The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-07-12
A MAN OF
EXTREMES
Will Usually Swing as Far
One Way as the
Other
BY MARGARET BROTHERTON


Edgar Crane from the time he could
talk was considered peculiar. AS a
little boy he evinced a distaste for lit.
tie girls. and as a 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 men
than women.
An aunt vainly endeavored to get
what she called this 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 II
he married half the amount was to go
to a foundlings' home. Thus did she
range 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 n rancher. He
bought a large tract Of land and built
a house in the middle Of it, 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 1t
was some time before he had visited
every part Of them. Indeed, he spent
most Of his time at home reading.
When he did ride out it was for the
purpose Of seeing If 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
emlnence he saw a little shanty built
Of a 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 was. A mud
chimney with al open fireplace stood
at one side. Instead Of q bedstead a
bunk vas built in a corner. There We're
a chest of drawers. a table and several
chairs, the bottoms of the latter being
imperfect.
Crane went inside with a view to
leaving a notice for the trespasser to
quit. A charred stick he found on the
clay hearth served his purpose, and u
board which constituted a part of u le
wall stood in lieu Of writing paper. He
wrote simply:
Leave at once.
OWNER OF PROPER. TY.
He was turning to leave when ON the
bunk he saw n heap that excited his
curiosity. Removing a light covering,
he looked upon the face Of a sleeping
babe. The covering had evidently
been laid to protect it from flies and
other insects. There was something in
this little lump of unconscious nonre-
sistance that was Numerically differ
anf from E1nap Crann', 1ou
ness.
The child slept on, unmindful of
being at the mercy Of the man on
whose property it had illegally squat
ted.
AS Crane looked down upon the
innocent face his pugnaclty began to
ooze out. A fly lit on the soft round
cheek, causing a slight twitcbing on
the part of the sleeper. Crane brush
1t away. Then, carefully replacing
covering, he tiptoed from the bunk
lest he should awaken the baby. Leav-
ing the cabin. he mounted his horse
and rode away.
He had no sooner left the influence
- ~S AhuoSShl NIUE Squatler imam
he habit of his life regained its mas
cry. He was pleased at remembering.
left his notice to quit-not that:
lie expected the child ON awakening to,
'ay any attention to it, but when the.
PARENTS. who were away doubtless pro-
'iding in some way the n-ecessaries Of
life. returned they would see it and!
that they must move on.
The rancher gave the squatters thre..
lays to get off his premises-not that.
o much time was needed, but he,
lidn't wish to listen to excuses; then
10 went to the spot again. He found
same status as before. No one,
vas at home but the baby, and this
MANTLE squatter was asleep. He ap-
roached the bunk to find that. though !
he head was covered, a foot and five
title toes were exposed. Crane was
bout to draw the clothing down over
hem when he paused for a look. '
rom a look he proceeded to a touch.
low waxy they were! He bent down
D examine them more closely, and the
rst thing he knew he had touched his
ps to them.
The baby pulled its little foot out Of
light, and that ended its connection
nth Crimes visit TurninO ho locln