Arizona republican., 1912-08-27
DARKEST JUST
 BEFORE DAWN
How Luck Came to a Man on
 the Verge of Despair.

III tue Tar west tue sun was rlSlnS. On road a spick and span wagon with a white canvas cover pulled by four sleek horses was jogging along, the outfit glistening in the morning rays, presenting prosperous appear ance unusual to that region. Henry Hawkins. pioneer, drove, and within the wagon his wife and their two little children were sleeping soundly. flaw kins, who had a rowing disposition, having become dissatisfied with his humdrum business in the east, had sold out, put the money into ''schoon- er." horses, harness and general out fit and was going to rush" for a new home in region that was about to be opened to SQuatters.
 Reaching the boundary. he found a crowd of people waiting to take advan- tage of the same opportunity, which was to occur the next day. Hawkins made the effort with the rest. but be was unfamiliar with the process, and they all got ahead of him.
 
 The sun stood at noon over another scene. It was a region unrecogniZed by the government and was conse- quently called No Mans Land. Haw- kins' wagon, paint worn and rickety, was pulled along by three lean horses over a dusty road, and. as before. Hawkins drove. He had tired of try. ing to wrest a living from his unpro- ductive farm, had pulled up stakes and was going to find a new home in No Mans Land.
 He did not find home to suit him. Since the government did not recog- nize the existence of No Mans Land, there was no law there, and the set tiers concluded to govern themselves. Hawkins, being the only man unoccu- pied. was appointed sheriff. One day In trying to arrest a refractory citizen Hawkins killed him. It was an unfor- tunate event for the sheriff. The man who was killed had friends. and Flaw kins was made to feel their enmity.
 For years the Hawkins family how cred on the borders of those regions that were about to be opened up, ready to make run for a home. But Flaw kins either never succeeded in finding one or If he did did not keep 1t. They lived in the wagon and camped by the roadside. The wagon was now old. It had never been repainted. but it had been patched The horses were used up; the canvas cover was rotten. The wheels were held together by old pieces of telegraph wire. the harness by bits | of rope Hawkins with his broken | down team was known everywhere. and he had acquired the name of "the | mover"
 The sun was setting over the noun 1 tains. Two proSpectors passing down | dirt road saw schooner, one wheel | of which had given way and let down a corner of the wagon. This had ef- fected a complete wreck. A man stood looking at it mournfully. A woman and two children were crying beside smoldering fire by the roadside. | Do you know who that isT' said one of the prospectors to the other. That's Hawkins, the mover Reckon he's stranded at last Hello, Hawkins! What are you doing here?"
 Going to lay out a graveyard and settle" was the mournful reply.
 AS he spoke the sun went down be 1 hind the mountains.
 
 Five years passed. One morning a horseman was riding on a road wind ing upward. A mechanic, with a bag of tools slung over his shoulder, was | coming down. Just above a cloud Of smoke hung over pocket in the noun tain.
 ''To the presidents house?" asked the horseman, pointing ahead.
 Yes: up there where you see ths smoke"
 Has the new pump arrived?
 "Yes; this morning"
 The horseman rode on. but before coming to the smoke turned aside to { roomy and comfortable looking dwell ing set in the center of well adorned grounds. Dismounting at the gateway he went up to the house. Of the serv ant who came to the door he asked:
 "Is the president at home or ovel there| pointing.
 Hes just going over. sir. He'll b' | down in a minTtan