The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-14
He MOVED NO MORE.

latter protTuding in front from a hole
in his wooden hat, freckled, homely,
stood on crest pearing at something
in the distance. His attitude denoted
surprise. He nervously ran his thumb
under his left gallus, thrust the other
hand in his pocket, took it out and
shaded his eyes with IL. His had
been the only cabin within ten miles,
and now, since he had visited this
part of his domain, log hut had
/ gone up within two miles of him and
smoke was curling from the chimney.
| Starting forward, he triangulated
his cowhide boots toward the strange
edilice. When he reached it he look
ed in at the open door. The only
sound was from loud ticking clock.
A child about six months old lay
asleep in crib manufactured from
the limbs of the trees growing on the
ground, the bark remaining where
nature had placed it.
Presently he went to the door and
looked out. No one was in sight He
turned. A -four barrel stood in a
corner. Dipping his finger IN SCOT
on the chimney, he wrote on the bar
rel head:
"Dere Sur. | don't want no naburs.
Ef you wont sell out to me | got to
move. Sirius MOFFATT."
Mr.. Moffatt, having written his
message, left the premises, casting
parting glance at the slumbering
child. That night he slept but little.
For years he had been moving away
from his fellow men. He didn't mind
bears or coyotes or snakes, for they
were his legitimate prey, if not COM
panionable, but he didn't like men,
because he said there's a law agin
shootin' EN-" He had moved many
! times and now, being over 40 years
old, was becoming averse to change.
Yet here was family settled right
under his nose.
/ He waited a week, thinking that his
neighbor would communicate with
him, but he didn't SO az the same
! time Of day &C in the morning. as
he made his first visit he mado an
other. He found the same conditions.
The door stood open; the clock rat
tied of the seconds; the child slept
But there was one thing new On a
board over the fireplace intended for
q mantel rested the lid OF cracker
box on which was written
WON'T BUY OR SELL"
Cyrus looked disappointed He
turned to the child. rive rosy toes
peeped from under a blanket The
man took the big toe between his
thumb and finger very gingerly II
/ seemed made OF wax. and he was
/ afraid OF crushing IL. Then he nut
. his fOrchnger again in the little palm
to feel The clutch OF the pink hugers,
and when it came grin overspread
his ugly features. Then he walked
TO the fireplace, read the message
again and grew serious. 1t angered
| him. Turning the box lid over, he
wrote on the other side:
I'm cumin to morrer monen at
this time to drive you out"
As he was leaving he again caught
sight of the child, paused, glanced
/ back at the message he had written,
| pondered, then stalked out of the
house and away.
The next morning, taking down his
| rihe from the wall, he went to his
! neighbor's cabin. He expected that
! this time he would find his man and
! what other memebrs of the family
there might be. He was surprised to
! find only the child. 1t was awake.
II had kicked off its blanket, and a
pair of chubby little legs were high
in the air. 1t smiled at him. APP
preaching he clasped its two ankles
in his great wrinkled fists. The child
made a grab for his red beard and
pulled sturdily.
The noisy clock had licked away
some twenty minutes when the child
suddenly took it into its head to
squall Cyrus looked about for some
thing to appease 1t, and seeing a
nursing bottle half full Of milk, he
put the nipple into the little ones
mouth But It continued to squall,
thrusting its arms forward. Cyrus
took It up, sat down in the only chair
in the room, gave it the bottle, and
it was happy. SO was he.
Now, Cyrus had set his rifle against
the chimney and was not in a posi-
tion either offensive or defensive. He
was ta-ta-ing and ba-ba-ing to the
child as women do when suddenly
he heard a voice say:
Hans up, stranger!"
The voice was a soft one, but Cy-
rus started. Looking up, he saw a
woman standing in the doorway,
covering him with a revolver
Il can't said Cyhus, "'thout drop
pin the baby
"Y' come over to drive me out, did
y?"
The words were not spoken in a
fierce tone, Indeed the woman was
laughing at the picture before her.
where's yer man?"
"Hain't got no man. I'm wilder