The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-28
TALES OF PLUCK
AND ADVENTURE
An Exciting Race.
n the little town of Oakland live
Ida Record n nratfy Schnnlfna oh


r N the little town of Oakland lives
Ida Record. a pretty schooltea CHI
er, who recently ran race to the
land Office with Jim McVey, Of
Hhe same place, betting him by frac-
tion OF a second. but beating him all
the same, to the delight of he~ friends,
says the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Miss Record has been the teach for
several years in the village nestled
among the Ozarks just off the bank
of the picturesque White River. The
President of the village had succeeded
by hard work and many privations in
building substantial schoolhouse.
For convenience the teacher lived in a
small log house adjacent, with her
widowed mother and little sister.
There never would have been any
question as to the rights OF the village
in occupying the Bit of ground where
the schoolhouse is located had it not
been for the recent mineral excitement
throughout this entire country. This
was the incentive which induced the
people to look closely to thei: own and
their neiGhborS' title deeds. and in the
course OF his investigation Jim McVey
built upon land that had never been
claimed by anybody. The young man
made up his mind to own that bit Of
land. and so took measures to "home
stead it. The schoo "acher was told
of the intentions of the gentleman,
and immediately decided that she
would present 4 prior claim to the
land. which was of so much value to
her as the site of the schoolhouse
The town of Harrison. the seat Of the
land office. was sixty miles away. over
rough mountain roads but that didn't
,daun the little lady. who determined
that if McVey was going there to take
her schCoihOuSe she would get there
first and homestead it herself. She
called upon her brother to assist her,
and they Saddled their horses and the
race began. Miss Record patrio7 cally
defending the rights of the little red
schoolhouSe" and Mr.. McTev working
for MI McNey.
The ride was long and full of dra-
matte incidents. Upon reaching White
River Miss Record learned that Mr..
McNey had just crossed. She did not
wait for the ferrybOat. but into the
river she urged her horse. He plunged
breast high into the stream and swan
most of the distance to the other side.
Thaa on to Yellville with foam -tlecked
sides the horse Went. the plucky little
rider never heSitatinG Il moment until
she had jumped from its back at the
door of the clerk 5 office in this town.
The clerk looked at the pretty. flushed
face of the lady as she stated her
wishes. and it was With real dlSap-
pointment in his tone that he informed
Ter that McVey had been there five
minutes before. But" said he. Miss
Record. this mans papers have not
yet gone TO Harrison, and if you can
get thore before they do you can yet
have the land 1t was ) o'clock in
tue afternoon. but she was ready to
mount q fresh horse and begin the
thirty-threc- mile ride In the mean
time McVey had learned that she and
her brother had set out for Harrison.
and it didn't take him long to make UP
his mind TO follow them. He arrived
at Harrison at about the same time as
the others, and they rode up to the
and office together, only to learn that
he land office would not he open until
} clock the next morning.
In the interval Miss Record had
2anvassed all the possibilities afforded
by technicalites, and long before the
hOur she was present, having taken
ner stand at the desk OF the recorder.
MrNey stood before the desk of the
receiver. She was in the best humor
Imaginable and made several witty
remarks at MS expense while the re
corder waited watch in hand. Finally
ne laughed just al the moment the re
corder called time. and Miss Record
dropping her papers on his desk, SAID:
sI file those for record McNey was
one moment too late, his laugh having
cost him the homestead Miss Record
declares that, as soon as she gets the
title she will deed the school building
TO the town Of Oakland, and although
khe people of the village feel safe
about their schoolhouse they have
cause for regret. as the neighborinS
town has offered Miss Record more
money for her services in its school.
No Use For the Cactus.
T 's'No | can't say that | have any
admiration for that sort of plant, how
ever fine specimen ii is said j. Nj.
Proctor. of Phoenix. AriZ.. recently,
as he passed q casual glance at j.