Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-09-16
The Squatter.


pole cabin an event happened. Events had happened in his life before, but nothing to compare with this. A gang e& half dozen men were crossing his land. He had squattcd on the land Gwenty years before and therefore call cd it his One of the men was squint- ing through surveyors instrument, others were using chain and still oth- sSS were cutting down brush and driv ing stakes. Pop got to his feet and rubbed his eyes and scratched the back af his head. Then he exclaimed to hFnself, "Dawg gone my cats" and sauntered down to the strangers and asked of one of them:
 Now, then, what you all doin' yere?''
 Surveying" was the brief reply.
 What fur?'
 "A railroad"
 "One O them things that hoots and draws kyars behind 'em?'
 "Yes"
 @oafhen git olf'n my squat! You all can't build no railroad yere. l don't want the hootin', and I 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 1t philosophcally.
 'Got him in jail, hev they?' queried The wife when she heard the outcome af the trial. "Waal he won't git his Feet wet in thar, and mebbe the whs- Ky II 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: A'No use. Pop Them railroad folks are too hefty fur you. That hooters bound to cum along fur shore.'
 But have 1 ever done anything to the railroad?" demanded the father. Reckon not
 s'Then what do they want to come along yere bustin' up my peace O mind fur?'
 Can't say, pop, only they are com m'."
 "Not if know it, Joe; not if I know it! I'm man as has got to have a chance to think, and how 'm l goin' to think with q hooter a-hootin' along yere? I'm a-telln' you, my son, that its got to be stopped.'
 You hain't hefty huff, pop"
 Pop went down to where they were laying and spiking the rails and said that if work did not cease at once he 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 first?'
 AS to how?'
 "As to bustin' up my chance fur fhinkin. Jedge, I'm a man what thinks. I've got to think. I've got to sot down with my back to the cabin and think q mighty heap. I've allus had to do it.. and now if this dinged hooter is comin' along yere to bust me up 1 might as 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 no questions for an hour. Then she care sessly queried:
 How much this time?'
 "A year"
 ~Shoo. Pop is gainin' on it"
 When pop had served two months of his sentence he broke jail and camc home He arrived at night. As he en- teret. the cabin his wife awoke and called out:
 That you, pop:"
 Yep"
 What ye doin outer jail?"
 Busted out"
 "Gon' to hide away in the woods?'
 Can't say. Don't talk to me any xno', fur I'm dog tired.
 Powerful hefty for yoEr size, pop" said Joe as he awoke, but ye hain't hefty 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 It was almost noon when he returned to take down hja rifle from its hooks.
 Better let it alone, pop" cautioned Jim.
 "Shoo, but how cantankerous!" whis- pered the wife.
 Pop walked down on the tracks on which trains were running regularly. He took his stand between 70 rails ill full sight of the cabin, an l.. wife and son came out to sec ord was spoken between the ,ti e ten min ates they heard 8 '',' ,' " train whistling at the hi&' crossing mile below. Then cal..2 the rumble of wheels and . sight of the train itself. AS it came into view pop drew his rife to his face and stood like rock. The "hooter" ho2.el ;,t him. AS the