The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-11
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The Story of a Wait
BIZ BRET HARrE.
Copyright, 1892, by Bret Harts.
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued.


After some consideration he resolved to
seek Jim Hooker, who might be possessed
of some information respecting Susy's re-
lstions-either from the young girls own
condolences or from Jim's personal knowl-
edge Of the old frontier families. From
sense of loyalty to Susy and Mrs. Peyton
he had never alluded to the subject before
him. but since the young girls own indis-
erection had made it q matter Of common
report, however distasteful it was to his
own feelings he felt he could not plead
the sense of delicacy for her. He had
great hopes in what he had always believed
was only her exaggeration of fact as well
as feeling. And he had an instructive re-
lance on her fellow poseur's ability to de-
tect IL. A few days later. when he found
he could safely leave the rancho alone, he
rode to Fair Plains.
The floods were out along the turnpike
road, and even seemed to have increased
since his last journey. The face Of the
landscape had changed again. One of the
lower terraces had become a wild mere Of
sedge and reeds, the dry and dusty bed OF
a forgotten brook had reappeared. full
banked river, crossing the turnpike and
compelling o long detour before the trav-
the Hopkins farm and the opposite clear
ing and cabin of Jim Hooker he was quite
unprepared for o still more remarkable
transformation. The cabin--a three
roomed structure, and its cattle she'd
had entirely Disappeared There were no
traces or signs of inundationl The land
lay on a gentle activity above the farm
and secure from the effects of the food.
and part OF the plowed and cleared land
around the site of the cabin showed no
evidence of overflow on its black up
turned soil; but the house was gone!
Only a few timbers. too heavy to be re-
moved, the blighting erasions OF few
months of occupation, and the dull, black
ened area of the site itself was to be seen.
The fence alone was intact.
Clarence halted before il, perplexed and
astonished. Scarcely two weeks had
elapsed since he had last visited it and sat
beneath its roof with Jim, and already its
few ruins had taken upon themselves the
look of years of abandonment and decay.
The wild land seemed TO have thrown off
its yoke of cultivation in night. and ma
ture rioted again with all its primal forces
over the freed soil. Wild oats and mustard
were sprnging already in the broken fur
rows. and lank vines were slimily spread
ing over few scattered but still I'M
seasoned and sappy shingles. Some
battered tin cans and fragments of old
clothing looked as remote as if they had
been relics of the earliest immigration.
Clarence turned inquiringly toward the
Hopkins farm house across the road. His
arrival. however, had already been
noticed, as the door of the kitchen opened
in an anticipatory fashion and he could
see the slight figure of Phoebe Hopkins in
the doorway, backed by the overlooking
head and shoulders of her parents. The
face OF the young girl was pale and drawn
rAtx ~. xxrht nh Ma >apa
astonishment took a shade of concern:
II am looking tor Mr.. Hooker" he said
uneasily. "And / don't seem to be able
to find either him or his house."
And you don't know what's gone of
him ?" said the girl. quickly.
no. i haven't seen him for two
weeks"
"Therel told you soi' said the girl,
turning nervously to her parents. II
knew it, He hasn't seen HIM for two
weeks" Then looking almost tearfully
at Clarence's face. she said: "No more
but" said Clarence, impatiently,
something must have happened-where
Is his house?"
Taken away by them jumpers, I" inter-
rupted the old farmer, "a lot of rOughs
that pulled it down carted it off in a jiffy
before our very eyes without answerin'
civil question to me or her. But he wasn't
there-nor before-nor since"
NO." added the old woman with fash
ing eyes, ''or he'd let 'em have what thar
was in his sx-shooters."
mo, he wouldn't mother" said the girl,
impatiently. He'd changed. and was
agin ali them ideas of force and riotin'.
He was for peace and law. all the time
Why, the day before we missed him he was
tellin' me California never would toe decent
until people obeyed the laws. and the
titles were settled. And for that
reason--because he wouldn't fight
agin the law or without the
consent of the law. they've killed him, or
kidnapped him away" The girls lips
quivered, and her small brown hands
twisted the edges of her blue checked
apron. Although this new picture of
Jim's peacefulness was as astounding and
unsatisfactory as his own disappearance,
there was no doubt of the sincerity of
poor Phpb6's impression.
In vain did Clarence point out to them
that there must be some mistake; that the
trespassers - the so-called 'iumpers'-
really belonged to the same party as
Hooker, and would have no reason To dis
possess him: that in fact they were all his
(tlarence'sl tenants. In vain he assured
them OF Hooker's perfect security in pos