New-York tribune., 1910-09-25
Squatter Bill
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nrobIern that had come to him so late IN NE
Somehow he began to realize that others
were being involved in it. and 1t filled MN
with vague regret. He tried to diSsuade
them; but they paid no attention, ana ne
was left alone He wandered back from the
waters edge and for long time looked over
at the city. which, dark and brOOding IN ITS
night sleep. had become monster waiting
to step across the braided waters and take
from him his home.
DAYLIGHT came and found him asleep
- on his bench, worn out by emOtlOndl
turmoil. His followers, convinced OF the
righteousness of their cause, took turns IN
keeping watch. A tug from the cotton mills.
returning light from some early trip, passed
close bv and slowed down while the Cap
tain from the pilothOuSe stared at the breast
works. He saw the armed men pacing up
and down the pitiful embankments and
sIaDped his knee and beloved with laughter
IAN the fishermen are going to stand by
poor old Squatter Bill. he shouted
'.Thev're going to fight to help him keep hiS
islandl That's rich.
He rang the bells to the engine room TOT
speed. anxious to lose no time IN spreading
such a good story, and to two reporters
DOING the early waterfront beat detailed the
annrarance Of the island. Telephones rang
from watchmen's booths on the shore, ana
early rising city editors smiled IN their o.
fees. Squatter Bill was going to show fght-
The river was scarcely more than VIDE
awake before star reporters began to swarm
across it in boats, valiantly taking chances,
as their calling demanded, OF being bonn
barded from the island breaStwOrkS. And
thereby they destroyed a promising story
that might have been good for several days;
for in their number was Paul DOwncy, crack
man of the crack evening journal, who read
the tragedy of that pititul defense, the nope
1essness of that battle against the Raw the
possible loss of life, and the inevitable down
fall of the fishermen.
"Bill" he said, after the tortured old man
had answered myriad questions as best ne
could. "do YOU realize what you are doing?
You don't seem to get this affair straight
Ii isn't the CITY alone that you are hghtlng;
it's the United Statesl When you go against
the CITY, YOU go against the flag. See. Look
over therel
He took Squatter Bill by the arm and
turned him round and mOtioned the group
of fishermen and reporters to stand aside,
leaving a clear view of the river. a steam
er was putting its way with steady chow
chow" against the current, and from ITS
iackstaff there huttered in the morning wind
the flag under which the fisherman had
fought in the days of his youth.
.|There she is" Downey said. pointing
with long. vibrant finger, That is what you
are really going to fght- Can you 90 II,
Again, as when this perplexing trouble
first confronted him, Squatter Bill rubbed
his hands across his eyes. He hadn't thought
of that before. He turned TO the reporter
with an appeal whose anguish could not be
worded, but was understood, the appeal OF
one who feels that at last he IS overwhelmed:
We'll, what am | to doe' he asked, and
repeated the question again as if at loss for
other questions. Il CANT let EN- take 1t
away from me without dOin' sonethin. Its
all L havel And | CANT fight that. y
1t was his turn to point at the flag that
was still whipping along in the sunlight and
was now almost screened by the steamboat
texas.
Downey took off his hat and ran his fin
gers through his iron gray hair The Others
deferentialIy waited for his answer.
Il don't know he said thOughtfully.
'You say you have been to the City Attor-
nev. | don't know. The law He put