The Van Buren press., 1895-02-09

Bcrupuloue. Iurptto elueet sOus
bcardlcss youth whom no one believed
to be more than eighteen. fled on the
prospective claim Of ono Of my neigh
bors, making oath before the register
that he was over twenty-one years OF
age In order to do SO. A few weeks
later Hans and saw old man Turpi!
t,amping over our homesteads. We
went out to see what he was doing
but he hurried of when he saw us
coming in a way that aroused our sus
picions.
l went hunting prairie chickens next
day, and came across the Turpit boys
hauling hay. In the course Of ouf
conversation one OF them said they
were going out for big hunt in q
week or so, when two Of their cousins
came out from Missouri. That made IL
pretty plain to Hans and what the
old man had been viewing our intend
ed claims for, and we watched the
stage as 1t passed our places each aft
ernoon with much anxiety. A week
later the stage stopped near Turpit's
place to leave two passengers. That
very evening, just at dusk, we saw
Turpit with two young fellows walk
ing along the river, evidently taking a
look at our homestcads-
That settled it with us. We could
file tree claims at any time and hold
the land In spite Of them, and we
meant to start for the land office, sixty
miles away, the next day for that pur-
pose l was to stay at Hans cabin
that night for his team was heavy and
slow and we would need to start very
early II we reached the land Office In
time to Ale our claims. The rumble OF
q passing vehicle startled It's as we
were eating supper, and, hurrying to
the door, to our CONSERVATION, we saw
Turpit's spring wagon with three men
in 1t going at lively pace toward the
land office.
"Shiminy crackyl" gasped Hans,
''dey is after dat liant, sure as you're
born't! Dey'll beat us dcre, too!'
BEAT us! l guess they will" l
echoed in dismay. Your old nags
could not begin to keep up with Tnr-
pits, let alone overtaking them," and
we went back to finish our supper in
anything but contented frame of
mind. There was no use In hitching
up and starting then, as Hans sng-
gested. Turpit's team was as last
again as ours, and we berated the old
rascal soundly while we finished our
meal in gloomy discussion Of the SUBJ
ject. Then an idea popped 80 suddenly
into my head that 1 sent half the
dishes rolling on the floor as l sprang
up, slapped the astonished Hans on his
broad back and danced about his bach
elor cabin.
i've got it, Hansl" ! shouted
Got it? Iguess you haf, and got it
bad, too. Wy, you yump rount like
crazy. What ails youp" said Hans.
Without waiting to explain cl apped
on my hat and rushed over to my
cabin. Quickly donning my wheeling
costume stuffed lunch of bread and
beef in my jacket pocket and, mount
ing my wheel, whirled off down the
stage road. Hans was out to meet me
in front of his place, as l knew he
would bc. He fairly screamed with
delight when he saw me coming.
"Dat bicyclesl Shiminy cracky! nef-
fer fought off dat! You haf beat Tur-
pit vonce, you can do it again and safe
your claim yoost like n mice!' ex-
claimed the generous-hearted fellow.
"Yes, and yours, tool l called out
MS slowed up. Glitch up quick and
come on, Hans I'll have 1t all fixed
when you got there" Hans stared at
me rs though sure l was crazy now,
but saw him hurrying toward his
stable as l rolled away.
Though no racing man, had taken
more than one hundred-mile spin, and
with that sixty miles of level, springy
track ahead Of me made up my mind
that Turpit's four-year-olds would
have to let out an extra link or two of
speed IL did not reach the land Office
as soon as the old man. The night was
but as light as SCARS could
make it. The path showed up plain and
and with no odanger of headers
l bent low over the handles of my tall
Columbia, for that was before the
days of safeties.
"Now's the time to show your
metal, old boy!' said aloud, as pat
ted the neck of my silent steed.
you've never failed me yet, but we've
never tackled this kind of job be-
FORE" My own spirits seemed to ami
mate the lfeless steel and rubber that
sent me bounding forward with fresh
speed in response to each pressure of
the pedals There were no hills to
speak OF, but just enough swell here
and there to relieve the strain of
steady pedaling. Turpit had good
hours start struck into steady,
even pace but spurted for all that was
in me whenever l came to the least
aown-grade. Silently and swiftly
sped on and into the night. Unless
the old man was driving like the furies
knew must be gaining on him-but
that was the way he usually drove.
Five, ten. twenty miles of that prairie
road left behind before my ears
caught the rumble of his wagon. Ibid
not run Up too close lest they should
see me, but came near enough to catch
much of their conversation. which was
we'll interspersed with references TO
that dude" followed invariably by
pcals Of laughter.
"Then their claim'll be worth all OF
q Thousand apiece in less'n o year" l
heard the old man say.
''I hope they WILL" ] chuckled to my
self, as rolled along in their wake.
Turpit, thinking himself past all dan
ger of pursuit, allowed the four-year-
olds to settled down to slow trot,
which slackened to walk at every
little grade. found it easy enough
to keen pace with them; SO easy in