The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-04-01
CHAPTER II.
THE INVADERS

1 obeyed orders literally, leaning
back and closing my eyes when the
dust-begrimed rangerider 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 it's merited out-cursing 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 givin' it
to you straight. Their amt no kind
of balk on it this time; Settlers
sold us out, lock, stock and barrel.
The deals done dealt, papers signed,
gradin' outfit on the way, and the in
gineers a-comin' up the canyon this
identical ute,-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 a way that swept me back through
decade to stuffy little college
dormitory, with a big-limbed young
son of Anall sitting across the table
from me, hammering away at his
mathematics.
"Who is it, Bart?-the English.
men?"
81 reckon"
"And they're on the way in now
you say?"
"Yep."
81 guess that settles it," said Mac
pherson, half absently. ave nigh
as well round up and drive over the
range"
His seeming reluctance to fight fol
his own nettled me past endurance
you'll do nothing of the sort if
can help it," l cut in. you're going
to contest this thing from start t.
finish; and when your moneys gone
you can have mine"
He shook his head. cts no use.
can give and take with the next fel
low when it's worth while; but T.,
have to go, in the end. These peopl
are well within their lawful rights
if they've bought Settlers ditch; an,
I'm only squatter."
Claw be hanged!-you've right an
possession. And in the last resort
you can at least make them pay yo
to CO."
Knowing Macpherson as / did,
! should have said that he was the las
man in the world to take the SCI
timental point of view in any matte
of business, but surprises lie in wal
: for one at every turn in this val
of incertitude.
ST it were only question of prof
and loss, 1 shouldn't mind,'' he sai'
''But it's just as you said awhil
: back; I've been the Macpherson {
Torolito, and I've come to look upo
= the park as my own particular lit
. kingdom"
l wheeled promptly into line wit
g the sentimental point of view, an
I spoke to the matter in hand.
"Put it upon any ground yo
h please, but don't give up witho,
3 trying fall or two with them. L
|. back you, as l promised; you migl
r as we'll have the patrimony as tt
o charity-people who will scramb
over it after I'm gone. We can HON
8, stead quarter-section or two {
t their line of ditch for a begjnnin
Z. and pull down few injunctions {
o them if they try to cross. I'm f;
enough past qualifying and goir
3. into court for you, but l can be yo'
IS consulting attorney while | last
# He shook his head again, MS OF
e whose mind is made up. 1T wouldr
lido any good. There isn't a ghost