The diamond drill., 1894-09-29
THE SQUATTER'S CLAIM.
How His Dying Child Touched the
Hearts of Three Outlaws.


ing of the Oklahoma territory came
around at last, and at noon the grand
influx began. The broad, wild prairie
was at once dotted with white-topped
wagons, all moving on to the south,
while the tagged and jaded horses
that pulled them were urged at the
point of the lash TO the greatest pos
sible speed Every wagon bore
party of poor home-seekers. who for
months had waited for this day. and
who now joined in the grand race for
the new land OF promise, intent on
getting a claim and home.
One rickety old wagon, hauled by
span OF poor, bony mules, headed off
20 the west late in the afternoon, and
for an hour raced straight toward a
small body OF timber that lined "A water
course. II was after sunset when the
timber was reached and the mules
picketed, but before il became quite
dark fire had been started and
scanty supper prepared.
Shortly after dark three horsemen,
heavily armed, rode out OF the timber
mile or SO below the wagon. and,
stopping, one OF them said:
Boys, this Is the spot / picked out
for us, and don't believe you could
find better piece OF land II you were
TO search the country over. There are
just six claims here-just enough for
us and the three men who are coming
with the wagon, and so guess we are
fixed about right"
Guess we are,n replied one Of the
others, "if nobody amt gone and
squatted on the ground"
There's nobody on the land yet, 1
guess. At least, don't see any signs
OF any camp anywhere"
There may be some settlers along
tomorrow, though. and IL they should
beat our wagon here they'd have the
heels of us"
Maybe they would, Sam, and maybe
they wouldn't That would sort of de-
! pend, you know"
depend? How2"
"Why IL would depend on whether
there was more OF them than there Is
of us. If we was in the majority l
reckon we'd be pretty apt to make our
claim good. II IL should come To shoot
ing, reckon we know about as well
as the next ones how to finger pistol"
The others nodded significantly at
this and the three men rode out IA lit
tie farther from the timber They had
gone but few steps when Jake came
TO a short stop, and pointing away to
| the south, said:
Boys, see that"
what Is it?" Sam asked.
''See that light up the creek What
do you make Of it?"
"A FREELY reckon" )" replied Sam.
"A freely nothing. Guess they don't
have flre-fies down here as big as hens,
and IL would take one that big to
make that sort OF light"
That's SO, Jake" said Sam, thought
fully. What do you make IL out?"
II make IL nothing more nor less
than n squatter, and he's on our land,
too, guess"
Eyes, IL must be a squatter, and OF
course he's on our land. The blamed
rascal has got cheek for you, sure"
"Yes, he's got cheek. But what are
we going TO do about him? That's the
question now"
"Well, we've got to rout him out. of
1--WE can't do IL any too quick, and
we might as well ride over there and
start him off and take possession OF
his fire. II will save us the trouble of
making one OF our own"
This proposition meeting with a
unanimous assent, the three men gal
loped off toward the light.
"By fix, boysl" said old Jake, as they
drew near 10 the light. lit might be a
good idea TO be prepared for business.
That squatter might not take kindly
TO us, and like as not he'll open on us
with shotgun. We don't want To do
any shooting IL we can help IL, but II
we can't help IL, we can't, of course"
That's So" agreed Sam. "and ex-
pect we'd better sort of slip up on him
and not let him get any advantage of
u.s."
The men dismounted and crept softly
forward through the grass, keeping
we'll in the shadow OF the old wagon.
After a little while they got quite
close. and stopping 10 listen, distinctly
heard low voices In the wagon engaged
in earnest conversation. One OF the
NOAttHf ~ NhH HtAAht Nof hAhN " ~
woman, while the other, weak and thin,
was Enthusiastically that of child.
"How do you feel now, dearie9" the
woman asked.
II feel very we'll. mother, only I'm
SO tired" the child replied.
"Do you feel AS well as you did this
morning?"
"No; tho ride was so rough and so
long that II made me sore and weak.
But don't mind that, for I'm glad we
got Mere and papa got good claim. Is
II long till daylight, mammn?"
"Yes. q long time. Night has Just
come on"
IL wish II was light, so that could
see the country. Is II very pretty2"
Yes, darling, very beautiful"
II am glad OF that. mamma. Are
there any flowers In bloom?'
"The prairie Is covered with them,
/ aweet md when morning comea 1 will