The Republican., 1894-07-05
THE SQUATTER'S CLAIM.
How His Dying Child Touched the
Hearts Of Three Outlaws.

while tine tagged and jaded horses
that pulled them were urged at the
point of the lash to the greatest pos
sible speed. Efery wagon bore
party of poor hou1e-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 claim and home.
One rickety old wagon, hauled by
span of poor, bony mules, headed off
to the west late in the afternoon, and
for an hour raced straight toward
small body of timber that lined water
course. 1t was after sunset when the
timber was reached and the mules
picketed, but before it became quite
dark a 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 l picked out
for as, and l don't believe you could
find 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, l
guess. At least, don't see any signs
of any camp anywhere"
There may be some settlers along
tomorrow, though, and 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 it 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 lit
tie farther from the timber. They had
gone but 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 tire-lies down here as big as hens,
and it would take one that big to
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
well, we've got to rout him out of
there, and we'd as well do it now"
we 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
This proposition meeting with a
unanimous assent, the three men gal
1oped off toward the light.
by jix, boys" said old Jake, as they
drew near to the light, sit 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 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, land 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
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 unmistakably that of 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 as well as you did this
morning?"
mo; the ride was so rough and so
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, mammal"
Yes, Il long time. Night has just
come on"
81 wish it was light, so that could
see the country. Is it very pretty?"
Yes, darling, very beautiful"
81 am glad of that, mamma. Are
there any flowers in bloom?"
"Thc prairie is covered with them,
sweet, and when morning comes will !
bring you lots Of them When you get |
well you can gather them for yourself,
all you want"
NO, no, mamma, I shall never do |
that. Don't cry. | am very happy,
but | shall nevsr 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
i 4