St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-05-30
A VALUABLE CLAIM.
BY WILL LIsENBEE.

BY WILL LlSENBEE.
Buck Simmons walked behind the
huge prairie-breaking plow, watching,
with evident satisfaction, the chcco-
1ate-colored ribbons of earth which the
plow was turning over. The two yokes
of oxen that drew the plow were show
ing no inclination to hurry through
skfe, which disposition was in perfect
harmony with Bucks own feelings on
the subject. He did not believe in phys
1cal precipitation in connection with
common labor. To be in a hurry seemed
70 him 10 be species of folly that was
totally inexcusable.
On reaching the end nearest the cabin
he brought the team to halt, and. al.
lowing the cattle to Craze on the lux.
uriant grass, seated himself on the
beam of the plow and lighted his pipe,
There amt much better land than
this in these parts," he unused, 'an' as
side Nv the Rockies"
A covered wagon, drawn by pair ot
shabby sorrel mules, came to halt in
the road close by, and bushy-bearded
man got out.
MY names Billings-Zeke Billings
he said, as he came up to the spot where
Buck was seated. I'm looking for a
claim to buy. Can you direct me to
where I can find good one which
could purchase at a reasonable figure? p
"Ye couldn't "a struck it better il
yed a'ssearched fer q week." replied
Buck. removing his pipe from his mouth
and blowing a cloud of smoke from hi.
bearded lips.
"That's Fortunate" responded the
stranger. 'Then I may infer that you
canagive me the desired information? ?
.Yc've sed it."
Thank you. Is the land in question
near here?"
Bout six inches from where ye'rx
standing"
sAh, I see. Your own claim il fol
sale?1
ut can be bought"
"How much land is in your claim
A full quarter section?"
sYc've sed it."
''Is the land good?"
Think I'd be a-plowin' pore land
What do We take me fer? Must thinl
I'm powerful fond NV work!"
''No offense, assure you" replied
Billings. ''What advantages does youl
claim possess besides that mentioned?' ?
'Tain't more an four miles ter wa
ter"
''Why. do you call four miles from
water close?"
''Ye would il yc'd hauled il 26 miles
fer ooe season."
.'Buf wouldn't live in such cOun
try as that. "A man wouldn't get any
thing but water-halling DONE"
Thar warn't anything else ter dG
thar"
Didn't you raise any erops?"
'.Nary CROP"
'.What made you stay in such cour
typ
''Couldn't git away"
what made you 60 thcre?"
Ter git claim
.'Why. what on earth could you want
with a claim in a place like that?"
IN mans got ter meek livin'."
.sMake living? How did you expect
to make living in desert where moth
ing would grow:"
''Sell my claim.'
"How did you happen to find a buy
er?.
at allus rained oncet year; ther
We hustled ter sell out fore the GROUND
dried. That was our bizy time"
'What do you suppose a man would
think of you for selling him such s
claim
II never stayed ter see"
II suppose not. What did the mar
: that bought your claim do when h.
found out what kind of place he hat
got into?
"Lived thar till the next rain"
''What then?'
"He sold out ter another feller. Tn,
west is a great edicator. 4 feller can
stay hyar long an be tenderfoot. Vel
say SO fore ye're hyar u year. Now
this yere claim NV mine"
ITO he sure--we were talking abou
your claim. / can see that the land i
very good. and i suppose water coul,
b. got by sinking a well. like the Ia,
of this piece of land. and if your pric
is reasonable. might strike q bargain
with ycu."
"Ye've sed it."
s.What would you call fair price TO
your claim??"
~'Bout er thousan' dollars
"A thousand dollars. Why, man.
can get as good claim as can be foun,
IN the county for 5000. Remember yo,
can give no deed, bat only quit you
claim"
81 likewise knows all that: but thi
we're amt no common claim. Say $500 ?
..No. Two fifty is the most l ca,
give
sThen the claims yourn."
ssVery well. I will come back In
3eM days and have the papers fixe
] .4D.
me this: Ye're stranger Ter me. n
sniAbby ye comes back, an mebbv Y
S1an't. II holds this yere claim f
ve.-ye pays me now $es in hand. II
~ ter BE- paid IN three days, whe
i gifts the claim.
Tie stranger took ont book, an
writing the desired documents. Ga,
- = Buck 70 sign, while he coan