The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-23

what Mr.. Morrison wishes II
The lumberman and the other clerk
consulted in low voice, after which
the official turned TO tumble among
the records. Not finding what he
wanted. he approached Smithers-
whispered consultation ensued between
these two Then Smithers called:
Take a seat Mr., Morrison This
gentleman is looking over these town
ships, and viii have finished IN few
moments
Morrison's eye suddenly became IN
easy.
I am somewhat busy this morning"
he objected With a shade of command
in his voice. -
If this gentleman suggested the
clerk deliberately.
Il am sorry" put in Thorpe with
brevity. MY time. too. is valuable"
Morrison looked at him sharply.
MY deal IS a big one" he snapped.
! I can probably arrange with this gen
tIeman TO let him have his farm"
7 claim precedence, replied Thorpe
calmly.
"Wen, = said Morrison, swift as light.
.'Ill tell you. Smithers. I'll leave my
list of descriptions and check with
you Give me q receipt and mark my
lands off after you've finished with this
! gentleman"
Now, government and state lands are
1 the property of the man who pays for
them Although the clerks receipt
might not give Morrison valid claim,
nevertheless il would afford basis for
lawsuit. Thorpe saw the trap, and
interDosed.
! Hold on" he interrupted. Il claim
precedence. You can give no receipt
for any land in these townships until
after my business is transacted. have
reason to believe that this gentleman
and myself are both after the same
dissertations
What" shouted Morrison. assuming
surprise.
You will have to wait your turn, Mr.
Morrison" said the clerk, virtuous De
fore so many witnesses.
The business man was in white rage
of excitement.
4 Insist on my application being flied
at oncey' he cried, waving, his check. p
Il have the money right here to pay for
every acre of it; and if know the law,
the first man to pay takes the land"
He slapped the check down on The
rail, and hit 1T number of times With
the fat OF his hand. Thorpe turned and
faced him with a steel look in his level
eyes.
Mr.. Morrison he said. '.you are
quite right. The first man who pays
gets the land; but have won the first
chance to pay You will kindly step
one side until finish my business with
Mr.. Smithers here"
II suppose you have the amount
actually with you,' said the clerk, quite
respectfully, because if you have not,
Mr.. Morrison's claim will take pTece-
dence.''
81 would hardly have any business in
; land office if 1 did not know that, -
replied Thorpe, and began his dictation
, of the description as calmly as though
|. his inside pocket contained the required
; amount in bank bills.
Thorpe's hopes had sunk to zero.
After all, looking at the matter dis
passionately, why should be expect
Carpenter to trust him, a stranger,
with so large a sum? 1t had been mad
ness. Only the blind confidence of the
lighting man led him further into the
? struggle.
, Thorpe's descriptions were contained
in the battered little note book he had
carried with him in the woods. For
: each piece of land first there came the
: township described by latitude and
l | east and west range. After this gen.
r eric description followed another figure
5 i representing Fthe section Of that par
ticular district. So 49-17 VS., meant
j section g. of the township on range 4s
a north, II west If Thorpe wished to
e purchase, the whole section that de-
> scription would suffice. On the other
Y hand if he wished to- buy only one
Z. forty. he DESCRIBED its position in the
a quarter sectiOfss. Thus SW-NW Al
q / s. meant the Southwest forty of The
northwest quarter of section 8 in the
: township already described.
e The clerk marked across each square
: of his map as Thorpe read them, the
d date and the purchasers Names -tt-
p In his note book Thorpe had. Of
n course, entered the briefest description
r possible Now, in debating TO TIT
clerk, ne conceived the idea of specify
g ing each subdivision. This gained. some
5 time. Instead of saying simple
: Northwest corner of section So. he
I made of it four separate descriptions
S as follows: Northwest quarters OF
e northwest quarter; northeast of north
S west quarter; southwest of nOrthwes
t quarter; and southeast of northwes
: quarter.
He was not so foolish as to read tn,
e descriptions in succession, but so scat
= ter them that the clerk, putting dowT
o the figures mechanically, had no idea
of the amount OF unnecessary work ht
e was doing. The minute hands of tn,
/ clock dragged around Thorpe droneC
e down the long column. The cieIl
I, scratched industriously, repeating in
d half voice each description as it Wal
d transcribed
e At length the task was finished. /
q became necessary to type duplicat
e lists of the descriptions While tin
q somnolent youth finished his task
Thorpe listened for the messenger DO.
o on the stairs.
e A faint slam was heard outside tn
II rickety old building. Hasty step
n sounded along the corridor The land
x locker merely stopped the drumming
II of his fingers on the broad arm o
sc the chair. The door flew open, and Wal
lace Carpenter walked quickly TO him
Thorpe's- face lighted up as he ros
to greet his partner. The boy had TO
II forgotten their compact after all.
8 Then it's all right?" queried the lat
ter breathlessly.
% Sure answered Thorpe heartily
II got 'em in good shape"
~ At the same time he was drawing TIL
e youth beyond the vigilant watchfulnes
i of Mr.. Morrison.
- You're just in time" he said in al
= undertone. Never had so close
- squeak. I suppose YOU have cash or
- certified check; that's all they'll tax
~ here
Il What do. you mean?'' asked Carper
- ter blankly.
>" Haven't you that money!" returne
= Thorpe quick as a hawk
~ For heavens sake, isn't it here
! cried Wallace in CONSERVATION. Il wire
= Duncan. my banker, here last nigh
- and received a reply from him. Fl