The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-03-18
/ A WOMAN'S SAD FACE. !
/ BY THos. ?. MoSTFORT. !

'dERE was time, but lew years
since, when the prairies of western
Kansas were the scene of bitter rivalry
between the rich cattlemen and the
poor homeseekers. Naturally it was to
the interest Of the cattlemen to keep
homeseekers out of the country. for SO
long as the land remained unsettled
just SO long did 1t furnish rich, free
pasturage for the great herds of cattle.
In their efforts to keep the pioneer
settlers from taking up claims and
building homes the cattlemen very oft
en- went beyond the limit of the law. In
fact, in mauy instances they ignored
the laws altogether and were governed
in their actions simply by their per-
sonal wishes and their power to enforce
them.
Out in Ness county there was a big
cattle ranch owned by n wealthy syndi-
cate. The manager of this ranch, n man
by the name of Roberts, was one OF the
coolest blooded ind most unfeeling
wretches that ever lived. He cared for
nothing save his own interests and the
interests Of his employers. He was
dead set against homeseekers, and no
matter whit their condition might be,
nor how much they were in the right.
he never yielded an inch to them.
The ranch comprised several hundred
acres of the best government land in the
county. and in time>homeseekers began
to hover about 1t and covet the rich
prairie. But Roberts warned them to
keep off, threatening to burn the wagon
and kill the horses of the first man who
should attempt to enter u claimon the
grazing lands of the ranch. He went
further. and hiredthe toughestand most
lawless set of cowboys he could find,
and to them he gave instructions that
they must keep the range clear of set
tiers. no matter to what lengths they
were forced to go in order to accomplish
that end. The cowboys nodded know
ingly, touched their pistols significantly
and remarked that they were there to
obey the boss orders. i
Several attempts were made to enter
claims on the range, but the cowboys
were always promptly on hand to dis
courage anything of that sort. and after
they had thrown out few hints regard
ing the "unhealthiness' of the location.
and the general advisability of seeking
home elsewhere, the would-be settler
was persuaded to move on. After awhile
the character Of Roberts cowboys be-
came notorious, and the homeseekers
gave them and their range wide berth.
Thus for q long time the range was
not bothered with settlers, and the cat
tie continued to Craze the grass and
turn it into money. Roberts saw the
lands nll about him taken up for homes
and he congratulated himself on his
foresight and his promptness to act
in taking care of his own interest.
Things had been going on in this even
way for some months when one morn
ing Roberts called his cowboys about
him and said:
81 have received letter calling me
east. SO shall leave the ranch in your
hands. shall probably be away two
or three weeks. but think can trust
you boys to look after things all right.
III give Jake Kline the management OF
the ranch and l shall expect the rest
Of you to obey his orders. Keep the cat
tie together and keep those settlers or
the range"
"we'll manage things all right. Mr..
Roberts," Jake said. "We'll take care
of the cattle. and if you find any settler
on this range when you get back he'll
be dead one"
Roberts had been gone about week.
when one evening some of the cowboys
saw an old covered wagon rolling slow.
" across the prairie behind pair OF
small. scrawny mules. They watched
the wagon and ut last saw it stop at the
foot of a little mound, right in the cen
ter of their best grazing land. A man
rot out, embarrassed the mules and
turned them loose to Craze. Old JAKE
Kline's attention was called to the wag-
on and forthwith he sent man TO IN
form the owner OF it that he must move
on.
This message was delivered promptly
md with more force than elegance. Inc
homeseeker, however, received it quiet
", not to say indifferently, and re-
marked that he'd see aboutit.
"You want to be seeing about 1t pref
~ sudden. then" the cowboy said, be
cause we won't stand any toolishness.
We'd lust rs lieve make bonfire OF
your wagon and coyote feed Oh your
mules MS not"
AT leave here when get ready 70
no." the man replied. land not before.
The cowboy rode back and reported
to old Jake. The latter's eyes fiasheo
with anger in moment and he swore
n string Of the most horrible oaths'
$50 the chap thinks he'll go when ne
gets ready, eh!" he cried Maybe ne
viii. but Il he does, he'll get ready pref
" soon, for / tell you he won't be long
about going"
He then called his whole force anu
rode down to the wagon. The settler
WINS sitting on the ground with ms
hack against q wheel. hisknees drawn
nm and his arms folded over them. HIS
head was bowed down. and his whole
altitude was that Of the deepest de1ec,
ton. The cowboys had approacned
10 within a few steps Of Thin before ne
heard them. and then he looked up
iistlessly. but did not ofter to move.
~. .at,.a.s. hiAAossAe s.S-selh