The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-03-02

'Look, Ike! If thar amt Rob Wood
I'll swaller thet wheelp
oyer right, by gingerr" eiaculated
Ike, as he peered iu above the rim of
frost on the pane at well-built, hand
some young man, about thirty, who,
divested of hat and overcoat, was Civ
ing himself thorough warming at
Pete Miley's rust-begrimed stove.
"Wot'll Rob say?"
"'Bout his cabin?"
eyes"
''Lightnin' an razorsl 1 never
thought O. thetl"
''Say, Ike, I've got an ideeln whis-
pered Jim. 1--WE can have good. joke
ON Rob-the best thing outl''
"Wot is it?"
Jim whispered a few words into
Ike's ear. Ike broke into chuckle
of merriment.
"We'll do it, by jimsonl" he ex-
claimed. cit won't hurt thet leetle
woman, and it will pay Rob back for
some O. his own everlastin' Jokes on
u.s."
Entering the store, they spoke to
Miley, then strobe back to the stove
to greet their fellow claim. holder.
''Jest got back, Rob?" they asked,
as they shook his hand warmly.
eyes; just got in on the four o'clock
train, and walked over from the station.
What's the news?" he asked.
'News?" repeated Jim, assuming a
long and reflective visage. ''Wa-al,
nothin' much, 'ceptin' ole Killers sold
out an left. An lemme see; yes,
thar's Sukehouse, he got throwed by
his broncho an broke his collar bone.
Us galloots have been doin' wot we
could to patch him up. An then,
thars some new settlers comm in
lately-an' wantin' timber claims, an
iumpin' 'em, too, when they get a
chance. But how d6h yer find the
folks back yonder in Illinoy?"
"All we'll and happy" replied Rob
Wood. "But what's this you say
about claim -jumpers?"
"Oh, Yesl Ireckon yer heerd bout
yer claim, an thet's hurried yer back, :"
remarked Ike.
''My claiml What do you mean?"
and Rob Woods blue eyes dilated
widely.
''I thought maybe yer'd heerd bout
it fore now," said Jim, very inno-
Gently. ''Wa-aI, yer see yer claim
has been kinder jumped-a family
moved into yer shanty. They have,
by gingerl''
"Do you mean to say that some low
down sneak has dared to jump my
claim while I've been gomez" he cried,
a sudden flame of anger mounting to
his handsome face.
''Looks powerfully thet way" re-
turned Jim. ''Seed a kivered wagon
thar, an smoke pourin' out O. yer
chimney as we rid over hyer."
With quick stride Rob Wood
walked out of the store, got his horse
from the stable, where it had been
kept during his absence, and was soon
galloping away through the snowy
dusk of the early evening.
When he was beyond earshot of
Miley's store the two conspirators
went off into roars of laughter, after
which they let the old store-keeper
into their joke.
"It's a good one on Wood" said
Miley, joining heartily in the laughter,
''an' calls for cigars at Rob's expense,
don't it?" said Jim.
Exactly" agreed Ike.
''Good enough" said Miley, as he
handed out the box of his choicest
cigars.
"Wonder if Rob won't git mad at
us?" said Ike.
"No; feller thet can give as good
Jokes as Rob can can take one on him
self, answered Jim.
Meantime, Rob Wood, his brain full
of wrath at the unprincipled persons
who had Jumped his claim" was
nearing MS cabin. He was too angry
to heed the snow and the cutting
northwest wind. One purpose ruled
him-to order the claim-jumpers of
his land at once.
He rode into the persimmon thieket,
where he left his horse out of the
storm. Then he strobe rapidly toward
the cabin.
eff they go out quietly there will be
no trouble, but if they refuse to 60"
He did not finish the sentence, but
his eyes flashed threateningly.
Little Bessie was alone at the cabin,
Faith and Clint having gone to the
dugout stable TO make the mules COM
Portable for the night.
The little girl was holding the door
partly open, while she looked wonder
ingly upward at the vast descent OF
the snow. The glow of the fireplace
fell upon her and made her look like d
snow bound fairy. She gave a start as
Rob Wood suddenly appeared before
her in the snow-cOyered path.
where's your pa, little girl9" asked
Rob, as he pushed past her
''He's gone, answered Bessie, look
ing shyly at this abrupt visitor.
"Gonel Where to?" he asked
"Gone to Heaben," said the little
girl, simply.
"Humphr' muttered Rob, TO him
self. II didn't know claim-iumpers
went therew