The Ravalli Republican., 1898-08-03

whose existence he nae aiftauN Uuf-
lened Will, continual threats
No word was spoken between the
two men rs they rode on in Indian
file. The air, which had been in
tcnScly cold and still all day, began
TO grow warmer. At tho same time
an occasional gust OF wind threw a
cloud Of fine snow against The mules
feet and then died away as quickly
as it had come. 1t was getting dark,
and increasing their pace they soon
arrived 1T jacobs shanty. But the
old man, who was standing outside
splitting hrewood, had seen them
coming Il long way off, their mount
ed figures standing boldly outlined
against an ominous bank of clouds
which the setting sun was now STAIN
ing to lurid red Eric, making
Jim a sign to hold his tongue, hailed
the old man thus:
How long before Peters comes
back, Jacobs2"
THAT | cannot just say for GER
tain. -
Il suppose you know that ho has
already been off his place more than
six months right along?'
AYE, guess maybe he has. y
II suppose, then, you know that
Peters has forfeited his place under
the homestead act?"
"Well, as to that, | can't say. I'm
here to hold it for him, being, you
see, Il kind Of chum, and guess he's
as good q right to it as any one, see
ing he's done improvements on it. .
"Thut doesn t count for nothing
unless he lives on it, y rctorted Ed
sen, land, besides, my pal here
(pointing to Jim, who, with sheep
ish face, was beating his mitts to-
gether to keep the blood circulating),
wants this place, and he's going tc
have it, SO you'd better turn out in
side of 24 hours, or we'll make the
place too hot to hold you Do you
hear?'
AYE, l hear you, Eric Edsen,
replied the old man, his eyes kin
ding, and grusping his AK a trifle
more firmly. "You've threatened
before now, but I'm here still, ant
if you want the claim you'll have tc
take it by force over my dead body
for sWore to my chum that II
hold it, and III keep my oath if
die for it. :"
We'll see about that, ~ hisso(
Edscn through his teeth. Wei
burn you out, shack and all, bundle
of useless bones that you are, i:
you re not out of here by this time
tomorrow y
Then he called to jim: Come on
It's waste of time talking. Looks as
if we were in for a btddish night
and our flour all but out. hope
Serge will get back from Gran(
Forks tomorrow or We'll be in ;
tight fix. "
Wheeling his mule, and turning
in the Mexican saddle to shake hi:
fist at the Old man, he shouted back
"I'vo warned you square enough
this time tomorrow, and both put
ting their mules into a gallop they
rapidly disappeared in the fast fall
ing darkness.
The old man slowly gathered "
his wood in little bundles and car
ried them in, shut his door tight
roplonishcd the stovo and sat down
So this was the end Of it all, lie sad
ly thought, the end Of all the lionel,
life he had led. Tomorrow he woult
have to fight for his home, perhap
his life, or abandon everything.
He rapidly considered From tn
look Of the sky, one Of Dakota S ter
rible blizzarls was threatening. l
he decided to leave, he would hav
to tramp five miles to reach til
nearest shelter; his clothing wa
poor, quite inadequate for such
journey even in calm weather, muc]
less in Il storm There was no trail
tho temperature was 25 degrees be
low zero. but then, if ho dare 10
venture out, neither dare they; tn
coming storm would keep them 4
home too This slight CLEAN q
hope encouraged him.
He rose and opened the door, bu
Il furious gust drove him in again
The sun had now sunk and the ban
Of clouds had rapidly spread east
ward. Mechanically he looked q
his wood pile Thank God, he ha
enough, at any rate, and lots c
flour too He couldn't freeze c
starve as long as ho staid where h
was. He quickly shut the doo2
threw on some red willow to raise
hot fire and made himself stron
brew Of tea.
Outside the wind was steadily ii!
ing It ceased to come in gust
now, but howled ominously roun
the old shack, now and again lif
ing and rattling the ragged edges {
loose tar paper on the roof. Th
old man, sitting and musing by th
stove, suddenly started, and mute:
ed to himself excitedly, Aye, ay,
that's what he said, you bet you
life, and he'll never get through i