The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-09-10
The Squatter.
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One day When Pop jackson, tn
squatter. was sitting in the sunshine
with his back against the wall of hi,
pole cabin an event happened. Event.
had happened in his life before, but
nothing to compare with this. A ganl
of half dozen men We're crossing his
land. He had squatted on the land
twenty years before and therefore call.
cd it his. One of the men was squint.
Ing through surveyors instrument,
others were using 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 cats" and
sauntered down to the strangers and
asked Of one of them:
Nov, 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?"
"Yes."
'Then git oftn my squat! You all
can't build no railroad yere. I don't
want the hootin', and won't have it."
The men laughed at him, and he
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 It
philosophically.
Got him in Jail, hev theyY 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 IL be better"
When Pop came out Of Jail they were
building the roadbed across his land.
He sat down in his old place in the
sunshine and glowered and muttered,
and his son Joe came along and said:
mo use, Pop. Them railroad folks
are too hefty fur you. That hooters
bound to cum ;,iong fur shore"
"But have I ever done anything to
the railroad?" demanded the father.
Reckon not"
'Then what do they want to come
along yere Dustin up my peace O mind
fur?''
Cant say. pop, only they are CON-
in"
mot II I know it. Joe; not If I know
it! I'm man as has got to have n
chance to think, and how m goin' to
think with hooter a-hootin' along
yere? I'm a-tellin' you, my son, that
it's got to be stopped"
"You hain't betty 'nuff, pop"
Pop went down to where they were
laying and spiking the rails and said
that If work did not cease at once be
would kill man. A constable was at
hand to arrest him, and he was taken
to town for another trial This time he
got year in Jail.
"What fur?" he asked the Judge.
"For interfering with the railroad
and making threats
"But didn't the railroad interfere
with me flrst:''
"As to howl"
"As to Dustin up my chance fur
thinkin'. ledge. I'm man what thinks.
I've got to think. I've got to sot down
with my back to the cabin and think
mighty heap. I've allus had to do it.
and now If this dinged hootcr is comm
along yere to bust NE up might as
we'll hang myself"
"What do you think off"
"Of how to git whisky and terbacker
and bacon and neal"
| Whom tho bn1, co, l,or,o fro,,, Tho
trial the wife and mother asked no
questions for an hour. Then she care.
lessly Queried:
"lfow 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 dom outer jail?"
Busted out"
"Goin' to hide away in the woods?'
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 ye hain't
betty huff. 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 rifle from
its hooks.
"3etter let it alone, pop" cautioned
Jim.
"Shoo, but how cantankerousv' 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 passenger train
whistling at the highway crossing
mile below. Then came the rumble of
wheels and sight Of the train itself.
Az n oo,Oa into vfou, nop flro,,, .t;,