Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-07-07
CHAPTER vi.
CHICKASAw JOHN,

One OF Its veteran members was Chlcka-
saw John, an old companion Of Captain
Payne's, and who had been an Oklahoma
boomer so long that his surname and his
antecedents. as q once prosperous Illinois
farmer. had quite receded into the shift
ing realms Of border tradition. OF all |
his former possessions he retained only |
lean wife, leaner pair Of mules, a d. |
lapidated wagon and an undiminished |
yearning for forbidden lands.
From long contention with govern
ment red tape and the WEAKNESS of hopes !
deferred he had acquired an irritably
expectant air, rs of uncertainty grown
morbid and restless in the light of rights
denied. Add to this a parched, dusty
aspect, that brooded over man and beast
alike as if dry winds. red dust and scant
provisioning were shriveling their bodies
as well as hopes, and you have Chickasaw
John somewhat as he looked in these
evil days.
Ever hammering at one idea, he had
hammered it into Burl's convictions, I'M
til that individual had also come to rec
ognize but two objects as worthy of his
entire ambition here below-Arizony for
q wife and enough of good Indian land
to make them comfortable when good
Indian lands should have passed to their
proper owners, the white man.
Hence the festive trips over the border
by night on the part of Yates. Chickasaw
John and other kindred spirits. to whom
the delays Of government and the re-
straints imposed by the military were
the crying evil Of the times.
As months passed on and the petition
ing and lobbying at Washington seemed
to involve only a necessity for the con-
tinuance Of these pleasing but often I'M
satisfactory privileges of free people
the wrath and hatred Of the actual
boomers increased. Hard times grew
space in their camps. Many abandoned
the cause and returned home in various
stages Of impoverishment and ruin. 9th
ers. not less distressed, remained to curse
and to endure, intensifying still more
their bitterness against the soldiers, who
were the only near by and tangible rep
resentatives Of official outrage and delay.
II tell ye," exclaimed Chickasaw John
before congenial audience at his camp
Gre one night, "a government soldier is a
cover ment slave. He's only fittin for
an American citizen to wipe his feet on.
hain't goin to put up with 'em much
longer. Look at me, Burl Yates! You
never had much to lose, and it's bad
enough on you, outlook at mel"
Truly, except as n ragged. rusty epit-
ONE Of disappointment. he was not much
to look at now.
What did have five years ago down
In southern IllinoyT he continued. 1.-TWO
hundred acres Of as black bottom land
as ever you stuck q pillow into, no end Of
mules, cattle. hogs, a good home and
over 300 in the bank. What have got
now?" He grated his teeth savagely as
the sad difference smote upon his con-
seriousness. What have these Internal
red plains. and these internal red Injuns,
and that internal red tape government
swallered up of mine? They've gobbled
it all, every id bit Of it-land, stock,
house, money, aye. and even my two
children" He jerked his thumb toward
red knob. where his auditors knew
that two bleak little graves were kept
bare by the prairie winds. Il tell you,
boys, when we have to slip over the line
by night like thieves and stake out and
crawl and hide. and oil long Of these
bluecoats as lives on the COVER ment and
stands twixt US and our rights, while
our families starve-it just about makes
man ready for war, murder. any thing.
Sometimes don't keer much which 1t is
either"
These sentiments met with the usual
approval. Burl swore Nhat he would
rather fight a soldier than eat any time.
The general opinion was that something
ought to be done. and that soon. though
no one seemed to know exactly what.
Something severe and decisive. however;
endurance was getting to be much too
tame. Besides. it was useless it did no
good whatever, except to their enemies
vaguely typified by all in authority.
There's Arizony now" said Chicka-
saw John, nodding at the girl who, with
her eye upon him and her hand upon
Burl's arm. had alone given no sign OF
assent to these varied sanguinary senti-
ments. Look what she has put mp
with. What little money she brought
here all gone and more besides, as she
got from Texas through her mother.
Hasn't she hid out. and lodged. and
slipped around. and been drug back
here-and all for what. gentlemen
Chickasaw John glarcd upon his audi
tors as IL he felt sure they had the an.
swer somewhere and was determined to
drag it out Of them. willy nilly. But
apparently abandoning the idea in sheer
disgust, he snapped his fingers disdain.
fully.
why argy the thingl Hits too plain;
that's what 1t is. II was her and Burl,
I'd marry, and I'd kill soldier or two
stead Of havin dinner. Then I'd take
. weddin trip to wsshin'ton and give
the president my blessin."
This luridly satirical conception OF
Affairs 30 tickled Chickasaw Johns fancy
that wintry smile chased itself over his
haggard face. Burl, Tightening Arizo.
ny's arm within his own, laughed aloud.
MY sentiments to T." no whispered
TO her. you must marry me, Arizony,
II don't get no land. must have you
sure"
His manner was more insistent than
loving. She drew little from him. but
as her eye caught his compelling, down
ward glance she seemed to shrink rather
thnn nestle against him and sighed in n
way that expressed resignation rather
than Willingness. He pulled her aside,
and while the stream of complaint and
vituperation against the powers that be
brawled on he unfolded new plan he
had conceived Burl was ever conceiv-
ing new plans. the usual futility Of
which apparently acted upon him only
a. further stiinulant to his inventive
restlessness
aie ana Chickasaw John" said he.
ARE going to take another look at our
claims. Most VI the soldiers are now
over about the Cherokee strip. and we
won't be apt to he bothered. When We
get back. Arizony. you and must mar
ry. No, you shant object. Times arg