The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-09-16
The Squatter. (:

2 iCOpyrlHht lN0t. by II - McClnrcll
One d. when Pop jackson. The
sQuasler, was sitting IN, The spnshineh &
N'iili his batk against SIC waiiisf hiss
pole cabin an event happened. Events
had happened IN his life before, but
nothing to compare with this. A gang
az half dozen men we're crossing his
land He had squatted on the land
twenty years before and therefore call
I'd il his. One OF the men was squlnt-
ing through a surveyors instrument,
others were using chain. and stiIl otl,.
ers were. cutting down brush and driv-
ing stakes. Pop got 70 his feet aud
rubbed his eyes and scratched the back
Of his head. Then he exclaimed 70
himself, "Dawg gone my catsr and
sauntered down TO the strangers and
asked OF one OF them:
Now, then. what you all doin'
yerey'
Surveying" was the brief reply.
"What fur?"
"a railroad"
zone o them things that boots and
draws kyors behind 'cio?'
eyes"
"Then git off'n my squat You all
can't build no railroad yerc. I don't
want the hootin. and ! won't have it."
The men laughed at nd he
went TO the cabin and got his gun and
threatened them For this he was ar
rested and given three months in jail
Els old wife and his son Joe took It
philosophically
Got him In jail, hey they?" quericd
the wife when she heard the outcome
OF the trial "Waal, he won't git his
feet wet in thar, and mebbe the whs-
ky n be better"
When Pop came out OF Jail they wtrc
building the roadbed across bis land.
He sat down IN his old place in the
sunshine md glowered and muttered.
and his son Joe came along and said:
"No use, Pop. Them railroad FOLKS
are too hefty fur Won. That hooters
bound TO cum along fur shore
"But have | ever done anything to
the raliroad?' demanded the father
Reckon not"
".rhen what do they want TO come
along yere Dustin UP my peace o mind
furf'
can't say. pop. only they are COM
In"
"Not IL know It, Joe; not II know
III I'm man as has got TO have n
chance 20 think. and how IN l goin' 10
think with hooter a-hootln' along
we're? I'm n-tcllln' you. my son.. that
it's got TO he stopped"
"You hain't hefty 'nuff. pop"
Pop went down TO where they were
laying aud splking the rails and said
that II work did not cease at cnco he
would Kill n man. A constable was ct
hand to arrest him, and he was taken
TO town for another trial. Thistime 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 firstf'
"As TO howe
"As TO bustin' up my chance fur
thlnkn'. Jedge I'm man what thinks
I'ye got to think. I've got 10 sot down
with my back TO the cabin and think q
mighty heap. Two allus had 10 do Il.
and now IL this dingcd hooter is comm
along yere to bust me up | might rs
well hang myself"
| what do you think Of"
"Of how to git whisky and terbacker
and bacon and meal"
When the boy came home from the
trial the wife and mother asked nC
questions for an hour Then she care
iessly quericd:
"How much this tImef"
"a year"
"Shoo! Pop Is galnln' on It."
When pop had served two months ol
hts sentence he broke jail and cam,
home. He arrived at night AS he en-
tered the cabin his wife awoke and
called out; ....
That you, popi'
eYcpp
what ye doln outer jsilY
Busted out"
Coin TO hide away IN the woodsT
Cant say. Don't talk TO me any
mo-, fur I'm dog tired"
Powerful betty for your size. pop
said Joe as he awoke, but ye hahn
hefiy nun. Better let 'em alone"
When morning came pop ale shi.
! breakfast and said little Then he DE-
parted for his thinning log ia the
. woods. II was almost noon when be
, returned to take down his ride from
its hooks.
Better let 1t alone, pop cautioned
: Jim.
"shoo, but bow cantankerousr whls
pered the wifa.
Pom walked down ON the tracks on