Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-05-26

40 " oAuoy oulLu
Dick came. and, with cold muEzle.
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, patting
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 iosin' your leg. Jest go to sleep
and thank the Lord that you got your
tail left. There's a heap o. satisfac-
ton in hein' able to wag along"
When her men reported at the cabin
door in the morning. they found It
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
moldering pack-straps from their peg.
drew them tightly around his canvas
covered blankets in which were
wrapped his bacon beans. flour 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
have this cabin and all that's in 1t.
It's on your land. you know, because
I amt nothin' but a squatter. Hope
you like the place"
Before she could reply, he was gone
out to where her men squatted on
log.
Damn you'll" 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 q
who jumps 1t, 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 n 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 COED
fellow. even II he amt got but three
legs"
Then with 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. It 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. 1t was
useless. He had decided. with a 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
COR the companionship of his great
sympathetic eyes and caressing noEe.
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 a new clearing
and 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 Sandys side.
The man knelt on the ground and
took the big, kindly beasts head In
lis hands, and held 1t against his
ACE. Here at last was a friend.
What did you do 1t 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 than I
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, I took care OF your place,
too. because both Dick and knew YOU
would come back some time. Why
did you ever give 1t up? Go back to
1t. It's yours, and we have all been
keeping 1t for you"
1.-TWO of us is workin' for her now"
said man with bandaged arm who
came up. land we want to be your
friends. You're worth knowing"
Sandy, overjoyed 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.
provement and attention. stood
home" In the fading light OF tho
west. where the dying sun lighted UP
their snow-clad peaks and left in
shadow their somber forests stood
the hills-his hil's-unchanged and
waiting and welcoming.
A weary man entered the silent
oabin whare evervthfn1 sfood as nj