Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-06-21
THE SPADE AND
THE SHOT GUN

~ ~
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ooooS
VY yHEN the Territory Of Okla.
\H/ homa was opened to set.
w Element in April. 1889, Hen
~ Mcneil, of Kansas, was
one of the thousands who Joined in
the race for a claim. More fortunate
than some, he secured choice bit Of
land, and joyfully set to work to build
his dugout.
That necessary labor done, the ques.
tiOn arose where he should conceal his
provisions and other belongings while
he took the unavoidable trip to the
land Office to get his papers"
Neighbors. in the usual sense, he had
none. the nearest settler being almost
a mile away. The region was infested
with struggling desperadoes-claim
jumpers, gamblers and horse thieves
and to leave his property exposed
would be to invite any rascal to take
it.
Mcneil dug sort Of cave behind
his sod house, making the pit deep
enough SO that some time in the future
he could connect it with his cellar In
this hole he placed his few household
goods. Then he boarded over the top
covered the board with sod and brush,
and started away feeling sure that all
would be safe.
Mcneil was but one of many settlers
with claims to file, and it was three
days before he received his papers,
Then, happy in their possession. he
hurried back to his new hOuse-only
to find that it was occupied by two
rough looking men who eyed him in a
way that promised anything but a
friendly reception.
Now Mcneil was Scotchman, and
cautious, and he began by asking mild
ly II they knew of any vacant land
In the neighborhood. They did not,
but they volunteered the information
that, finding this place deserted and
being told that the man who had made
the improvements had got discouraged
and abandoned the claim, they had
taken it up.
Were they laim-jumpers, or honest
men who had been misled? Mcneil
resolved to give them the benefit Of the
doubt.
Gentlemen" he said, II built this
house and made these improvements.
This Is my claim. have not aban-
dOned 1t and never thought OF doing
| So"
The two men stared at him for
moment In silence. Then one Of them
laughed contemptuously.
"That won't 60 down, young fellerw
he cried. Il don't believe you ever
saw this claim fore to-. day. And if
you did, twas 'bandoned clear enough
no grub or tools in sight to show that
WhOeyer'd been here meant ever to
come back. Anyway. folks round
about tell me the Teller that was here
was sooner come into the country
before the COMMENT give the word,
and If he hadn't got out the military
would "a run him out"
But" Mcneil protested, II can
prove that / am the rightful owner.
See, here Is my receipt from the land
office, and 1t describes this claim: "rhe
8. w. n Sec. 17'"-
Here one Of the intruders reached for
the paper in McNeill's hand, as If to
examine It; but no sooner had he Sc
cured possession than he threw it to-
ward the other end of the room. In the
next instant he leveled revolver at
the young mans head.
"Now you travel, sonny" the ras-
cal roared. "and don't you ever set
foot on this claim again, unless you
want the sun to shine clean through
yen N'' ..".t..
Mcneil Travelled; there was nothing
else for him to do. But there was
CLEAN in his eyes which suggested
that the matter would not rest there.
Naturally he went for help first to
the men who had taken up adjoining
claims. They sympathized with him,
yet they would not interfere. Their
advice was that Mcneil should begin
legal proceedings to expel the intrud-
ers. But the young man objected
that that would take time, and he
wanted to be at work on his claim,
since the season for planting would
soon be past.
Finally, ending the wearisome and
fruitless argument, Mcneil resolved to
try to regain possession single-handed.
He borrowed spade and shotgun
from the nearest neighbor. and after
darkness had fallen crept cautiously
up the draw" or ravine that crossed
his claim. Undecided, he made his
way to the pile of brush that marked
the entrance to his underground store
room. and cautiously removing some
Of the sods and boards, dropped down
into the hole. H.
But he did not dare to begin at once
to dig. Not until he thought the ras-
calls must be asleep did he start to
burrow through the three or four feet
Of earth between his hiding place and
the room beyond.
Very slowly he worked, feeling with
bis hands for any stone that might
fall and betray him, and laying each
carefully down. Hours he toiled. it
seemed, much cramped for space and
sometimes straitened for breath. be-
fore he felt sure he was almost through
the wall. .......t-.. ..
The he took out his knife. Piece by
piece, bit by bit. he shaved away the
earth. Suddenly his blade penetrated
the thin partition. He had come out as
he had planned, directly under the
bed. He could hear the deep breath.
Ing Of the enemies as they slept.
1t was no part Of McNeill's design to
assault the 'jumpers," although he
I believed they would not hesitate to kill
him. He hoped to dispossess them, by