The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-04-11


For once Dick got no word OF greet.
ing. Two big, rough hands held the
head up where the eyes could be
looked into. but his master was be.
yond words. Could he have spoken he
would have said: Dick, Dick, they
want our home
II wasn't very reassuring tale that
Sandy listened to that night, and when
he went out to roll himself into his
blankets beneath the stars, having
surrendered his rooftree to his guest,
sleep failed to close his eyelids. He
was fighting q battle which must be
alone.
The widow had no other means
than those which had been paid to the
locators Climber sharks" Sandy 81.
lently called them, and had come into
these solitudes to make for herself
and her son a home which would rem.
der them independent when the lum.
Der companies came with the big
mills to turn the giant trees into gold
The wait would not be long, especial
ly as this claim was one of the most
desirable in the region. Two or three
years at the most, and Mrs. Burrows
would be surrounded by farms instead
of by forests and she would be be
yond want for life. But Sandy had
seen that and more. too. For in this
cabin, which rested on the hill back
OF him. was that cOnsummatiUn of his
years of dreams--a home" Every
log in the humble pile had been
squared with infinite care and senti.
ment; every shelf and homely con.
venience within 1t had carried por.
tion OF his heart; and every shake"
In the roof had been to him but one
step more toward a permanent shel.
ter. The splendid ring of his adzs had
sung to him. to the tune of the wilder.
ness, that at last his days of travelling
! and travail were at an end.
What should he do? What could ne
| do? To contest the claim was, OF
| course, to win, because his title was
clear and unlmpeachable But to do
| 80 would end the dreams of a woman,
a creature OF the weaker sex, a por.
|
for instead OF against that was to be
treated tenderly and with reverence.
that was unable to fight its own bat.
ties
In the cabin, yonder, she slept,
dreaming even more beautiful dreams
than Sandy had ever known, of a
| home to be. And, worst Of all, she
probably thought the real owner was a
"squatter," one of those shiftless, ig.
nominous tramps Of the wilderness,
despised by all "homesteaders' as
well as by Sandy Smith.
Dick came and. with cold muzzle,
tried to explain that he was surprised
at his own sleeplessness, and was In
sympathy with his masters And from
| the dog Sandy took comfort.
You old rascal" he said. patting
the head which had been laid trusting.
ly beside his, you're worth dozen
timber sharks, an you don't suffer as
alnt been an easy one, either, what
with losin' your leg. Jest go to sleep
and thank the Lord that you got your
tail left. There's heap O. satisfac.
tion In bein' able to wag along"
! When her men reported at the cabin
door In the morning they found II
open, the morning meal out OF the
way, and Sandy buslly making up u
pack Again he glowered at them and
took satisfaction from the appearance
OF the bandaged ones. He clumped
into the cabin and took down the mol
dering pack.straps from their peg
drew them tightly around his canvas
covered blankets ip which were
wrapped his bacon, beans, flour and
tea; ne added the frying pan. coffee pot
and AK to the outer lashings Then he
swung the pack to his back and set
tied his shoulders into the armstraps
He picked up the rifle at his feet, and
stood in the cabin door,
"Missus Burrows" he said, his
voice husky with emotion, you kin
have this cabin and all that's In It.
It's on your land you know, because
amt nothin' but a squatter Hope
you like the place"
Before she could reply, he was gone
out to where her men sQuatted on a
log.
Damn you!" he snarled as he stood
before them Don't think I'm leavin'
because there's four OF you. I'm goin'
on off out into the west, somewhere
where there amt no stakes, to take a
new claim. An unless it's woman
who jumps It, there Amt men enough
In the Olympics to take the new claim
laway frum me-"
The thrusting of Dicks nose into
his unoccupied hand aroused other
thoughts. He turned back to the open
door wherein stood the woman.
"Id be much obliged II you'd take
good care of Dick fur me-" he said,
because he CANT travel much. l had
to lug him on my back most of the
way up here, an I've got long ways
to go-maybe the trail won't never
end. Be good to him, He's a good
fellow, even If he amt got but three
legs"
Then, with final scowl at the men,
he swung out and into the darkness of
the woods, while behind him crp-
pied dog threw his head into the air
and howled mournfully. IL was the