The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-05-02
HOWTHE RANCH WAS SAVED.
Journey in q Postal Gar Which
Ended in a Smash Up.
Scramble for q Mail Pouch-e3OO,OO Of
Uncle Sans Money In Danger-Inter-
view with the Postmes:er-G General
An Expedited Pension.
IcoPYRIGuT, 1861

pay we'll lose the place." said Mr.. Jeni-
fer, gloomily, as he pushed away the
pencil and paper. Mrs. Jenifer looked
at her husband, blankly. rs it as bad
us that, Hiram?" she asked.
'There is no help for it," replied Mr..
Jenifer. 1.-The mortgage company at
Omaha will foreclose the mortgage on
the ranch unless the note is paid. The
wheat and the corn are harvested, and
at outside prices won't meet the note
Nv $780,"
There was silence for few minutes,
broken only by the click of Mrs. Jeni-
fer's knitting needles
'What did the pension lawyer at
Washington write in his last letter
about the prospects of your claim get
ting through" she asked.
why, You know what he wrote.
Mandy. He said there were 5000 or
1000 cases ahead of mine, and that the
pension bureau is very strict about
considering cases in their regular or
der. He said it might be over a year be-
fore they reached mine. When it is
taken up though he thinks I'll get the
pension and the back pay-that's about
$4,000, you know-for the proof is all
right, and have clear case under the
law"
ut seems kind of hard that, if the
government is going to give you the
back pay some time, you can't get it in
time to save the ranch from being sold
over our heads" sighed Mrs. Jenifer.
"Yes, and the hardest part of it is
that they do sometimes take up cases
out of order" replied her husband, "but
the lawyer said it requires influence to
have that done, or some one must show
the commissioner of pensions that there
IN special reason for it. I have no in
fiuence away out here on Nebraska
ranch. I can't even get down to Wash
ington to plead my own case. There
really seems to be no help for u.s."
During the course of this conversa-
fion there had been an interested but
silent listener on the opposite side of
the table, who now arose ind passed
through the kitchen door. This was
A]eck French, Mr.. Jenifer's nephew.
He sat down on the bench outside and
locked across the dusky prairie, lying
grim and still in the moonlight. In one
direction a group of scattered lights
showed the location fthe railway and
the station.
"If they only knew all about it at
Washington" he thought, 81 am sure
hey would take up our case first. Oh!
II l could only get to Washington and
tell them!" A long time he sat there,
thinking, with his chin in his hands,
looking out over the prairie. AS he
,azed he saw a light some distance
way, moving rapidly along. He knew
t was the headlight of locomotive,
or he had often watched them, miles
way, creeping over the level plain. |
Soon he could hear the rumble of the
'ars, and by the absence of lighted VIM
lows knew that il was not passenger
rain. When II stopped at the station
he lowing of the cows and some dis
'ordant squawks and grunts told him
was stock train bound for Chicago.
Every day these long stock trains
PASSED, and sometimes they stopped |
while the cattlemen fed and watered |
he live cargo. The cattlemen always
accompanied the train, and Aleck had |
'ften envied the lot of the young men
Who were going to see the great city.
Then an idea came to Aleck-the DOS
utility OF doing something to save the
anch. He soon stole away to his bed.
where he fell asleep thinking about it,
md took it up again early next morn
ng when he went to feed the stock.
After breakfast he went into the
-itchen, where his aunt was washing
he dishes. There he told her his plan. |
rowing enthusiastic in the recital. He
wanted to go to Washington and tell
be commissioner of pensions the story
4 their troubles and ask him to act
pom his Uncle Hiram's claim at once.
IS he talked she, too, became interested.
nd her wan face was lighted up for a
ioment by hope; but she soon became
rave again.
But, Aleck, we could not spare even
We collars to buy your food on the
'ay, for perhaps your plan might fail.
%. 1t won't do" said his aunt, shaking
sr head.
Aleck went out of the kitchen with
eavy heart and walked towards the
arm. When he reached the gate his
wn little pony, Brown Bess, came run
ing to the bars and affectionately
lrust her nose at him to be stroked.
$ he patted the mares head another
lea came to him. In moment he was
the harness room, Juggling at his
'ddle on the hook; and five minutes
ter he was galloping over the prairie
wards the station. Up the principal
rect he rode, without drawing rein
ntil he stopped before the post Office.
T. Brand, the postmaster, was stand
e at the delivery window as Alech
lmc in, and seemed surprised to see
i'm.
sWhy Alecl- fl,aro o.rs< -. -,