Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-11-26
CHAPTER II.
THE INVADERS.

| CI1SG Il ER Ii.
THE INVADERS.
I obeyed orders literally, leaning
back and closing my eyes when the
dust-begrimed range-rider galloped
up and swung out of the saddle. But
Kilgore proved to be bearer of It'd
ings; and when he had opened his
budget the breach of ranch discipline
and its merited out-eursing were
alike forgotten.
you're sure you know what you
are talking about, Bart?" said Mac
Pherson, eying his man suspiciously.
you know I've good right to be
doubtful of anything you say you see
or hear at the fort after payday"
The scourger of dumb brutes
| grinned and turned his pockets in
| side out.
81 reckon that calls the turn.
Cap'n Mac, six times in the haffen
dozen, but I'm jug-proof this evenin';
no dust. no drink. An I'm givn' it
to you straight. Their amt no kind
OF balk on it this time; Sellers
sold us out, lock. stock and barrel.
The deals done dealt, papers signed,
gradin' outfit on tho way, and the in
gineers a-comin' up the canyon this
identical minute,-tepees, tele-
scopes. barber-poles, and ALL"
A far-away look came into Mac
pherson's eyes, and the pipe between
his teeth began to go up and down
in way that swept me back through
a decade to stufry little college
dormitory, with a big-limbed young
son of Anak sitting across the table
| from me, hammering away at his
mathematics.
who is it, Bart?-the English
men?"
~ reckon"
"And they're on the way in now,
you say?"
yep"
II guess that settles it," said Mac
pherson, half absently. eve might
as we'll round up and drive over the
range"
His seeming reluctance to fight for
his own nettled me past endurance.
you'll do nothing of the sort if !
can help it," cut in. you're going
to contest this thing from start to
finish; and when your moneys gone.
you can have mine"
He shook his head. Its no use. I
can give and take with the next fell
low when it's worth while; but I'd
have to go. In the end. These people
aBs we'll within their lawful rights,
II they've bought Settlers ditch; and
I'm only squatter."
"Law be hanged! you've right and
posses sion. And in the last resort,
you can at least make them pay you
to CO."
Knowing Macpherson as I did, l
should have said that he was the last
man in the world to take the sem
timental point of view in any matter
of business, but surprises lie in wait
for one at every turn in this vale
of incertitude.
"If it were only question of profit
and loss, I shouldn't mind" he said.
"But it's just as you said awhile
back; I've been the Macpherson of
Torolito, and I've come to look upon
the park as my own particular little
kingdom"
1 wheeled promptly into line with
the sentimental point of view, and
spoke to the matter in hand.
"Put it upon any ground you
please, but don't give up without
trying fall or two with them. I'll
back you, as I promised; you might
as well have the patrimony as the
charity-people who will scramble
over it after I'm gone. We can home
| stead quarter-section or two on
their line of ditch for a beginning,
and pull down few injunctions on
them if they try to cross. I'm far
enough past qualifying and going
into court for you, but can be your
consulting attorney while last"
He shook his head again, as one
whose mind is made up. st wouldn't
do any good. There isn't ghost OF
q show for us in any legal fight. 1t
would be your bit of money and mine
against millions"
| Kilgore took the short-barre!ed
rifle from it's sling under his saddle.
flap and ficked the dust from it with
his soft hat. He had q trick Of look.
ing tired and sleepy upon occasion
and at such times, as / afterwarc
learned, those who knew him best
watched his pistol-hand.
Back yondcr in the Tennessee
hills. wher' come f'om," he said
"ther' was wunst teller f'om the
north at lowed he was a-goin' tc
build him hotel on the mounting
and run railroad up to it. Nobody
never said a blame word ag'inst it
as / ever hearn, but somehow
mother, he got sorter tired and won
out after awhile and quit; and ther
amt no ho-tell mr. no railroad on thai
ther' mounting yit."
We both filled in the inferentia
blanks in the parable, and when Xii
gore had disappeared in the direction
of the corral, said, jestingly:
There's an idea for you. If lega
means, fail, you can mobilize you,
cowboy army and drive them out by
main strength and awlswardness."
Macpherson laughed good-natured
ly. IF you were half as vindictiye
| as you talk, you'd be holy terror
But I'm not going to fight. AT first
4 -. rfr.