The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-28

fired the judge. and he replied:
We'll. Sir. we will have il. if ! have TO
buy every foot of the right of way my
self. What will you take for that strip
Don't want to sell it, replied the tarm-
er, doggediy.
We'll. / suppose you know we can have
a commission appointed and condemn
your land under the law of eminent 40,
main. don't you? Then you'll have 10 sen
ii for whatever the commission decides
to be its value. Whereas. am Wiling 10
pay you a fair price Eow-"
Il don't care; il the law takes my land,
III have TO let it go. but won I DO 50
''Oh, now come, neighbor; be reason
able I'll give you my check right here
for 800 and you know the land ism worth
half that" said the judge, regarding nun nun
earnestly, and lingering his checKoooh
A hundred dollars was not picked up
every day by the farmers along the
ridge Taxes and interest on their mort
cages swallowed up about all the dolars
and dimes they were able 10 put away III
the bureau drawer during the year. MuG Much
could be done with 500. II WOULD snI Ia7,,'
the barn and buy new plow-two prom
lens that had long confronted MN. ne ne
land was not worth paying taxes on. ne ~
hesitated and hung off ull the ]Guge ri
turned his checkbook 10 MS pochet anu
I'm sorry. nelghbor Belden, but
think you are standing IN your owl owl
light" Then the old man surrehueTgu,
He tried 10 assume the role of puplic
benefaceor hui The Judge handed him
the check with bow of more TIM hion-
dixie frigidity. picked up MS max anu iei'
with only formal good day. ~,
Nettled again, Mr.. Belden eNhloiteo ms
check to such of his neighbors as nau
been took in by Ike Davis soft solder solder;
answer admired Mr.. Belden's cleverneSs.
and added obstacles to the judge rocky
road. hi, .ririt
ha deeD
sordid minds was q task worthy even
the hercuiean powers Of the Judge.
1t so happened that. among ner ot lfs
r WI y large tract on the ridge, over
where the tunnel would have TO Ie
driven TO enable the road to enter Mel.
ton On the theo tbe T Wav I up and ali the
way down" the company would neeo 10
acquire this property. o. ba-
Carrie and / were hanging Oyer ia
mothers gate. talking OF the thousdnu
and one unimportant matters that
served their purpose in bringing Us 10
gether. l had stopped on. my way none IN,
n MORT information that Dave had gone
10 the gravel pit TO leave the train with
the last car under the shovel ready lor
the morning. and would soon DE nDri.e ex-
claimed We'll. l declare. II the de
isn't somebody coming up the lane On
horseback Who can it be; WONDER
AFTER moments careful scutiny;
."tis. too knew his horse by the wiA'e
star in its forehead. l., ,,
Il wonder what in the world ne can
want here: he never came here before.
| must run in and tell mama. And away
she went. leaving me silently anatn ,ta,,i5
tizing the judge; and wlsn ndgd ne instead
of annoying a fellow who was enjoying
The old gentleman leaped lightly to the
l,s= to n
near the gate and. bowling politely 10 me.
asked: rs your mother at nome young
Eyes sir; 1 guess So" I replied, she
was when | left there after dinner; l
III is Mrs. Stanwood that L wish TO
see; she is your mother, ] presume =
No. sir, my name is Odell; l live IN
the white house up the road piece;
.Oh, All, Yes: can you tell me IL MIS-
Stanwood is at homer"
Yes sir: she's home Go rlgnt ROUND
to the front door and knock.
Thank you.' he replied courteouSly,
as he opened the rickety gate, proceeded
up the path. and gave one loud rap Win
Mrs. Stanwood, having hastily donned
white apron, and tied a ribbon IN her
hair on receiving the alarm from Gar.
gentleman. with a slightly conscious
futter If there was one thing Judge
Davis thoroughly understood 1t was hu-
practice at the bar. he had learned how
to impress the numberless phases of
the human mind to the best advantage.
The moment he looked into the widow 5
clear brown eyes he said to himself:
Here is a woman of rare good sense.
| am no doubt, the most important per-
son who ever entered her door, but fat
terry won't go here; common, everyday
manners is my best weapon"
Without appearing to DO so, ne paid
her. by his quietly deferential manner,
H. rraFaff
that minute explanations We're unneces-
sary in her case. a .delicately fiattering
which had its effect.
After briefly summing up the difference
it would make to the residents of Melton
and its vicinity whether the railroad
passed through there or through Grey
town. he explained the necessity or out
bidding the neighboring place, and. with
out giving her any tangible information
as to what it was proposed to do. he in
impressed her with the idea
that she held the key to the entire stu
alton. The ridge barred the way and she
owned the land. Without actually saying
so. he caused her to understand that her
land was the last remaining obstacle. The
surface would be removed only at the
cutting which would approach the tunnel
proper. AS for the remainder, he pre-
in consideration Of her donas-
ing the property, would permit her to oc-
cupy il rent free.
Before he had finished talking. Dave.
entered the parlor. He apOlOgiZed. and
was about to leave. when the lady begged
him to stay and advise her. She intro
duced him to the judge who concealed
his chagrin by a mastery effort, and
briefly rehearsed the case.
The property, being mere mass of
barren rock. Mrs. Stanwood was inclined
TO give it at once. but asked Dawes opin-
ion.
He was opposed to making presents to
companies. They were abund-
antly able to pay for all they needed. and.
for his part II he owned a key piece he'd
make EN- pay roundly for il. Consider
he advised the lady to donate
barely sufficient land for the tunnel. and
to have it specifically stipulated in the
deed that only a strip 100 feel wide-the
accurately deiined-should be
given to the company. and that only in
case they built the tunnel in specified
time-say two years.
why would you impose such restric-
tions2" asked the judge, suppressing the
evidence of his displeasure by an effort.
BECAUSE. replied Dave. bluntiy rail
road companies are hogs and robbers.
If this widows rights are not carefully
guarded they will turn her out doors and
l know EN-: I've worked all my life for
EN-. and | know they are rightly termed
'soulless corporations True, that proper
~ is OF no earthly use to anybody. but
the line must be drawn somewhere and il
may as well be at the edge of the right of
way as anywhere else: you've got all
you wanted, anyway. haven't your"
''Well-n-no. not exactly" said the
judge. forced in spite of himself. 10 ad-
lnire the ruggedly honest eloquence of
the engineer. You see, the trouble is
with these restrictions: we have been