The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-22
A MAN OF
EXTREMES
VIII Usually Swing as Far
One Way as the
Other
BY MARGARET BRoTHERToN

talk was considered peculiar. As q
little boy he evinced distaste for lit
tie girls, and as youth his antipathy
for the opposite sex increased rather
than diminished. BY the time he
came of age he was a hardened WON.
an hater. Such men usually are de.
! voted to their own sex. Not so Crane.
He had but little more use for mep
than women. t
An aunt vainly endeavored TO get
what she called "thls nonsense" out
Of him and. failing. told him that he
would some day become a convert TO
her views and surrender under cir
cumstances no more sensible than was
his opposition. When she died her
nephew was still OF the same opinion,
The old lady left him her fortune,
100000. with the stipulation that IL
he married half the amount was to go
to a foundlings home. Thus did she
arrange to. show her spleen after her
death.
Edgar Crane had $4,000 of his own.
and, taking his fortune with him. he
went west to become rancher. He
bought large tract OF land and built
a house In the middle OF Il. thus keep
ing as far as possible from neighbors
His house was comfortable. and his
domain was attractive, being made up
OF plains and rolling land, partly
wooded. He stocked 1t with a few
sheep. but spent more money for
books to put In his library than for
sheep to stock his ranch
His lands were so extended that II
was some time before he had visited
every part of them. Indeed. he spent
most of his time mt home reading.
When he did ride out II was for the
purpose OF seeing II there were tres
passers on his grounds. Several years
passed and he showed no signs Of dis
satisfaction with his mode of life.
Then one day when riding up on an
eminence he saw little sbanty built
OF few logs. some boards and con-
siderable brush on a spot that he
knew was within his bounds.
With blood in his eye he put spurs
to his horse and rode to the cabin.
Refining up before the door. he called
for the trespasser to come out. Re-
ceiving no reply. he dismounted and
put his head within the door. He sur
veyed one. room, all there wns A mud
chimney with an open fireplace stood
at one side. Instead OF bedstead a
bunk was built in corner, There were
n chest OF drawers. n table and several
chairs. the bottoms OF the latter being
imperfect.
Crane went inside with Il view TO
leaving a notice for the trespasser to
quit A charred stick he found on the
clay hearth served his purpose and a
board which constituted a part of the
wall stood in lieu Of writing paper. He
wrote simply:
Leave at once.
OWNER OF PROPERTY.
lie was turning to leave when on the
bunk he saw heap that excited his
curiosity. Removing a light covering,
he looked upon the face of q sleeping
babe. The covering had evidently
been laid to protect 1t from flies and
other insects. There was something in
this little lump OF unconscious nonre-
sistance that was Numerically differ.
ent from Edgar Cranes combative-
ness.
The child slept on, unmindfuI OF
being at the mercy Of the man on
whose property 1t had illegally squat
ted.
AS Crane looked down upon the |
face his pugnacity began TO |
ooze out. A 6y lit on the soft round |
cheek. causing a slight twitching on |
the part OF the sleeper Crane brush. I
ed II away. Then. carefully replacing
the covering. he tiptoed from the bunk
lest he should awaken the baby. Leav.
Ing the cabin. he mounted his horse
md rode away.
He had no sooner left the influence
of the innocent little squatter than
he habit OF his life regained its mas.
cry. He was pleased at remembering
having left his notice to qult-not that
10 expected the child on awakening to
pay any attention. tn il. bur when the
parents. who were away doubtless pro.
riding In some way the necessaries OF
life. returned they would see IL and
understand that they must move on.
The rancher gave the squatters three
lays to get Off his premises-not that
o much time was needed. but he
|idn't wish to listen TO excuses: then
le went TO tho spot again. He found
he same status as before No one
vas ut home but the baby. and this
MANTLE squatter was asleep. He an.
roached the bdhk to ind that. though
he head was covered, a foot aud five
title toes we've exposed. Crane WINS
bout TO draw the clothing down over
hem when be paused for look.
rom look he proceeded TO n touch.
low waxy they were. He bent down
examine them more closely. and the
rst thing he knew be had touched his
ps to them.
The baby pulled It's little foot out of
|eht. and that ended fits connection
I'm Cranes visit Turning. he look.
for reply to his message. Though ,
. searched everywhere. he found ,
one. With charred stick he wrote: ,
VIII give you three days more.