St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-01-30


to dart behind thick chump of bushe
and wait for the riders to pass.
Instead Of riding on, however, they
halted by the spring, only Il few fee
from Collie's retreat, and began talking
| Peering between the leaves of her covert
her keen eyes could dimly make out the
outlines of two men. She was not lon4
III recognizing them. They were Bill
Simmons and Jim Dawkins, men whC
were not friendly to her father.
d" like the looks of it,, returned Daw.
kins. You're sure there's coal here ? >
Eyes; I've prospected all along this
ravine, before ole Norris come out to this
kentry | tell you, Jim, for fact, the
whole place is underlaid with coal
There's fortune in it for the owner, an
the railroads comm near here, an will
make easy transportation" assured Sim
mons.
"Does ole Norris know there's coal or
his claim"
Don't think he does You know he
been sick most of the time since he come
into the kentry. an he hain't had much
time to look around
"No, he hain't been here long. But
how do you propose gittin' the clam
away from him." asked Dawkins.
Contract ahead of him.
"Hain't he contracted for the claim
YETI"
mo"
care you sure, Bill?"
'I've been watching the land office
purity clost, an | know Norris hain't got
a contract yet for this land"
"Why don't you contract for the
claim yourself, without askin' my help:'
asked Dawkins little suspiciously.
"Simply because | hain't got money
enough to pay for gittin' the contract, -
replied Simmons. Il have bout half
enough, | reckon. But you have plenty
of spondulix, Jim, an kin help me if you
will. We kin ride over to Fort Scott an
git contract writ out for this claim be-
fore ole Norris kin help himself. He's
down with the shakin' ager, his little gal
says, so we have the best chance in the
world"
"How soon can you be ready to start
IoI OcOtI 10 gu tHe conLfdcl' L want TO
start to Missouri Tomorrow.
"I'll tell you wot we kin do Well
start to Scott before sunrise, git the agent
to attend to our business early. then you
kin go right on to Missoury. I'll ride
back to the ThunderboIt an muster up a
gang to help me set ole Norris off of the
claim
The very thing, Bill I'm with you an
will furnish you all the money you
need
They rode away in the darkness, leav-
ing Callie alone by the spring to think
over all she had heard.
"He shan't get papas claim.' she
cried her eyes flashing rcsolutelv, as
she returned to the dugout. ''Papa's
been going to see the agent about the con-
tract twice, and both times he has been
taken sick. It's too bad."
On reaching the dugout she found her
father awake, so she told him about the
which she had overheard be-
tween Simmons and Dawkins.
$50 this is valuable coal claim, is it,
and Simmons has been prospecting on
it?' Norris repeated. when Callie had
finished. "That accounts for Bill Sim
mons great efforts to scare me off the
land. And he and Jim Dawkins are GO
ing to take advantage of my sickness
and contract under me, are they? Early
tomorrow morning. Why, we have no
chance at all, Callie. They will get the
claim from us in spite of all we can do, -
ne said, despondentIy.
''No they won't, Papa, There's q
chance yet" cried Callie, springing to
her feet.
II know, if | was able to ride ahead
If them to the land Office" said Norris,
with a groan. But | am too weak to
sravel that far if the prize was the whole
IT Kansas. We'll have to let the villains
nave it, Callic. A sick man can't fight
lis enemies
But we won't let them have it, Papa
can ride Dolly to the land office and tell
he agent about it"
at is too long a ride for you, my
;hild,' said the sick man. "Besides, my
presence would be necessary to secure
he contract; then | haven't money
,nough to pay down. There's only $3.50
under that rock.
"I'll tell you, papa" she cried, eager
V. Let me take that to the land agent,
ell him the story, and maybe he'll keep
he claim for us till you can pay the rest. !
% let me try, papa. 1t will do no harm, !
md | may save your claim. | can start
N Dolly long before daylight and beat
Bill Simmons and Jim Dawkins to Fort
scott. You must let me go, Papa"
She was only Il little girl, and it was
fifteen miles to the land office. 1t seemed
difficult, fruitless undertaking for her
o try to outwit two bold, reckless men. |
Who were so obstinatclv bent on getting
he claim away from them.
Callie went over the situation very
arefully with her father. At last, see
ng how determined she was on trying to |
ave the claim, he gave reluctant CON
ent to her going.
She began making preparations for her
which were soon completed. |
hen seating herself by her fathers
ouch she listened very attentiveIy to his
The moon came up soon after mid
light. Its light would relieve her long,
onesome ride
Taking the $3.50 from beneath large,
at rock by her fathers bed, she con-
called it in the bosom of her dress. Then
issing her father, and bidding him not
'orry about her, she left the dugout and
lounted Dolly, who stood bridled and
added, waiting to carry her young mis-
ress on her mission.
She started across the prairie at brisk
'ot. The moon shed deep, golden
ght over the August parched grass, and
hased away the dark shadows down the
'nely hollows that yawned across her
ath. Her horse startled the birds asleep
l the grass, and sent them fitting wildly
way in the night.
She starfpd narvousi1 whom Dol1,,