The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-11-12
The BOUNDARY LINE.


60 ARMERS Taylor and Bill
n ings, who had lived neighbors
- to each other for fifteen long
years, had always known that the line
fence separating their farms was
about foot or two out Of the way,
but they had been too sensible to care
who was favored.
1t was poor rail fence at best, zig
tagging across the pastures like
tipsy man going along, and the few
inches of soil in dispute were over
grown with thistles and blackberry
bushes.
Things changed, however, when
Ryder the broker, and Sanders, the
contractor. bought the two farms
overlooking the bay for summer COT
tageB.
The services of a surveyor were
called in and each man stood on his
rights.
When the surveyor found that the
true line took in eleven inches more
Of the contractors land, the broker
said that settled it.
1t didn't. however. The contractor
sent a lawyer to the county seat to
delve among the archives and fish up
rusty documents, determining to con-
tinue the fight any number of years
to prove that the surveyor was wrong.
While the contractor was planning,
as contractors will, the broker was
acting, as brokers do. In the terms
of the Street, he sold Mr.. Saunders
out and had closed his account.
In plain English, he had that fence
moved over to give him the eleven
inches due. Two days later the con-
tractor had it moved back.
1t was moving time thereafter for
two weeks. Five times in all was that
fence moved exactly eleven inches
to the west, and five times did it go
back eleven inches to the east.
Then the movers rested, but only to
get better hold.
While they were drawing their belts
a notch tighter, two new actors ap-
peared on the scene. One of these was
a good-looking girl named Sallie Saun-
ders, only daughter of the contractor,
and the other was a Well-set-up young
man named Harold Ryder only son Of
the broker.
Young Ryder was home for his va
cation, and Sallie Saunders had come
home because Vassar had a vacation,
too. OF course each one heard Of that
line fence before they had been home
an hour, and of course each one was
loyal and indignant
las dad Is busy in Wall street, I'll
just take this quarrel on my own
shoulders" observed Harold, who was
member Of a football team and
joyed in kicking down fences of every
sort and kind, when that scOundrcl
finds that he has got me to deal with
instead Of poor old dad, who Is for
peace at any price, there will be no
more moving, unless he moves to-
wards the hospital
TT is the most outrageous thing l
ever heard Of" exclaimed the girl
from Vassar when she had heard the
story. Il have always thought papa
was q fighter, but it seems that he has
bowed his head and been walked or
without shedding a drop OF blood.
Well, things will be different, now l
am home, thank goodness!
Next day the newcomers went OUT
to view the scene of slaughter. AS
they didn't happen to go at the same
hour no one was killed or wounded.
The fence still rested on disputed
ground.
THAT fellow Saunders has made his
bluff and quit" observed young Ryder
as he strolled back home.
Fate waited three days longer. Then
Harold was told that the Saunders
forces were skulking around, and ne
worked up his muscle and cut across
lots for the fence.
At almost the same moment MISS
Salie heard a rumor that "old Ryders
men" were going to give the fence 8
new boost, and she clapped on hei
frilled sunbonnet and made tracks.
She was not even armed with q
bodkin when she arrived at the scene
Of hostilities, and came face to face
with a young man sitting on the
fence in dispute, and putting away al
meerschaum.
She halted. The young man stared
fAiand his ho% oud STA m mere0: