Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-04-08
A CHANGE OF PURPOSE. ;
BY THOMAS P. MONTFORT. !

large DOdy OF Lne pest SoNSl hihOh' i"""
in southern Kansas, he stirred up
good SIZED hornets nest and brought
the insects buzzing angrily about his
head. He had no shadow Of right TO the
land and naturally the settlers and
homeseekers resented his cool appro-
priation of il 10 his own use. There
were men who wanted it for homes, and
who Mere entitled 70 il under The laws
and theee men looked upon Ryan cOH-
duct as a base infringement on their
rights and were not sparing in their de-
nunciation of him and his order.
Near Ryan's ranch there was little
town known as Prairie City. 1t was an
insignificant place, with less than 200
population. but ii gave promise of great
things in the future. Its inhabitants
and the settlers on the prairie about ii
believed that i'm time Prairie City would
become one of the leading towns Of
Kansas. Unfortunately. however, the
hopes Of those people were never 10 be
realized. 4 railroad was soon after
built through that part Of the coun-
try. and il missed Prairie City by just
two miles. The result was a new town
on the railroad and the death Of the old
one. Prairie City went the way Of hun
dreds of other Kansas towns. Its popu-
laton took up their possessions, includ-
ing their houses. and moved across the
prairie TO the railroad.
In Prairie City's halcyon days. how
ever. it boosted of a newspaper. the
Prairie City Eagle. 1t was not much Of
a paper, being small and poorly printed.
but it was quite as good as its patron
age justified. It's subscription list was
extremely limited and its advertising
business was dwarfed 10 one column Of
display matter and few lines of pay
locals.
The Eagle, as matter Of course,
stood by the town people and the set
tiers. and when Ryan set his men 10
fencing in the public lands for grazing
purposes il came out with a strong
editorial denouncing him i'm the sever
est terms. pronounced his action dis
honest, as he was stealing the peoples
rights. 1t went further and said that
II was the lowest and most contempt-
bic species of dishonesty. since by il he
was stealing homes from poor. strug-
Cling men and their wives and children.
thereby robbing them of chance TO
earn an honest living.
at is the duty Of the homescekers."
II went on, "to protect themselves
against the encroachments of this
greedy cormorant, who. for the sake Of
adding TO his ill-gotten wealth, would
starve even the innocent. unconscious.
helpless babe in it's mothers arms. 1t
is the duty Of the settlers TO band to-
gether, 20 take the law in their own
hands and cut the wire that shuts them
out Of their own. Tear down the fence.
drive off or kill the uSurper's cattle and
give him 10 understand that If the gov
eminent won't protect you you can and
will protect yourselves"
copy of the paper containing this
editorial fell into Ryan's hands. He
read il and boiled over with wrath and
Indignation. He was forced 10 admit
that there was much truth in the arti-
Gle. but il was none the more palatable
TO him for that. lie swore vengeance
against the Eagle and its editor and
vowed that not another issue Of the
paper should be published
At dinner time he read the article 10
his employees as they sat at the table.
They were six in number. recently emil
grated from a ranch down in Texas. and
had a reputation for being the hardest
and most reckless daredeviis that ever
rode the range. When Ryan had fin
ished reading he said:
What do YOU think Of that?"
II think it's blamed big growing
from mighty little rooster" one of
the cowboys replied.
IF the settlers want to take that edi-
tors advice and try il on about cutting
the wires" another said. Just let them.
They'll find before they get through
with it that they've got into the hottest
and most unhealthy job they ever
tackled"
Then you boys will stand by me ?"
Ryan questioned.
"Of course we will" one of them an
swered. We're paid 10 work for YOU.
and we've not got any love for settlers.
Wen see that your fence is not cut and
that your cattle are not bothered"
That's all right" Ryan said. but
there is something else l want you to
do"
what is ito"
Il want this paper squelched."
Wen squelch it,"
81 want You to ride over to Prairie
City tonight and clean the thing ont
root and branch. Burn the office. smash
up the old press and chase the editor
out Of the country"
Wen do it,"
just after supper that night the cow
boys loaded their pistols carefully and
buckled them about their waists. Then
they brought ont their horses. saddled
and mounted them, and rode away in
the direction of Prairie City at a mad
gallop. just before they reached the
town they came to a halt. One Of them
said:
Now, boys. we don't want 10 take
any reckless chances in this business.
so we had better be little cautious. I