The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-05-26

pFODdDly Thought the real owner was
a "squatter," one of those shiftless,
ignominious tramps of the wilderness.
despised by all "homesteaders" as well
as by Sandy Smith.
Dick came, and, with a cold muzZIe,
tried to explain that he was surprised
at his own sleeplessness, and was in
sympathy with his masters. And
from the dog Sandy took comfort.
You old rascal" he said, pattins
the head which had been laid trust.
ingly beside his, you're worth dozen
Understands, an you don't suffer as
much as lots of men. Your game
amt been an easy one, either. what
with losin' your leg. Jest go to sleep
and thank the Lord that you got your
tail left. There's a heap o. satisfac''
ton in bein' able to wag along"
When her men reported at the cabin
door in the morning they found 1t
open. the morning meal out of the
way, and Sandy busily making up a
pack. Again he glowered at them and
took satisfaction from the appearance
of the bandaged ones. He dumped
into the cabin and took down the
drew them tightly around his canvas
covered blankets in which were
wrapped his bacon, beans, -four and
tea; he added the frying pan. coffee
pot and axe to the outer lashings.
Then he swung the pack to his back
and settled his shoulders into the
arm-straps. He picked up the rife at
his feet, and stood in the cabin door.
"Missus Burrows" he said, his
voice husky with emotion, you kin
have this cabin and all that's in it.
It's on your land, you know, because
amt nothin' but a squatter. Hope
you like the place"
Before she could reply, he was gone
out to where her men squatted on a
log.
Damn you!" he snarled as he stood
| before them. Don't think I'm leavin'
| because there's four of you. I'm goin'
on off out into the west, somewhere
where there amt no stakes, to take a
new claim. An unless it's a woman
who jumps it, there amt enough men
| in the Olympics to take the new claim
| away frum me-"
The thrusting of Dicks nose into
| his unoccupied hand aroused other
| thoughts. He turned back to the open
| door wherein stood the woman.
| I'D be much obliged if you'd take
| good care of Duck fur me- he said,
because he CANT travel much had
to lug him on my back most of the
way up here, an I've got long ways
to go-maybe the trail won't never
end. Be good to him. He's a good
fellow. even if he amt got but three
| legs"
Then with a final scowl at the men.
he swung out and into the darkness of
the woods, while behind him, a Grip
pied dog threw his head into the air
and howled mournfully. 1t was the
farewell of desolation.
Weeks of weary quest passed over
Sandy's tired head. Go as he would,
there was no spot open to him, no
place which could be considered de-
sirable, that welcomed him as a claim
ant, and no niche wherein he might
with security rebuild his home TIME
and again he had faced starvation.
and always hardship and fatigue had
been his only companions. It was
useless. He had decided, with weary
heart, to make his way out of this
country where everything worth hav-
ing had been taken, go to Seattle.
and turn his face to the far north.
His route led him near the old home.
He hungered for a sight of Dick and
FOR the companionship of his grea.
sympathetic eyes and caressing nose.
The trees took on a familiar look as
he neared his old border-line, and he
thought bitterly of his REIMBURSEMENT
Of all that life had held for him there.
He came suddenly on new clearing
and a new cabin, and stopped in
amazement.
A sunny-faced woman stepped to
The open door, and dog sprang past
Ter awkwardly. making his way with
nouthings of welcome to Sandy's side.
The man knelt on the ground and
took the big, kindly beasts head in
his hands, and held it against his
face Here at last was a friend.
d.. What did you do it for?" Mrs.
Burrows asked. THE locators came
the day after you left, and said that
there had been a mistake, and that
my claim was the one adjoining yours,
They said that you clearly owned the
one which you lived on; and then
heard all about the fight. We tried to
find you, but you had gone, no one
knew where. After they had built
this for me. l took care of your place,
too, because both Dick and knew you
would come back some time. Why
did you ever give it up? Go back to
it. It's yours, and we have all been
keeping it for you"
1.-TWO of us is workin' for her now,
said a man with a bandaged arm who
came up, and we want to be your
friends. You're worth knowing"
Sandy. overioyed and dazed, walked
down the trail.
There before him. with freshly
planted flowers in front of the cabin
and other marked evidences of i'm