Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-03-16

tears we're not altogether for the com
ing loss of the farm.
Tuesday dawned cloudy, colds q
storm was in store. AS Hilda looked
out on the broad plain Of undulattng
white, treeless and stark, sudden hot
resentment welled up within her, For
there, muffied to his eyes in a fur coat
behind a swiftly jogging horse. was
Arthur Brant. He was headed for the
county seat, % miles away.
She had nourished a secret hope
that Peter Snyder lied; that Brant
would not seize their land. But Peter,
whom she distrusted despite his plaus-
ible tongue, had told the truth. Brant
cared more for their land than for
their-for her-regard. Her lips trem-
bled pitifully as she turned from the
window.
The storm came apace. There was a
wind that few with the speed OF a bull
let.
A score Of times during the day an
unconfessed anxiety drew the girl 10
the window. There, melting a hole
in the frost with her breath. she peered
into the storm. 1t was a bad day even
for an enemy to be out.
At eight o'clock there came a muir
fed knock. Hilda hurried to the door
and threw it open, to recoil in amaze
ment, for the mild, patient head OF q
horse projected into the cabin, II
was Brant's horse.
With an exclamation she waded
through the snow to the cutter. There
was a 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, I'M
fell upon Brant like a bear, cutting
shaking and worrying him back from
the verge Of the dreaded sleep whicl
has no waking.
Brant reused reluctantly and looke'
about him, at the faithful Oleson, a
the Pentons, scarcely less concerned
at the cabin beyond, warm and Igh
and cozy. His face changed as at al
unpleasant memory.
Take me home, Frank" he said
in a tone that brooked no disobe
dience.
And for the second time within
week Hilda Penton cried herself t
sleep. The last vestige Of hope wa
gone. He had bid in their lane
That Is why he would not trespass O
their hospitality.
1t was three days before little Jill
could go to the postofice, two mile
away. He came back with a letter
an official looking article from tn
county seat, and a budget Of new
that kept him jumping up and dow
in excitement.
The envelope was addressed to ht
father, but Hilda tore 1t open, caugi
the sense at a glance, and droppe
weakly into a chair.
"Mother-father!" she gasped; 1T
all right. We won't lose u far1
Mr.. Brant has loaned us the money"
Mr.. and Mrs. Penton, grazing heac
bent together, laboriously gathere
that James Penton, by his agent, A
thur Brant, had paid the su
i of s142.79, being the full amount d,
Y for back taxes and penalties on Il
southeast one-quarter of section
n oh, 1t was all there, to the last lett
! and figure Of the description!
4 Meanwhile, little Jim. by the c
pedient Of w~hooping at regular !
J ~tervals, at last attracted the family
attention.
q Listen to me, listen to mel"
yelled. 'Lemme tell you about t
:. fight over to Carlin Tuesday. B
- Samuelson, he saw it"
"Hey?" said his father, raising
: eyes at last from the magic pap
- "A fght-who"
Arthur Brand and Peter Snyde
"a chartered little Jim. "That mean {
Pete was there to get u land, a
IA he had a check all made out. E
- Mr.. Brant came In and said he "
Il your agent, pa, an had the mon
ready. An Pete called him a II
and Mr.. Brant told him be was
a tax-title shark, 10 Pete struck
at him. 1
a "And then they fought and knoch
over chairs, an the clerk climbed
onto the desk, and Mr.. Brant black
Pete's eyes and bloodied his no
An
Little Jim stopped, the bret
n. squeezed out of his body. For his
ter, her eyes shining like twin sta
mt was hugging him to her breast 9
az laughing and crying at the sa
by time.
Jim" she said, you go and
Arthur to come over here. 1--we
,or want to thank him, and beg his r
.gs don"
he "'Tain't ne'ssary." replied J
Tor wriggling free. II asked him mys
ler An he said he'd come"