The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-08
A DAKOTA HERO.

"Well, Jim, / don't know what
you intend to do in the matter, but
guess it's time to strike"
'Strike whatf" returned his COM
nanion, rather surlily.
Look here. replied Eric. getting
I'D from the table where he had
been eating scanty meal of bread
and green tea. you know well
enough what I mean. That fellow
has numbered this claim of Peters
long enough. Meny's the talk you
and / have had about it, and we
agreed that if Peters didn't come
back from Ontario mighty quick
and make his title good we wouldn't
he put off any longer. Peters is
simply speculator. He doesn' in
tend to settle, and he has put this
old man Jacobs on his place to hood
wink the government. Besides,
what good is Jacobs on it anyways 6
Peters is doing far too well at his
trade ever to come back. Moreover,
you may bet your bottom dollar on
fhis-if We don't grab 1t, some one
else will. But what's the use of
talking to you9 Whenever there's
anything to be done you've no more
40 l.. you than an old MULE
At this outburst Jim exclaimed,
somewhat angrily: "Well, I suppose
it's got to be done. It's a Disagree
able job anyway, and I never relish
ed it. Peters-is a fool or he might
know that sooner cr later sone one
would be sure TO jump his claim,
and, as for Jacobs, don't care a
candle end for him. He's 4 silent,
surly dog, nothing neighborlike
about him. and everlastingly prowl-
ing round the prairie searching for
claim corner posts which don't ex-
ist. But if you're for acting we'd
better get the thing over this very
afternoon and have done with it,"
This conversation took place il d
small shanty in the state Of Dakota.
Both speakers were strong, heavily
built and endowed with that endur-
ance which comes to those Injured to
enc CT tbs coidest climates in the
world. twas january, and the
prairie was covered with snow 3
feet deep, save where the cutting
wind had swept sntc deeper hi;.
locks, frozen hard enough to bear a
horse and riaer's Eight The pros
peot from the small window of the
shack was not inviting, the n.e2cto-
nous level of the plain being broken
here and there only by a few stunt
ed willows and young poplars.
Not house or sign of life was
visible, except that now and then
the still, sharp air was disturbed by
a whirring circlet of snoWbirds.
SURG fOreFnnners in that region Of a
Storm Above. the afternoon sun
shone brilliantly without innA rting
the slightest heat, and as it's rays
fell through the window they light.
ed up the small, miserable room
where Jim Wade and Erie Edsen
sat. the only contents OF which were
a large poplar wood bedstead, No. 8
cooking stove, with. lids badly
cracked, three chairs. an irn.. pct
and badly battered teakettle.
Having delivered himself OF the
above speech, Jim knocked the
ashes out OF his pipe and as he
passed out of the door to saw more.
wood sail: i,F
II guess you'd better hurry UP,
Eric, and saddle the mules. It will
be as nscA as We can manage to get
there and back 1esoge dark.
Thus enjoined, Eric, chuckling to
think he had at last screwed mp Jim
to the sticking point, hurried out to
the log stable behind the shanty.
and hastily saddling the mules the
two men rode of. They had about
a mile and q half to ride along q
track rendered smooth and beaten
by the daily tramp OF their mules to
water; A quarter OF mile from
where they left this irail they would
come to another shanty. similar to
their own, roughly built Of two lay.
ers of.slabsswith tar paper between,
where lived, ,or rather existed, the
man Jacobs Il 81 IS. Ss
He had been there come six
months now, was old and feeble
and apparently without money He
raised some pota toes for his own
use and kept d few hens in an I'm.
dergrornd henhonse. which after
infinite toll he had dug out. Peters,