrested her atten-
ton.
Peering through the branches she
could Just make out two men engaged
in earnest conversation. One she in
stantly recognized as Dick Hines.
CHAPTER III.