The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-12-14

seU AAS lVImeutOr. See0 KlVefeQ
wagon thar an smoke pourin' out o.
yer chimbley."
who is the sneaking curt" demand
ed the now thoroughly aroused man.
Il dunno"
"Well, 1t won't take me long to find
out" retorted Rob, drawing on his
heavy buffalo overcoat with an angry
jerk.
"Wot! Yer amt goin' ter go ter yer
claim right nowT'
Yes, and I'll see that that sneak
thief gets out Of my shack in a hurry.
I've got pretty well warmed up" with
grim smile, land don't need Miley's
Are any longer"
Il wouldn't 60 II was you," said
Ike.
you wouldn'tY' eying him with con-
temptuOus astonishment.
MOP
You must be fool II you think I'm
going to give up my land, after all I'VE
done on it, without so much az by
your leaver"
But yer might get inter trubble."
Might II" cried Desmond, with q
gesture of disgust, holding up pair
OF heavy pistols and then thrusting
them into his belt. well see about
that! II the cuss isn't OF my premises
inside an hour I'll give him trouble.
and lots Of it!'
Il don't think you'll run that settler
out" said Jim coolly.
"Yeu don'tw
1 mo, DON'T
whats the reason?"
Thar's sev'ral reasons, an as fer
me, wouldn't want ter tackle the
job"
you wouldn't? Well, don't worry.
I'll not call on you for assistance"
and, with quick stride, Rob Desmond
walked out Of the store. got his horse
ffw4n the stable where it had been kept
during his absence, mounted and was
soon galloping away through the snowy
dusk of the late afternoon.
When he was well beyond earshot the
two conspirators went of into roars Of
laughter. Then they had to acquaint
Miley with the occasion Of their mirth,
for he enjoyed joke as well as the
next one.
IT'S good one on Rob, by gumw
cried the storekeepers Joining heartily
in the laughter.
(Which calls fer y nv cigars an
two bottles O. Mileyss perance phos-
phate, don't it, Ike n demanded Jim.
That's woteverv'' affirmed Ike AN
the same to be charged ter Rob Des-
mond's account?"
Exactly"
Good enough" said Miley. give
dollars is cheap a-plenty fer him to get
or with. I imagine kin see him a-git-
TIM madden n ever an ridin' like all
persessed through the snowstorm down
ter his claim" chuckled the old man
as he reached for a box of cigars on
the shelf.
"Hor on minute Miley," said Jim.
aS'Wot yer say, Ike, ter dispensin' with
them cigars an phosphatizin' this
time an takin' tn amount O Rob's
{ treat in the toys an sich tricks fer
Christmas presents fer them kids an
putin in five of our own fer some
]. thin neat fer that leetle woman?"
THE very idee! BY thump! kin re-
member how Noay's ark an tin whis-
ties an SIGH do-funnies lister stir me
up when wus kid back in Jackson
county at Christmas time. Yer plumb
genus, Jim, yer air, by gingerw
Meantime Rob Desmond, his mind
filed with righteous wrath against the
unprincipled wretch who had dared
Jump his claim" was nearing his cab
in. In his anger snow and cutting
winds were scarcely noticed. Only one
to set eyes on that rascal Of a claim
jumper and order him off his domain
forthwith.
When he reached the persimmon
thicket he hitched his horse and walk
ed energetically toward his cabin The
door was partly open. held so by little
Bessie, who was watching the falling
snow. She was alone, the others hay
ing gone to the dugout stable to sec
that the mules were made comfortable
for the night.
The glow from the fireplace revealed,
to the owners astonished gaze, bright
eyed little fairy with long golden hair
She was swaying back and forth hum
ming to herself Then she broke out
earnestly:
"Oh, Sanity, tum right here an make
our wagon we'll, an, if you can spare
'em, just drop some nice Trismus pres
ents down.
She ceased suddenly as the form of
a man doomed up before her. She had
been asking for Santa Claus, and there
was now no doubt in her mind but that
Rob, in his big fur overcoat covered
with snowflakes, was the great person
age for whom she had been calling.
where's your pa, little girl?" asked
Desmond, entering his own cabin.
''He's gone," answered Bessie, look
ing half shyly at the visitor.
"Gone! Where tot"
".Gone to heben," said the little girl
very simply.
.Humph!" muttered Rob to himself
az Jt,7,,t Lnow claim irmnors wont IN