The diamond drill., 1895-09-14
HoLToN's CONCESSION.


~ IL There were some
VE1 matters he wanted
TO think over. and he had found that
he could best collect his thoughts
when his pipe was at his lips.
II reckon I'm about as comfortable
as any settler on Badger prairie" he
unused, gazing into the glowing Goals.
Plenty nv grub, scads NV wood, an no
one ter look alter but myself"
Here he paused In his musings. and
puffed vigorously at his pipe Perhaps
the condition implied 10y his last words
did not bring the amount OF satisfac-
tion he would have liked TO persuade
himself it did. 1t was true that Dick
Holton was pretty well fixed for the
winter when one considered the almost
destitute condition of some OF the set
tiers on Badger prairie. He had gath
cred his small crop, got up his win
ter's wood. stored an abundant supply
of provisions in his cabin, then sold
his team, put the money in the bank
along with the little nest-egg he had
already laid by, and ridden home with
Sim Drake.
Them hosses NV mine would "a eat
their heads off fore spring." he ex-
planned, mot countin' the trouble NV
feedin' an talSin care NV 'em. got
two hundred fer 'em, an in the spring.
when plowin' time comes. / can buy
jist as good a team fer the same
money. With corn dollar bushel,
that saves me about forty dollars, ter
say nothin NV the trouble NV feedin',
waterin' an curryin Now thar's Ben
Spikes with five ole crow-bates. Not
a thing has he got ter do with em. but
he's goin' ter winter the whole bone
yard, and when spring comes his
crop'll be eat up, an like as not he'll
be comm ter me fer corn. 1t ain't no
wonder that some people aire pore =
yas, an allus will be-"
Dick thought over all these things as
he sat gazing into the red Goals. He
was pretty well fxedfor the winter-he
was quite satisfied on that point. He
had no stock to feed and look after
during the cold months. That, too.
was viewed with no small degree of
satisfaction. lie had no one but him
self to care for.
He could not get beyond this point
that had marked his disposition of the
other domestic problems In spite Of
his efforts To conceal the fact from
himself. this question brought some
very unpleasant reflections. IL also
brought face before his mental vision
tho face of Mrs. Rudd, a widow
whose cabin stood just across the
''draw." Mrs .Rudd was very attract
i've, not over thirty-ive and one Of the
pluclxicst little women on the flats
that was the verdict OF the denizens OF
Badger prairie. She managed her af
fairs quite as we'll as any Of the men.
even the most thrifty of them. and
with no one to assist her except Lizzie
Jones, half-sister, who made her
home with Mira. Rudd Dick had joined
in the admiration which had been be-
slowed ON the little widow. In fact,
his admiration soon took a form which
was quite ardent in its character.
Dick Holton was not the man TO
waste time in idle hesitation, and
when he had got 10 a state OF realiza-
tion of his feelings he laid the whole
matter before the fascinating little
widow and offered her his heart and
hand.
The ability 20 transact business with
dispatch was one Of Mrs. Rudd's noted
qualities, and an engagement for an
early marriage was the result.
There was more than one reason
why such union should prove both