Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-05-19

a tsquatter." one of those sbif.,"s
ignominious tramps of the wilderness
despised by all "homesteaders" ws,,
as by Sandy Smith
| Dick came, and, with cold muz,,.
| tried to explain that he was surrriros
at his own sleeplessness, and was IN
sympathy with his masters A.
from the dog Sandy took comfort
'You old rascal" he said not+;n
the head which had been laid tr5,xt
ingly beside his, you're worth a do~on
Understands, an you don't suffer 49,
much as lots of men. Your gama
amt been an easy one, either whot
with losin' your leg. Jest 20 TO sIoon
and thank the Lord that you got your
tail left. There's a heap O. satisfao.
ton in bein' able to wag along"
When her men reported at the cabin
door in the morning, they found II
open, the morning meal out of tha
way, and Sandy busily making IN =
pack. Again he glowered at them and
took satisfaction from the appearance
of the bandaged ones. He clumna5
into the cabin and took down tho
moldering pack-straps from their neg
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 tha
arm-straps. He picked up the rife al
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 II,
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!" he snarled as he stood
before them. Don't think I'm leavin'
because there's four Of you. I'm gon'
on off out into the west, somewhere
where there amt no stakes, to take a
new claim. An unless it's woman
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
''Id 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 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 weary
heart, to make his way out OF TINS
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 nome.
He hungered for a sight of Dick ana
for the companionship Of his great
sympathetic eyes and caresslng nose
The trees took on a familiar look as
he neared his old border-llne, ana ITO
thought bitterly of his REIMBURSEMENT
of all that life had held for him tnere'
He came suddenly on new clearing
and a new cabin, and stopped Ill
amaZement.
A sunny-faced woman stepped 10
the open door, and a dog sprang pas'
her awkward1y making his way WIN
mouthings of welcome to Sandys sloe.
The man kne1t on the ground anu
took the big, kindly beasts head ID
his hands, and held it against ni'
face. Here at last was friend.
"What did you do it for? MIS-
Burrows asked. "The locators cams
the day after you left, and SAID tnas
there had been mistake, ana lna'
my claim was the one adjoining you''
They said that you clearly owned 'i1
one which you lived on; ana Inoh
heard all about the fight We trleu ~
find you, but you had gone no onV
knew where. After they nad p"n'
this for me, l took care Of your p'"Uo'
too, because both Dick and Klie" WV wv
would come back some time. "4
did you ever give it up? 20 oaCn ~
| it. It's yours, and we have all O0''
keeping it for you"
"Two of us is workin' for hei NV wv
said a man with a bandaged arm WI.
came up, "and we want to Dc '0~
friends. You're worth knowing IA
Sandy, overjoyed and dazed' "aiA'
down the trail ,ob,s
There before him, with lie1 ~
planted flowers in front OF the I@I t-o
| ri