The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-02-13
ELLA sTAUNToN had gone to

i Florida with the intention of
taking up a homestead; but had been
at her brother-in-law's there three
weeks now without hearing of a
single vacant piece. One day he came
In with radiant face.
'I've found a prize for you, Leila"
he exclaimed. "a German who lives
two miles from here has just been
left fortune at horne, and is going
back. He entered his claim nearly
three years ago, and has made quite a
lot of improvements; but of course he
doesn't mind them now. He leaves this
afternoon, and then the land becomes
public property. i asked him if he had
spoken of it to anyone, and he said
only to the postmaster. He received
the news this morning, and told the
postmaster about it. / have been able
to do him some service, and when L
spoke about you he seemed pleased,
and said that he would like you to
have the land and the improvements.
He said he would like to think of the
place belonging to some of my people.
Now, the sooner you file your claim, the
better. / will go with you tomorrow,
if you like"
"Why not at once?" asked Leila,
eagerly.
81 have an engagement this after
noon, and can't possibly get off. But
we'll start early in the morning"
"That might be too late. It's only
IS miles to Gainesville. Why can't l
go alone?"
"Well, I-don't know" thoughtfully.
81 hardly like the idea of your going
alone. Still, time is important, as you
say, and the road is good, and you are
a splendid rider. You could make it in
three hours, and spend the night with
Mrs. Wilson. Under the circum-
stances"
81 would better CO." she interrupt
ed "Good! Now, if you will please
saddle the horse, 1 will get ready"
Her brother-in-law's place was in
the outskirts of assman town, and as
he went toward the stable he heard
hasty footsteps outside the fence
which separated him from the street,
and presently strong, athletic figure
vaunted over and came toward him.
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Clifford" the
stranger said, hurriedly, "but let me
have horse for few hours? My broth
er said that you kept the best horses
in town"
"Not to let, though" answered Mr..
Clifford, rather coldly. Who is your
brother?"
Henry Wayne, the postmaster. You
see, 1 only reached here to-day, and
Henry has been telling me something
which renders my presence in Gaines
vile imperative"
"Ah!" Mr. Gifford's, sab, twas veryex-
pressive, and he looked out across his
orange grove as though in search of an
answer to some unspoken thought.
81 am in a great hurry" limited Mr..
Wayne, after prolonged silence, "and
I will pay you we'll"
az want no pay" hastily. Then with
a sudden change of voice: "Yes, Think
I can let you have horse, but do
not warrant his speed"
Leading the way to the stable, he
pointed to large gray.
"That is the strongest one in the
stable" he said; you can have him if
you like. The black is faster, but
reserve him especially for the side
saddle; and the two bays have been
working this morning"
Five minutes later he led the black
horse to the stile. Leila was waiting.
"Who was that gentleman?" she
asked.
"a Mr.. Wayne. Heis going to Gaines
vile. let him have the gray horse"
"The gray horse!" she echoed, as
she sprang lightly into the saddle.
"Why, that is the plow horse. He could
go faster on foot"
$50 1 think" coolly, shut found he
is after the very piece of land 1 told
you about. He has gone by the main
road; you must take the short cut
through the live oaks. That will save
you two miles, and allow you to avoid
horse" He took slip of paper from
his pocketbook and handed it to her
"that contains all the necessary in
formation about the homestead" he
admonished. "Give it to the clerk
whose name is on the back. He knows
me, and will see that your entry is
made correctly. Now go, and don't
spare the whip"
"Lelia was a good rider, as he had
said, and it was not long before she
had passed through the live oaks to the
main road. The stranger was not in
sight.
For half an hour she sped on, the
horse taking the road almost as light
ly as bird; then suddenly piece of
newspaper ratified across their path,
and the horse SHE'D violently, throw
ing her into the bushes.
Fortunately, she was not much hurt;
but as she rose to her feet sharp
was sprained. The horse was nibbling
tussock grass few yards away.
"Dick, Dicki Come, Dickl" she
coaxed, hmping toward him.
But Dick was in playful mood, and
as she advanced he retreated. She fol-
lowed him several rods, then he
whirled and trotted back over the road
they had come. Leila watched him un-
til he disappeared. She did not feel
able to walk any farther, so she sat
down upon stone to consider. Gaines
Vile was six miles away, her home
nearly ten, and her ankle was growing
worse. Clearly there was nothing to
60 but wait for some chance passer to
come to her assistance.