Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-23

would have been less bltler uau ue
known that Hilda had cried silently
for an hour after going to bed and
her tears were not altogether for the
coming loss Of the farm.
Tuesday dawned cloudy, cold;
storm was in store. As Hilda looked
out on the broad plain Of undulating
white. treeless and stark, sudden hot
resentment welled up within her. For
there. muffled up to his eyes In fur
coat behind swiftly Jogging horse,
was Arthur Brant. He was headed to
the county-seat, twenty-five miles
away.
she had nourished secret hope that
Peter Snyder lied, that Brant would
not seize their land. But Peter, whom
she distrusted despite his plausible
tongue. had told the ruth. Brant cared
more for their land than for their-for
her-regard. Her lips trembled pitiful-
" as she turned from the window.
The storm came apace. There was
a wind that flew with the speed of a
bullet. It tore the snow into needle
like atoms and hurled the singing
particles resistlessly before It. Great
drifts formed. The little window dls-
appeared behind q thick film OF frost.
Outside 1t was impossible to see
length ahead. A genuine Dakota bliz-
gard was hammering the great north
west.
A score of times during the day an
unconfessed anxiety drew the girl to
tie window. There, melting hole
in the frost with her breath, she
peered into the storm. 1t was q BAD
day even for an enemy to be out. She
found herself late in the afternoon
praying that Brant would stay In Car
lin till the storm abated. He had
Fired man to do the chores; being
unmarried. they kept "bach halI' to
eether. He did not need to hurry
back. And yet
Another fruitless look at the blank
white wall Of flying snow.
At 8 O'Clock there came mufled
knock. Hilda hurried to the door and
threw it open, to recoil in amazement.
for the mild, patient head OF a horse
projected into the house. 1t was
Brants horse. :,
With an exclamation she Waded
through the snow to the cutter. There
was huddled, fur-clad heap in the
bottom of the vehicle.
AS her cry brought the others out
bareheaded into the storm, a shape
detached itself from the rushing white
gloom-Frank Oleson, Brant's hired
man. The Swede had been searching
afoot, for his master.
"He bane freezing!" he cried, and
fell upon Brant like bear, cufhng.
shaking. and worrying him back from
the verge of the dreaded sleep which
has no waking.
Brant reused reluctantly and looked
about him, at the faithful Oleson, at
the Pentons, scarcely less concerned,
at the cabin beyond, warm and light
and cozy. His face changed as at an
unpleasant memory.
Take me home. Frank" he said, in
tone that brooked no disobedience.
And for the second time within
week Hilda Penton cried herself to
sleep. The last vestige of hope. was
gone. He had bid in their land. That rs
why he could not trespass on their
hospitality. 90
1t was three days before little Jim
could go to the postoff1ce. two miles
away. He came back with letter
an oficial looking article from the
county seat, and budget OF news
that kept him jumping up and down IN
excitement.
The envelope was addressed to her
father, but Hilda tore it open, caught
the sense at glance, and dropped
weakly into chair.
'Mother-father!" she gasped; ,".it's
all right. We won't lose our farm:
Mr.. Brant has loaned US the money.
Mr.. and Mrs. Penton, grazing heads
bent together, laboriously gathered
that James Penton. by his agent, Ar
thur Brant, had paid the sum OF one
hundred and forty-two dollars and
seventy-nine cents, being the full
amount due for back taxes and pen
alties on the southeast one-quarter OF
section. Oh, it was all there to the
last letter and figure Of the descrip-
ton.
Meanwhile, little jim. by the ex..
.pedient of whooping at regular inter-
walls. at last attracted the family at
tention.
Listen to me, listen to mel" he
yelled. .Lemme tell you about the
fight over to Carlin Tuesday Bill
Samuelson, he saw it."
"Hey?' said his father, raising his
eyes at last from the magic paper.
A fight-who?"
arthur yBrant and Peter Snyder"
chartered little Jim. THAT mean old
Pete was there to get our land, and
he had a check all made out. But
Mr.. Brant came in and said he was
your agent. pa, and had the money
ready. An Pete called him liar
and Mr.. Brant told him he was
tax-title shark. SO Pete struck at him.
"And then they fought and knocked
over chairs. an the clerk climbed up
onto the desk. an Mr.. Brant BACKED
Pete's eyes and bloodied his nose.
AM"
Little Jim stopped, the breath
squeezed out Of his body. For his sis
ter. her eyes shining like twin stars.
was hugging him to her breast and
laughing and crying at the same
time.
Slim" she said. you go and tell
Arthur to come over here. WE'VE
want to thank him and beg his par
dom