Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-03
INES CLAIM.
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Liter
orv prosS \


ton. He had been 80 busy answering
the agent from the Poncas that his
companion had passed unnoticed. Now
at glance, the new rancher at Ajodas
took in the general get-up Of one who
he knew must be a neighbour.
Barty turned likewise, and smiled at
him guilelessly.
Il mean this one in the photo. Snap
shot, amt it? Looks like red-woods
behind her there"
1T 1s," returned Lewis, briefly.
"That was taken in camp near Sc
renita, in California. had place
over there last year."
Seems like I've seen the girl before
up this way"
Hardly. She is an easterner."
"Is she? What's her manner"
Lewis looked over at Hawks, the
agent, with lazy good nature.
"Why don't you introduce your
friends, Hawks?"
ooh, can introduce myself, II that's
what troubles you" broke In the big
chap. I'm Barty Axtell. Channings
outfit-next to yours That sure does
look like a kid that's took up home
girl from the east, too"
| Lewis dismissed the matter simply
by not replying. He bent over the
boundary map the agent had brought
! over and went on with his work. The
words of the big blue-eyed youngster
from Channing's never even fingered
in his memory The very idea OF cam.
pairing Ines with any "kid," as he had
expressed it up In these heaven for
saken hills. He grinned once, thinking
of her face If she knew of the COM
parison.
He had met her at Serenita the pre-
vious year, slim, lovely California
girl, who seemed to embody all the
glamour and dreamy charm OF her
native state in her own personality.
He had loved her from the first, and
had at least had the wit and knowl-
edge not to tell her of it, not to force
himself on her She could not under
stand how he, fortuneless chap
with only his wits to travel on and a
boundless ambition to buoy him up,
had landed at the gorgeous summer
home of the Barringtons. Billie
Darlington had been his pal at Berke-
ley, that was all, and when they heard
he had come west to hunt luck they
had simply been kind enough to recall
the old days and send him out an In
vitation to spend week or two at
Serenita.
The snapshot Billie had given him
from his own collection. He loved 1t
OF her. taken leaning against rock.
| with the suggestion Of the great red
woods back of her, and her dear face
sunny with smiles.
No, he had not told her he loved
her. Where was the use? To give
girl who was naturally expecting
wealth in her future husbands cate
CORY of virtues, a chance to laugh and
turn him down.
He turned around. Bartys shadow
fell across the open doorway.
II didn't want to speak out before
that pin-headed, knock-kneed cadger
from the Poncas," he remarked cas-.
pally. "But I think you're either an
| Internal liar or an evader Of the truth
SO to speak, friend and neighbor. That
girl there is in big trouble, and II you
do know her you're blasted dog not
to get into your buckskin boots and
come where she lives"
How do you know that know her.
demanded Lewis.
Because" said Barty calmly, and
effectively. there's the snap shot OF
you nailed to the wall of her cabin
and knew you as soon as ever laid
eyes on you"
Lewis gasped. Not word did he
say until both were in the saddle rid.
ing northeast from the valley, straight
up into the hills above Ajados, then he
asked. Whats the trouble?"
"She's sick, that's what. She ain't
| been strong ever since she came out
here in the spring, and the summer
works laid her up. She's got one OF
the women from Channing's to help
her, a halfbreed chink, and she's try
ing to be game, and stick out her
time, and hold the claim down."
"Why did she take it up?" Lewis
stared ahead Of him. 'sWhy should
she, Of all women in the world, take
up q homestead claim"
| ASK. her yourself" retorted Barty
"she don't like me. worked for her
tn the spring, cutting out timber, and
building her shack for her. and fixing
things to rights, and didn't want to
take any money for It,"
why not?"
Because. asked her to marry, me
instead. SO she don't believe In my
good intentions no more"
ri see," said Lewis. He could imag