Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
I9lO
Squatter Bill
Continued from page 4
Continued from page 4

they succeeded in convincing Squatter Bill
that their way was best. 1t was as if sight
of the flag had defeated him and taken from
him all thought of resistance.
I'm whipped" he kept repeating Il
CANT shoot at the United States, and that's
what you boys say I'd be doin' if shot at
anybody who came to take my island from
me- | do own it! You know own it, don't
you? I've had it since long before most of
you was born, and nobody tried to take it
away from me before. And they told me to
move off!
But Downey insisted that an appeal to,
the City Council was his best hope, and the
Others joined in, until at last he reluctantly
consented.
"All right" he said, "I'll 60 up to that
city hall this afternoon and ask EN- to leave
me alone" He looked up into Downeys
steady eyes and seemed to read their SYM
pathy. II wish you'd be there. Maybe
wouldn't feel so much alone" he added, and
Downey nodded his head.
AS if his determination ended everything.
Squatter Bill dismissed his fishermen, who
went grumblingly, and said goodby to the
newspaper men, who were glad to hasten
away with fresh copy, and again donned his
best clothes and prepared for his great plea.
THE Council was in session in the city
hall when, with much trepidation, he
made his way inside through the high baize
doors and slumped into a seat, aware of but
one thing, that his entrance had caused a
murmur of whispers and laughter and NUT
tered comment of amusement. He was
Inundated, realizing that he was a joke to
some of them; but he did not know that
among those who had read the later news
paper extras he was a singularly pathetic
figure as he came in to make his last stand.
Inside the sacred precincts behind the
railing were some of his friends of the morn
ing, tirelessly writing on sheets of paper.
They nudged one another, craned their
necks, and pointed him out The Council
man who was speaking against some petty
appropriation, finding that he no longer
held the interest of the crowd, subsidized.
Downey, seeming to be privileged charac-
ter, got up and whispered something to the
Mayor, who was seated behind a high desk.
He too leaned forward and picked Squatter
Bill out from the others with his eyes. He
raped with gavel and, when the confused
murmuring had quoted, pointed its handle
toward the fisherman.
"Mr Weatherby," he said, II understand
you have come here to make protest against
the taking of the island that believe you
claim. You may come forward inside the
rail and speak if you wish
HIS voice was not unklndly, ana OQuatter
Bill, for the moment abashed by the terrible
publicity. plucked up courage to come to
his own defense. He scrambled out of his
seat and down the aisle, and the murmuring
again arose in wild crescendo as he advanced.
He heard the voice of Downey, close to his
ear, shrill and sharp.
Don't be afraid" he urged. "Now's
your chance! Don't tremble so! They can't
hurt you! You told me you fought at
Shiloh! BAIL Can man who fought at
Shiloh be afraid"
That was the suggestion that stirred his
tired brain. This was fight, and he must
make it, just as he had at Shiloh! Of course
he was not afraid!
LIE stood for a moment in that unaccus-
IL toned place, looking round, and then
stepped closer to the Mayors desk, mas
much as he was the one who had asked him
to state his case, and to him made his adj
dress, regardless of those Others who leaned
forward that they might lose no word of
what promised to be an interesting plea. The
words were slow in coming. He was sorry he
had not prepared some sort of a speech.
It's mine, Mr.. Mayor" he said, coming
still closer to the high desk. 1.-THE islands
mine. | went there when it was just about