The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-04-06

male, female, respectable, ,disreputable,
well-dressed, unkempt, native, for
eign-pushing and crowding. bab-
bling and gesticulating.
There was no turning them away,
those poor fellows, for not only were
there clergymen among them. as Gin
bold had seen, but reverend gentlemen
We're in many cases leaders Of special
contingents of home-seekers, and many
others in the crowd carried letters
ss-Sm contributors to the fund which
were not to be ignored. 1t was late
in the day before the last application
was received, the last dreary explana-
tion made, the last golden promise ut
tered, Day after day the crowd surged
into the Office and out again. And 1t
grew not only in size, but in its ex-
actions for humanity in general is
very insistent in the matter Of its
rights when they involve free-for-all
schemes. Then the notoriety which
the newspapers gave the scheme not
OHly luSACaoCu tHc Size VI INC SAO"uoi
but it brought in a couple Of govern
ment inspectors, who wanted to know
if it was being thoroughly explained
to each applicant that the non-specula-
tive clause in the government con-
tract would be rigidly enforced. 1t also
brought in a plain-clothes man. from
Mulberry street, who caused the pat
ners additional concern.
They set out upon their task With
callous disregard of the consequences.
They were sending a horde Of urfor-
tunates thousands Of miles away from
familiar associations, to mountain
fasrnesses which in many cases wc-1ld
yield nothing to the plow, and In re-
turn they were exacting the only prod
uct which made the land worth She
acquiring. Summoned to their Office,
the home-seekers came one by one,
and in the private room the question
was put to each Some of them, poor
innocents! were eager and willing to
do anything in return for the boon of
promised hctne Some had to be
coaxed, some wheedled, some threat
ened, and a few, who saw through the
whcle business, placated. But on the
morning of departure Gimbold and
Hochheimer had secured signed OPP
tions on mineral rights from three
fourths of the home-seekers. The rest
woss considered too risky to approach.
On the morning of the departure
they went over to the railway station
Nothing but the fascination of seeing
tbs last of their handiwork took them
there.
Ia the depot they were given rous
ing reception, and they beamed from
one to another of their dupes, And
went among the mothers and tAeil
children, helping them to seats In the
trsin and bidding them Godspeed wstt
a benign courtesy that was beautiful
to h:hold.
Il the end they were compelled tc
make speech-Gimbold made it from
the rear platform of the train-s
speech so inspiring in its patriotism
so tender in its pathos, that the en-
thusiasm invoked was tremendous
and the people struggled with one an
otaer to get to the orator, who waI
forced to retreat into the car. Ther'
he met the government inspector facl
| to face. Back Of the inspector stoot
} the plain clothes man" from polie'
J headquarters.
And now, Mr.. Gimbold," began tn,
! inspector, without preamble, "ant
now that you have excited those limo
ces:s until their feelings are at tn,
t breaking-point, what do you think the,
/ would do to you if were to tell then
that those options Of yours rendere,
!. their homestead claim inyalid?"
I why, IL" stammered Gimbold
' taken aback, 'I-I-dont know wha
you mean
eOh, yes you do" replied the inspeC
tor. calmly. you have with yo
+ signed options on all the ore bodie
n underlying the claims of these people
o Suppose tell them they have inval
g dated their titles?"
r Il don't believe It," clustered Gin
bold. hotly. ITS a point Of law
n would have to be proved"
l. Granted" said the inspector; "bu
those fellows wouldn't wait for tn
/ law to settle 1t IL told them Of M
e doubts
Q We'll, what are you going to d
t about it7" demanded Glmbold, rever
i Ing to that time-worn defiance.
It Why, I'm going to tell them, unles
|. you hand over those options"
!, "Never"
i Il guess you'd better give them Vi
/ Gimbold," put in the @plain-clothe
i man" Il don't believe the chief woul
o like 1t to be found out that you ha
Il dlsregarded his advice"
4 Gimbold thought moment. The
# the futility of resistance must hay
e struck him, for with an imprecatio
he pulled thick wallet from hi
d pocket and handed N to the inspe
10 tor.
Ie The crowd outside surged up th
10 steps and into the car, calling loud
r. for Gimbold and his partner. The pc
b. pie wanted to see more Of the me
If who had done so much for them.