The Van Buren press., 1898-02-19
"After that" the woman went on,

more, but it was too ,fse to raise any
crop and our money WIS pretty nearly
all gone. Then my husband took down
with malaria and was sick long time.
The balance of our money soon went,
and l had to borrow $500 from a neigh
Dor. l signed what he said was note,
but it wasn't. it seems, for when my hus,
band died the man came and told me
I'd have to move away, as the claim was
his and he wanted it. He said it wasn't
a note I'd signed, but a release of the
claim"
He'd swiudled you, then ?" Slime said.
"Yes, and got everything | had. l
didn't know anything to do only to try
and get ON the county, so l started this
morning to walk TO town, butt gave out
when | got this far and | had to sit down
and rest. Seems like I'm not much ac-
count any more. If you won't bother
me, though, I'll go ON directly"
"Aunty," Slime said, don't you be I'M
easy about us bothering you. We may
be tough, but we amt exactly heathens.
One thing want you to do, though, and
that is to tell us the name of that man
who beat you out of your claim
at is Lige Russell" she answered.
81 know him. Slime said. Jake" he
continued. turning to one of his COM
panions. 81 want you to go over to
Russell's with me, while the rest of the
boys wait here with aunty."
"What are you going to Russell's
for?" Jake inquired.
ITO see if we can't persuade him to do
the right thing in this business. That
claims worth at least $500"
"Guess IT is" Jake admitted, "but
that don't signify that Russell will pay
that much for it"
"Well, that's all right. I'll see if he's
not open to argument, and If one kind
of reasoning won't go maybe another
kind will"
Sine whirled his horse about, and he
and Jake galloped away across the
prairie. After a little less than an hours
ride they refined up at Russell's gate. A
stentorian "hello," or two brought Rus
sell to the door. Sine said:
"R Russell, we want to talk with
you on a little matter of business"
81 never talk business on Sunday"
Russell replied.
TOO pious, eh?"
81 hope so, sir
'But not too pious TO turn poor old
woman out on the world on Sunday
after robbing her of her last dollar"
"Sir, what do you mean?'
''Just what I say, Mr.. Russell, and
you know well enough what it is I
want you to pay that woman the bal
ance of the money on her claim
81 shall not do it. The claim is nine"
at is worth five times what you paid"
at is, but that's none of your bust
ness"
81 propose to make it my business.
You have got to pay that money and
keep that poor old woman off the coun-
ty."
"Whe's going to make me pay it?'
81 am"
Glow, I'd like to know?"
"You know what cowboys sometimes
do to settlers, Ireckon? You know how
they pasture their cattle on settlers
crops and burn the settlers hay and all
that sort of thing, don't you?"
"Yes, but what of it?
"There's just this much of it, Mr.. Rus
SELL Unless you do the fair thing by that
woman all those things will happen to
you, and you will lose ten times as much
as you have swindled her out Of"
"Do you mean to threaten me, STRIP"
Russell Numbered.
ooh, no." Slime replied calmly. 81
am not threatening you. Nothing Of
the sort. l am only telling you what
feel in my bones is going to happen; and
l want to say to you that when l feel a
thing like that in my bones it generally
comes to pass just so. I'll bet my head
that if you don't pay that woman $500
more money you won't raise sign of a
crop, and all your hay will be burned
up. Come, now, which shall it bee"
Russell knew the man he had to dsel
with, and he knew that to gain th. III
will of gang of cowboys was nc very
desirable thing So, after hemmin9 and
having for awhile, be at last pa1d old
Slime $500 for the woman. But as he did
so he made a very wry face, for though
he was wealthy he was as close-fisted as
miser.
Slime and Jake galloped back. put the
money into the woman's hands, and
then took her on to town. She rode be-
hind Slime on his horse, and before the
journey was over she had quite recov-
cred from all her fear of the cowboys.
at was very good of you to get all of
this money for me-" she said. 81
reckon cowboys amt all so mean as
those we used to know. I know you
men amt mean, anyhow"
eve amt angels, ma'am," Sine re-
piled. "Not by a good deal"
you're good men and 1 like you"
she said, you have kept me from GO
ing on the county, and you don't know
what a relief that is"
They were all silent for a moment,
Then Slime said:
"What win you do now. aunty?"
1--WE been thinking about that" she
replied, "and I reckon maybe I'd better
go back east to my old home. l have
friends back there, you know"
"a good idea Slime said. you'll be
better off back there"
They escorted her to the station in a
body, purchased her ticket and saw
her on the train. Then they stood on
the platform about the window where