The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1901-01-26
LOST BY A LAUGH.
A Moments Merriment Cost a west
crn Homestender Coveted
Piece OF Land.


Miss Ida Record is a pretty schcol.
teacher of Oakland, Ark. but she can
do several other things besides teach
school, and one of these things is to
ride a horse. Jim McVey, who ran
a race with her the other day, can
testify to this If he will, says the Lit
tie Chronicle.
Miss Record has been teaching for
several years in this little village nes-
tied among the Ozarks, just Off the
banks Of the picturesque White river.
The people there have managed
By hard work and self.denial, to save
money enough to build a good school
house and the teacher, with her wild
owed mother and sister, lives in
small Lighthouse near by. There never
would have been any question as to
the rights Of the village in occupying
the bit Of ground where the school
house stands. if it had not been for
the fact that the people of the county
have lately found reason to believe that
there were minerals in their land.
Everybody began to look closely into
their own and their neighbors' title
deeds and, while doing this. Jim Nc
Vey discovered that the schoolhouse
was built upon land that had never
been claimed by anybody. 1t occurred
to him that he might as we'll own that
piece of the earth and he made up his
mind to file a homestead claim on it.
Miss Record heard of his plan, and
at once decided that she would herself
put in claim for the property and,
after getting the title. would deed the
school building to Oakland. The town
of Harrison, the seat of the land Of
fee, was GO miles away. over rough
mountain roads, but that did not daunt
the little lady, who was determined
that If McVey was going there to take
her schoolhouse she would get there
first and homestead" it herself. She
called on her brother to help her. They |
saddled their horses and the race be- |
gan. The ride was long and exciting.
On reaching White river Miss Record |
learned that McVey had just crossed. |
She did not wait for the ferryboat.
but urged her horse into the river. It
plunged breast high into the stream
and swan most of the distance to the
other side. Then on to YellvilIe with
sides the horse went, the
Dlucky little rider never drawing rein
until she jumped down at the door Of
he government land office.
The clerk looked at her pretty, flushed
ace as she told her story, and. with
'eal disappointment. informed her that
dcVey had been there five minutes be-
ore.
But" he said. 'this mans papers
aven't gone to Harrison. If you can
ret there before they do you can have
he land yet"
1t was five o'clock in the afternoon,
nut she mounted fresh horse and be-
an the 33-mile ride. In the mean
ime Mr.. McVey found that she and
er brother had gone to Harrison and
e started after them. They all rode
p to the land office together only TO
nd that it would not be open until
inc o'clock next morning.
Long before the hour Miss Record
ad taken her stand at the desk of
he recorder. McVey stood before the
esk of the receiver She was in high
pirits and made several witty remarks q
his expense. while the recorder was
aiting. watch in hand. Finally Nc :
ey laughed just as the recorder called
time" and at that instant Miss r
ecord dropped her papers on the desk
nd said: II file these for record"
McVey's laugh had cost him the
he was one moment too I
te. =