Evening star., 1896-12-05
THE INGENIOUS sTRATAGEM

1t seemed small thing to arouse so
much tndtgnation-a mere seEseless tree.
But tts owner had watched 1t grow for
years. AS boy he had spent many a
sultry afternoon browsing in Its shadow
and listening to the wind songs In its TO-
nage. To him 1t was not inanimate !'he
birds who paused in their singing only to
feast uponf q luckless insect; the black
snake, who stretched himself In iethargy
upon its lowest limb; the spiders. who
spun their rainbow fabrics in the leafy
angles. made the majestic elm seem the
gentlest of companions and the most gen.
erous Of hosts Full of the warm SYM
pathy With the woods and their inhabitants.
which only he who has at some period Of his
life rade his sole friendships among them,
Mr. Talbot consented with reluctance to
give the new railroad right Of way through
MS land. He declared that his final COM
.pliance was due to his conviction that 1t
was wrong to oppose the progressive spirit
of the age, but in reality 1t was based on
the perception that while he might hinder
the construction of the line on the chosen
route, he could not stop 1t. He was get
ting along toward middle life: he tried to
reason and tolerate with Che breadth of
mind BETTING a man of years and prop
erty. But In his heart he resented the
commotion which the rattle and shrek of
every passing train must cause among the
tlmorous folk whom he had tried so long
to placate and reassure. His consent was
accompanied by an ironclad agreement that
none of the trees should be injured by the
workmen. This stipulation was In no wise
contrary to the interests OF the company,
and 1t was a cOnsolat1 ton IN the HnconfeSSed
resentment which Talbot experienced.
His face became a deep red and then
white when the news was brought by one
OF the children that the workmen on the
road were cutting down trees. They We're
camping on the land and they wanted the
timber for ferces to keep the cattle out
The messenger. boy who understood mis-.
fathers attachment to the woods. because
he Inherited It, was out of breath from
running, and his face was streaked where
the angry tears had burst barriers Of reso-
luton. But he kept pace with his father
as they to the scene of vandalism.
Two trees had yielded to the ak and lay
supiEe. A brawny, red-shirted fellow had
begun to chop the big elm when Ned shout
ed to him.
Who're your asked the workman.
I'm the man who owns this property"
replied Talbot
We'll. 1 amt working for you. I'm
working for the railroad. If we get orders
from the company rot to cut trees, that's
different affair."
You mean to say you're going to de-
stroy my property before my eyes,"
We don't know anything about who
you are. and We need the wood"
Talbot turned to his son and said:
'Neddie, boy, go to the house and tell
your mother I want my rifle. You cant
carry 1t. She'll have to bring 1t herself"
The child started on his errand and Tai
bott turned to resume his parley with the
wood chopper. They realized that they had
him al a dsad, antage. and they could not
understand why If his property was dam
aged. he should not be content to apply to
the company for the compensation 1t was
amply able to make The discussion was
getting hotter and hotter when the labor
ers caught sight of little Mrs. Talbot
marching Indignantly up the road with the
rifle over her shoulder.
They burst into a laugh. but Talbotts
face was serious as he took the weapon
from her hands. The merriment of the
man who had welded the AK turned Into
I'VE must look like scary lot" he said.
ccntemptuShsly, "whstre you goin ter do
with the gun, go huntn'?''
No. I'm, going to use it right here"
That's a blum" commented man VINO
sat on a rock smoking, and the spokesman
grinned and raised his AK
Hold on said Talbot. 'There is ho
doubt about my having right to enjoy
myself on my own land
Not unless 1T strikes you as bein' amuse
ment to lay yourself liable for homicide
4 haven't the faintest idea of killing
Il thought ye hadn't" replied the
spokesman, with another grin.
Talbot took an envelope from his pocket
and pinned 1t to the elm tree
Now said he it'll take about four
hours for messenger to get to town and
ascertain what the company thinks about
your conduct here. I'm going to spend
ercise the utmost care not to hit anybody,
and I'm sure that you will oblige me by
doing your best to keep out of the way"
PHILANDER JOHNSON