The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-14
THE EVENING STOR r
Canglat BY the Leg.

a. body OF water, presumably the
Souno, that Johnson was always kick
ing about the taxes and always abusing
some one named Copeland, who owned
property next to his domain; and that
he himself hadn't the remotest idea OF
buying either shore or mountain prop
erty.
This was all before the great game of
poker that will be talked about in the
club for many years to come There
were but few members VINO didn't take
a hand occasionally, but the play had
seldom become exciting. On the occa-
sion in question, when Morrison, john
son and three others, sat down, no one
had any idea of what was coming. And
what did come was all because of the
extraordinary hands which the even
ing's play brought out. The deck seemed
to be beWitched. Pat Straights,
fiushes and full houses were as plentiful
as pairs had been on other occasions.
BY and by. when every player had a
hand he could back for any reasonable
sum, there was raising all along the
line, and before three of them grudging-
ly dropped out and left Morrison
and Johnson to fight it out be-
tween them, there was record
pot on the table. When that had been
property and made it $4,000. He was
raised a thousand dollars more. With
that he put down four aces only to be
beaten by a straight flush. Within three
days the. deeds of the property We're in
Morrison's hands.
In speaking of ''Dreamland,' as John
son had named his shore property, he
had forgotten to mention one thing.
The Copeland he had inyeighed against
was Colonel Copeland, a retired army
officer, sixty years old and man very
jealous of his rights. Having bought
to the edge of the water. he fenced to
the edge of the water. This raised
quarrel with the property owners on
either side, and the fences had been re-
peatedly torn down and rebuilt, while
the colonel had gone so far as to sit up
nights with a shotgun to proe%ct his
vested rights. This summer, owing TO
the colonels wife being in Europe,
''Dreamland" was in the hands of a
care-taker.
1t was a month before Morrison went
down to see his new property He
would not have gone then but for the
letters he received from the caretaker.
The latter stated that he had gecome
afraid of his life, and that he would
flee the place If something was not done
to protect him Mr. Arthur Morrison
was not a belligerent man, but he re-
fused to be bul1dczed. If Colonel Cope
land. his neighbor, was carrying things
with too high hand, he would drop
down and let him understand that other
Long Islanders had a few rights too.
Morrison had heard of irascible old
men with shot-gunss and his belief was
that all they needed was some one TO
talk right up to them.
He reached tDreamland'' one day just
in time to prevent the careta&er from
carrying out his project or hurried
flight And all this because in accord
ance with standing order from John
son, he had torn down thesdiyision fence
and Colonel Copeland had Actsl lily fired
at him before proceeding to rebuild It.
The injured man went on to give the
old military hero such a reputation thai
Morrison was minded at first to return
to New York and put the place in the
hands of a real estate agent. But the
care taker urged that he assert his
rights as a property owner, and though
it was with many rnisgivingS, he started
out to see about that shore fence.
The offending obstacle was nothing
more nor less than a rail fence that
ran down through the scrub brush and
over the sand to the edge of the water. !
It was all on the colonelfs own proper
". and just why this old man should
not have a dozen fences there if he |
wanted them, was a puzzle to the new |
conner. In fact, he thought it might be |
good idea to fence his own shore.
the care taker, who insisted that he
climb the nooted fence and walk about |
0n the coloners land just to show him /
that he did not own the earth
A man will do foolish things against /
his better judgment. Mr.. Morrison did /
lne on this occasion. He proceeded to I
climb the fence. As soon as his back /
vas turned the caretaker made re-
reat. If there was to be any shooting
ne did not want to be counted in.
When Mr.. Morrison had hoisted him
;elf to the top of the fence, he sat there I
or a few minutes and surveyed the
landscape There was the same old
long Island sound: there were the
same sand and brushes; there were the
rees, and beyond the trees he knew
vas the site of the cOlonePs house. II /
he colonel had not told the caretaker
hat he would aim to kill at the next
respasser en- his land, Mr.. Morrison
would have continued to sit on the top
all of that fence until his back ached |
md then dropped back on his own side
His spirit of defiance had been
troused, however. and he meant to walk
1t least a hundred steps and back. He
made a move to get off the fence. and |
ell forward. The next thing he knew !
lis foot was caught between the rails |
md he was hanging, head downward |
With a broken leg.
In firing on the caretalxer, getting into
red-hot temper and rebuilding the
ence the colonel had taken a chill and
vas laid up in bed. He could no longer
,rowl along the shore to guard his
-ested rights. But he had substitute
nd he gave that substitute stern orders.
her to take the shotgun
long and fire at any moving thing.
The substitute was his daughter Ag-
les She was ruler of the coloneps
louse and the idol of his heart. and
he had taken more than ordinary in
crest in that shore fence question
The had announced, too. she was ready
O perish in defence of her inalienable
lights as heir to the property. This
ceiling was strong upon her as she
onned her jaunty hat and walking skirt
nd headed for the beach that after
oon If the fence was still erect, wen
nd good. If it had been torn down
gain
Help. Help. Helpr' were the words
hat. reached the girls ears as she made
er way through the bushes. and the
ounds startled her. Some one, in tear
ag down that fence had come to grief.
hound she play the good Samaritan?
ashed through her mind. No; but she