The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-11-05
Observation-Disclosures,
The Squatter..@ +;

! Copyright, 1903. by T. c. Mcclure.l
One day when Pop Jackson, the
squatter. was sitting in the sunshine
with his back against the wall of hi
pole cabin an event happened. Events
had happened in his life before, bu,
nothing to compare with this. A gang
Of half q dozen men were crossing his
land. He had: squatted on the land
twenty years before and therefore cali,
ed 1t his. One Of the men was squint.
Ing through q surveyors instrument,
others were using a chain, and still 9th.
ers were cutting down brush and driv.
ing stakes. Pop got to his feet and
rubbed his eyes and scratched the back
Of his head. Then he exclaimed to
himself, "Dawg gone my catsw and
sauntered down to the strangers and
asked Of one Of them:
NOW. then, what you all dom
yere?
Surveying" was the brief reply.
"What fur?'
"a railroad"
Zone o them things that boots and
draws kyars behind 'em?"
Eyes"
S'"Then git off'n my squat! You all
can't build no railroad yere. l don't
want the hootin'. and won't have it,
The men laughed at him, and be
went to the cabin and got his gun and
threatened them. For this he was ar.
rested and given three months in jail
His old wife and his son Joe took II
philosophically.
Got him in jail, hev they?' queried
the wife when she heard the outcome
Of the trial. "Waal. he won't git his
feet wet in thar, and mebbe the whis.
ky II be better"
When Pop came out Of Jail they were
building the roadbcd across his land
He sat down in his old place in the
sunshine and glowcred and muttered
and his son Joe came along and said:
''No use, Pop. Them railroad folks
are too hefty fur you. That hooters
bound to cum along fur shore"
sf'Eut have'I ever done anything ia
tie railroad?" demanded the father.
"Reckon not.''
rA"Then what do they want to come
along ycre Dustin up my peace O. mind
fur!'
"Can't say, pop. only they are com
In"
mot II know It, Joe; not IL I know
It! I'm man us has got to have q
chance to think. and how IN I goin' tt
think with q hooter a-hootin' alona
yere? I'm a-tellin' you. my son. thai
it's got to be stopped"
'..You hain't hefty 'nunf, pop"
Pop went down to where they were
laying and spiking the rails and SAID
that II work did not cease ut once he
would kill man. A constable was q,
hand to arrest him, aud he was take1
to town for another trial. This time hl
got year in jail.
'What fur?" he asked the Judge.
;For interfering with the railroat
ana making threats"
"But didn't the railroad interfere
with ME firsty'
"As to howY
"As to Dustin up my chance fu,
thinkin'. ledge, I'm man what thinks
I've got to think. I've got to sot dowr
With my back to the cabin and think 6
mighty heap. I've allus had to do 1t
and now If this dinged hooter is comm
along yere to bust ne up might as
we'll hung myself"
what do you think of"
"Of how to git whisky and terbackel
and bacon and meal"
When the boy came home from thu
tri1l the wife ana mother asked NJ
questions for an hour. Then she care
lessly quericd:
FLOW much this time"
"A year."
Shoo! Pop is gainin' on It."
When pop had served two months OF
his sentence he broke Jail and came
home. He arrived at night. AS he en-
tered the cabin his wife awoke and
called out:
THAT you, pop?"
"Yep."
"What We doin' outer jail?"
Busted out"
"Goin' to hide away in the woodsT
Cant say. Don't talk to me any
mo-, fur I'm dog tired"
Powerful hefty for your size, pop
said Joe as he awoke, but We hain't
betty 'nuff. Better let 'em alone"
When morning came pop ate his
breakfast and said little. Then he de-
parted for his thinking log in the
woods. 1t was almost noon when he
returned to take down his rife from
its hooks.
""3etter let it alone, pop" cautioned
jim.
"Shoo, but how cantankerous!' whis.
pered the wife.
Pop walked down on the tracks on
which trains were running regularly.
lie took his stand between the rails in
full sight of the cabin, and his wife and
son came out to see. No word was
spoken between them. After ten min.
utes they heard a passenger train
whistling at the highway crossing q
!