The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-07-20
THE SQUATTER'S CLAIM.
How His Dying Child Touched the
Hearts of Three Outlaws.

The day named for the formal open
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-toppcd
wagons. all moving on to the south,
while the tagged and jaded ho ses
hat pulled them were urged at the
point of the lash To the greatest pos
sible speed. Every wagon bore a
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 a home.
One rickety old wagon. hauled by a
span of poor, bony mules, headed off
To the west late in the afternoon. and
for an hour raced straight toward a
small body of timber that lined d water
course 1t was after sunset when the
timber was reached and the mules
picketed, but before it 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 80 below the wagon. and,
stopping. one of them said:
Boys, this is the spot | picked out
for US. and | don't believe you could
lind a better piece of land if 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" replied one of the
Others. If nobody amt gone and
squatted on the ground"
There's nobody on the land yet, |
guess At least. don't see any signs
of any camp anywhere"
There may be some settlers along
tomorrow. though. ami if 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? How?"
why. it would depend on whether
there was more of them than there is
of US. If we was in the majority |
reckon we'd be pretty apt to make our
claim good. If il should come to shoot
ing, | reckon we know about as well
as the next ones how To finger d pistol"
The others nodded significantly at
this, and the three men rode out lit
tie farther from the timber. They had
gone but a few steps when Jake came
To 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 firefiies down here as big as mems,
4 L.
make that sort of light"
That's SO, Jake, said Sam, thought
fully. What do YOU make it out?"
Il make it nothing more nor less
than a squatter, and he's on our land,
too, = guess.
Yes, it 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"
We'll, we've got to rout him out OF
there, and we'd as well do it now"
I'VE can't do it any too quick, and
we might as well ride over there and
start him off and take possession of
his fire. 1t will save us the trouble of
making one of our own"
! unanimous assent, the three men gal
/ loped off toward the light.
BY iix, boys." said old Jake, as they
| drew near to the light, lit might be
| 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 a shotgun. We don't want to do
| any shooting if we can help it, but if
| we can't help it, we can't, of course.
That's So" agreed Sam, and l ex-
| pect we'd better sort of slip up on him
| and not let him get any advantage of
| us"
| The men dismounted and crept softly
| forward through the grass, keeping
well in the shadow of the old wagon.
After a little while they got quite
| close. and stopping to listen distinctly
| heard low voices in the wagon engaged
| in earnest conversation. One of the
| voices. it was plain, was that of a
| woman, while the other, weak and thin,
| was Enthusiastically that of a child
How do you feel now, dearie?" the
woman asked.
Il feel very well, mother, only I'm
So tired" the child replied.
DO you feel well as you did this
morning."
| No; the ride was so rough and SC
long that it made me sore and weak.
But | don't mind that, for I'm glad we
got here and papa got a good claim. Is
it long till daylight, mamma"
Yes. i long time. Night has just
come on
Il wish it was light, SO that could
see the country. Is it very pretty
Yes, darling, very beautiful"
Il am glad of that. mamma. Are
there any flowers in bloom?"
The prairie is covered with them
sweet, and when morning comes viii
bring you lots of them. When you get
well you can gather them for yourself
all you want"
No, no, mamma, l shall never dc
that Don't cry. L am very happy
but | shall never be well any more
am glad the land is pretty, though
for it will be pleasant to you and papa
and after awhile you will have beau
tiful home. | want the morning u
come so that | may see the claim JUS
once-just once"
'.Wen, go to sleep then, pet, anc
soon the morning ,ill come. You arr
weak and tired now. but sleep and res
will help you, and tomorrow you vii
feel better"
NO. mamma. | am not sleepy now
and i want to talk Do you think thu
is as pretty as the old home in Mis-
souri," :. viii h,
,vhan we get it improved and get
neat little house and yard and garueh Il
1