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


I'm only an engineer employed by the
do what I'm told; but, as l understan
question as to whether you have yer
and the city is going to take it and Blu
for the new bridge.
Coin to take it away from me? S;
after I've lived here for more'n twenty
year,"
Squatter Bill ran his hand up across
his eyes as if, in all the sudden be-
wilderment of this announcement, he
couldn't see very plainly, and then
looked out across the water, which
was beginning to redden in the sunset,
just as it always had in the long sum-
merS before.
"Why-why-that lawyer Teller,
Mr.. Trude, made them papers out for
me long time ago. got the paper,
| have! 1t does belong to me, all right.
Here, III show 'em to you'll"
He walked across to the old cot
tonwood, and the young engineer. still
looking troubled and sympathetic,
followed and stood above him as he
dragged away some long brush from
the tangled roots with frantic haste.
and then thrust trembling hand into
the hole and pulled out the fruit jar.
1t was half filled with small coins, his
life's savings, and the precious paper.
He unscrewed the top, got the docu
ment out, and handed it to the en-
gineer to read.
Its all right, amt it," he asked
anxiously, as the surveyor ran his
eyes over it. 1T says this island is
mine, that l claim it, don't it?'
YES" the engineer answered,
speaking as if perplexed but | don't
know anything about land titles. You
should see a lawyer. Anyhow, the city
could condemn it, you know. But they
would have to pay you for it, then.
but, you see, don't want to sell
her," Squatter Bill fastened to an
swer. "She's mine. She amt for
sale. You CANT have her!"
Maybe you had best 60 and see
the City Attorney. Here, I'll give you
his address. Go and see him to-mor-
row. He can explain it to YOU"
Squatter Bill held the card with the
penciled name in his hand long time
after the surveyors had stepped into
their boat and been pulled back to the
shore which was beginning to dim into
purple shadow, over which the smoke
of the tall stacks was dying down as if
tired after the days work. Then, with
feet that somehow dragged and were
he went into his cabin and took his w
hook and started to fill it from the lit
at the edge of the sand.
He sat out on the bench under the {
his supper was finished and the dishes
away; but his pipe didn't taste good a
the same. Mostly always the rows of {
at him like distant, interested eyes, {
said to them, "Say, | can remember ,
there, when it was always dark about
and nothin' friendly shinin' from the c
tonight the glittering spots had lost tn
cleaned hard and malevolent, like
scrutinizing that little spot of land wi
called his own.
FEELING that there was much in APP
L endless pains with his clothes VIII
morning, he invaded part of the cit
tered for more than a decade and in
stranger, in quest of the City Attorr
found them. They were impressive ro
fitted. in a city hall that had been b,
an old one he could remember, which o
was known as the Town Square" II
men eyed him, and pert boy wanted
and all about his business before he c
ence with the city official.
"You just tell him Weatherby wal
Squatter Bill they call me, and that