The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-25
He Moved No More.

in the distance His attitude denoted
surprise. He nervously ran his thumb
under his left galus, thrust the o,her
hand in his pocket, took 1t out and
shaded his eyes with 1t. 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 trlangulated his
cowhide boots toward the strange edl-
flee. When he reached 1t he looked In
at the open door. The only sound was
from a loud ticking clock. A child
about six months old lay asleep in a
crib manufactured from the limbs of
| the trees growing on the ground, the
bark remaining where nature had
placed It, The man entered the
room-there was but one-approached
| the child and looked down upon it
with singular expression on this
weather beaten face. Then he put his
brown forefinger under its pink and
white dlmpled hand, and the little
ones fingers tghtened on It.
Presently lie went to the door and
looked out. No one was In sight. He
turned. A -four barrel stood in cor
ner. Dipping his finger In SCOT on the
| chimney, he wrote on the barrel head
Dere Sur. l don't want no naburs. Ef
| you wont sell out TO me got 20 move.
SIRIUS MoFFATT.
Mr.. AIoffatt, having written his mes
sage, left the premises, casting part
| ing 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 companlonable,
but he didn't like men. because lie said
there's n law agin shootin' 'em."
lie had moved many times and now,
being over forty years old, was be
coming averse to change. Yet here
was a family settled right under his
| nose.
He waited week, thinking that his
| neighbor would communicate with
| him, but lie didn't. SO at the same
time of day &c in the morning. as he
| had made his first visit lie made an
other. He found the same conditions.
| The door stood open; the clock ratified
or the seconds: the child slept. But
| there was one thing new. On board
over the fireplace intended for man
tel rested the lid of cracker box on
which was written:
WON'T BUY OR SELL.
Cyrus looked disappointed. He turn
cd TO the child. Five rosy toes peeped
from under a blanket. The man took
the big toe between his thumb and
finger very gingerly 1t seemed made
of wax, and he was afraid of crushing
1t. Then he put his forefinger again
in the little palm to feel the clutch OF
| the pink fingers, aud when it came n
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 cumln TO morrer mornen at this
time TO drive YOU out.
As lie was leaving lie 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
rifle from the wall he went to his
nelghbor's cabin. He expected that
this time he would find his man and
what other members of the family
there mlght be, He was surprised to
find only the child. 1t was awake. 1t
had kicked off It's blanket, and pair
Of chubby little legs were high in the
air. 1t smiled at him. Approaching,
lie clasped its two ankles In his great
wrinkled fists. The child made grab
for his red beard and pulled sturdily.
The noisy clock had licked away
some twenty minutes when the child
suddenly took 1t into its head to squall.
Cyrus looked about for something to
appease It, and, seeing n nursing bottle
half full of milk. lie put the nipple
into the little ones mouth. But It
continued to squall, thrustlng its arms
forward. Cyrus took 1t up, sat down
in the only chair in the room. gave 1t
the bottle, and 1t was happy. So was
he.
Now, Cyrus had set his rifle against
the chimney and was not in position
either offensive or defensive He was
ta.ta-lng aud ba-ba-ing to the child as
women do when suddenly he heard a
voice say:
Hans up, strangerp'
The voice was n soft one, but Cyrus
started. Looking up, he saw woman
standing in the doorway. covering him
with Il revolver.
II can't" said Cyrus. "'thout drop
pin the baby"
"Y' come over. to drive me out,
did y'T'
The words We're not spoken In a
fierce tone. Indeed, the woman was
laughing at the picture before her.
where's yer man?'
"Haln't got no man. I'm widder
woman. My man died before the child
was born"
Here were lone woman and a child
trying TO get on without their natural
protector, the most touching of all con
ditions. Cyrus surrendered in heart
| - NfaI IA