The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-01
A VALUABLE CLAIM.
BY WILL L1sENBEE.

Buck Simmons walked behind the
huge prairie-breaking pillow, watching,
with evident satisfaction, the choco-
late-colored ribbons of earth which the
pillow was turning over. The two yokes
of oxen that drew the pillow we're show
ing no inclination to hurry through
life, which disposition was in perfect
harmony with Bucks own feelings on
the subject He did not believe in phys
ical precipitation in connection with
common labor. To be in hurry seemed
to him TO be species of folly that was
totally ineXcusable.
On reaching the end nearest the cabin
be brought the team to a halt, and. al
lowing the cattle to Craze on the lux
uriant grass, seated himself on the
beam of the pillow and lighted his pipe.
'There amt much better land than
this in these parts" he unused, IAN as
fer watermelons, it can't be beat this
side Nv the Rockies"
A covered wagon, drawn by pair of
shabby sorrel mules, came to a halt in
the road close by, and a bushy-bearded
man got out.
''My names Billings-Zele Billings"
he said, as he came up to the spot where
Buck was seated. 'I'm looking for
claim to buy. Can you direct me to
where / can find a good one which /
could purchase at reasonable fgure?"
eye couldn't "a struck it better if
ye'd "a searched fer a week." replied
Buck, removing his pipe from his mouth
and blowing a cloud of smoke from his
bearded lips.
''That's Fortunate" responded the
stranger. ''Then l may infer that you
can give me the desired information p
"Ye've sed it."
''Thank you. Is the land in question
near here?"
"'Bout six inches from where ye're
standing"
"Ah, L see. Your own claim is for
sale?'
cit can be- bought"
GLOW much land is in your claim?
A full quarter section?"
"Ye've sed it,
SIS the land good?'
''Think I'd be a-plowin' pore land?
What do We take me fer? Must think
I'm powerful fond Nv work."
mo offense. l assure you," replied
Billings. What advantages does your
claim possess besides that mentioned?"
"'Tain't more an four miles ter wa
ter
''Why, do you call four miles from
water close?"
aye would if ye'd hauled il &c miles
fer one season."
"But l wouldn't live in such q coun-
try as that. A man wouldn't get any
thing but matchmaking DONE"
''Thar warn't anything else ter do
thar
Didn't you raise any crops?"
'Nary crop"
"What made you stay in such a cou1-
try?"
Couldn't git away"
'9Vhat made you go there?"
'"Ter git claim
"Why, what on earth could you want
with claim in place like that?"
ga mans got ter meek livin'."
snake a living? How did you expect
to make living in desert where moth
ing would grow?"
sell my claim"
"How did you happen to find buy
er?"
cit allus rained oncet a year; then
we hustled ter sell out fore the ground
dried. That was our bizy time"
''What do you suppose man would
think of you for selling him such
claim?"
81 never stayed ter see."
ST suppose not. What did the man
that bought your claim do when he
found out what kind of place he had
got into?"
Lived thar till the next rain"
*'What theu?"
<'He sold out ter another teller. The
west is great edicator. A Teller can't
stay hyar long an be tenderfoot. Yell
say SO fore ye're hyar a year. Now,
this yere claim NV mine"
''To be sure--we were talking about
your claim. / canssee that the land is
very good, and | suppose water could
be got by sinking well. like the lay
of this piece of land, and if your price
is reasonable, 1 might strike bargain
with YOU
"Ye've sed it,"
'What would you call fair price for
your claim?"
Bout er thousan' dollars"
ga thousand dollars! Why, man,
can get as good claim as can be found
in the county for 5000. Remember you
can give no deed, but only quit your
claim
81 likewise knows all that; but this
yere amt no common claim. Say $5O0?"
mo. Two fifty is the most can
give"
"Then the claims yourn."
"Very well. 1 will come back in a
few days and have the papers fixed
up"
"That seems fair-like; but 1 puts it
like this: Ye're stranger ter me, an
mebby We comes back, an mebby We
don't. If l holds this yere claim fer
ye, ye pays me now $25 in hand, the
rest ter be paid in three days, when
We gifts the claim
The stranger took out a book, and.
writing the desired documents, gave
them to Buck to sign, while he count
ed out the required sum of money.
When the amount had been paid and
the papers signed, Billings said:
ssThat fixes the matter all RIGHT