Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25


green, all like coat to keep it warm in win
ter and cool in summer; and when the sod
grew and the flowers took heart l got to
thinkin they used to thank me as only the
grass and green things can. Mr.. Mayor, it
wasn't my fault that the island grew like
the flowers ard the trees. Each spring flood
brought more dirt, and it made me glad to
see the island grow the way it did And |
didn't think 'twould ever be big enough so
anyone would want to take it away from
me. 1t was my home. | made that shack
bigger with my own hands, piece by piece,
from driftwood and lumber that l bought
when Id saved enough to buy it, plank by
plank.
"Once a lawyer told me ought to 60 to
the recorders and get paper done it. |
thought it was all | had to do. The city
crept down on the banks, and that made me
happy too, because it seemed to kind of
keep watch over my island and me, and
blink at me at night, and keep me company
when was alone. | used to say to myself,
The island and the river and the city is my
family and all have Lost all the others
in the war. There amt no other place could
look the same to me, and if there was I'm
too old and tired to find it. So now they're
goin' to take it away from me! At first l
was sore. I'll fight some,' l said before
might as we'll be dead, anyhow Then this
boy here told me might have to shoot at
the flag, and somehow MIR. Mayor. l CANT.
I've seen it and loved it too many times
when it fluttered in the smoke, and me and
the other boys was ready to die for it-away
back there when was young"
He put his hands up on the edge of the
desk and took long breath. When he
spoke again his voice had lost its momentary
ring and was utterly detected.
$50 CANT fight for my island, you see.
All can do is beg for it. l want you men
to help to keep them from takin' it away
from me- | don't want to 60 away from it.
1t doesn't mean much to most folks, MIR.
Mayor; but it means all there is to me, be-
cause it S my home. You see how it is don't
you? They're Robin me of my home!"
He turned away and half faced the others,
and stood for several seconds, pitifully
wringing his hands round his twisted hat,
and blinking from one face to another, as if
making mute appeal in all that he would
have voiced but had left unsaid. Somehow
his sturdy frame seemed to have taken age
and dropped in this most terrible battle of
his life, and he felt like an outcast begging
at the feet of the world. There was no
laughter now, and the Mayor, himself an
old, old man, leaned across his desk and
looked down at Squatter Bills white head.
There was a movement from behind and a
harsh "Ahem"
The Mayor looked up and nodded to the
City Attorney, who had come hurriedly in,
immaculate and precise in garb, and with
his eyeglasses shining in the light, stood
holding some papers in his hand.
YOUR HONOR" he said crisply. there
has been some Misrepresentation about
the property rights involved in Weatherby's
island. 1t has been properly filed upon and
the papers we're drawn by no less eminent
an authority than the present Supreme
Judge of the State the Hon. Charles Trude;
but by clerical error the property never
appeared on the assessment rolls. 1t is de-
inquent therefore in taxes; but the title is
clear to the owner, Mr.. Weatherby. The city
needs it, or part of it at least, for its new
bridge, as you all know; but the land cannot
be taken without amicable purchase or due
condemnation proceedings"
Squatter Bill, who had dropped into
chair pushed forward by the sympathetic
Downey, lifted his head. He could not
grasp the significance of what had been said;
but appreciated that some one had come to
his relief. While he was trying to think it
all over, man stood up behind one of the
tiny desks and gained hearing.
L