The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-07
FRANKS MISTAKE.

eral merchandise, at q small frontier point
in Kansas. They were cousins and young
men IN their twenties; both moderately
well to do and both quite handsome.
Before coming TO Kansas Frank and
Zeke had met a young lady who was at
tending school in their home town il Ohio
The young lady's name was Grayson, and
as she was both beautiful and accom-
plished the young men fell desperately in
love with her. For several weeks theJ
each paid attentions to her, and though
she treated them both kindly it soon be
came apparent that she had decided pref
erence for Frank.
Then the young men came west with
their small capital and started themselves
in business, and during the year their store
had been in existence they had done we'll
One night after the trade was over and
the customers had gone away Frank said:
i received some welcome news today"
What is it!" Zeke asked.
IL have letter from certain little girl
you know who-and she says she is COM
ing out to this part of the country to live"
What" Zeke exclaimed. Miss Gray
son coming here?"
ter" Frank replied .'Says her father is
somewhere in this section now looking uo
a claim, and as soon as he gets located and
puts up house she and the balance of the
family will come to him. So suppose
they'll be here against fall"
There was sad, troubled look in Zeke's
face, and for a little while he gazed silent
ly at the floor 1t was plain the subject
or nj 70 ,-,1
sore spot in his heart had been touched
But finally he spoke in quiet, steady
voice. saying:
THAT Is welcome news to you, Frank,
surely, and congratulate you"
Il think | have reason to be congratu-
lated, Zeke," said Frank. alice is a
woman TO be proud of, and / know she
loves me-"
Yes, | think she does" replied Zeke.
Pm certain of it. Has she--ever''-
Ever what?" Frank questioned, seeing
that Zeke was not going on.
Ever promised to marry you"
Moo, not exactly" Frank admitted;
''but Pm sure it's all right ! don't think
she would come out here but for that"
Perhaps not" said Zeke. you will
help her father to get claim, of course"
y, L
But, aside from the river claim down
there, | can't figure out anything worth
having right near this. The good land is
ell taken up except that one piece, and
want that myself"
But you have no right to it, Frank, and
you can't hold it if some settler disputes
the matter with you"
Il know that, but I've held it year by
u. I'LL -
way"
well, you wouldn't attempt to bluff
Miss Grayson's father, would your"
81 don't know. I'd like to accommodate
him for her sake. but I'd rather keep that
claim for her and myself"
Just at that moment the clatter of
horses feet was heard without and little
later a man rode up to the store and dis
mounted. He was settler from the river
district.
Why, Ike" said zelle, you're out late
tonight"
Yes" said the settler, rather late.
But came after the Doctor"
who's sick?" Frank asked.
81 don't know the man. He's a stranger
who squatted on the river claim today. |
was up the river this afternoon, and riding
back across the claim | saw covered
wagon over by the timber, So / went
down that way to see what it meant, and
when | got there | found a man in the
wagon down with malaria. He seemed TO
be in a bad fix, and l thought he ought to
have Il doctor"
The doctor had gone out in the country,
but within a half hour he returned, and
Immediately he and Ike set off to visit the
squatter.
Now, that beats the nation" Frank
said as soon as they were gone. Il wonder
who the old chap is that's had the gall to
squat on my claim
Il don't know" said Zeke. II wonder if
he's needy"
'Ah, | suppose he is" replied Frank
coldly. Those squatters are nearly al
ways sick and needy"
II suspect we should have gone down
there with Ike and the doctor to see if there
wasn't something we could do for the
man" Zeke said. Like as not he is out
of provisions"
We'll, let him be out" said Frank. at
isn't my business to trot around feeding
men who jump my claim. I'm going down
there tomorrow, but I'm not going to in
uuire about his health. I'm going to give
him orders TO move on rs soon as he is able
to drive.
Il wouldn't do il, Frank. 1t isn't right.
You have no title 70 the claim, and IL that
man wants TO enter 1t he has a right to do
So"
"Oh, so far as the law is concerned he
has a right 70 it. of course. But I've Sc
lected that claim and propose to have it,"
do you think Alice Gayson would in
dorse such an act as you propose, Frank"
why wouldn't she,"
Suppose her father was similarly stu
ated ard some one drove him of. Do you
think she would be pleasedt"
Moo, | suppose not. But that's diff
ferent thing"
Not a bit Of H. It's just the same thing,
only it would oe a different OK that was
gored. think Miss Grayson is q coDscien-
tious woman a2d she would not approve c:
ANYTHING unfair DO matter VINO was tie
loser or who the gamer"
ooh. | don't think Alice GTayson has
such high flown notions Of honesty as yoa
have. You're too con-cieutj ous for an
every day business man, and you ought 20
be a deacon or q Sunday school teacher.
Every time y0u hear Ct anybody being sick
or IN need you want 20 ID OF 20 help aim
ZeAe made 10 reply 70 this accusation.
but with 4 shrug OF his shoulders tGrpo1
and walked out q the store. Frank sOon
followed, closing and locking the dooE alter
him.
The next morning the doctor came 20 ths
store soon after l. was opened, and finding
Frank ard Zcke both there lie said
NY sQuatier patient down the r1ver =
in hard straits, and anless Re has Atfte
assistance fo- few days II sira..4 re VII
hardly get along
T. 8 -,