Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-04-18
A MAN OF
EXTREMES
viii Usually Swing as Far
One Way as the
Other
a. MARGARET RROTHFRTON
By MARGARET BROTHERTON

little boy he evinced a dstaste 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 hardened wom-
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 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 if
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 a rancher. He
bought a large tract Of land and built
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 it with few
sheep, but spent more money for
books to put in his library than for
sheep to stock his ranch.
His lands were 50 extended that it
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
eminence 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. \ mud
chimney with an open fireplace stood
at one side. Instead Of bedstead a
bunk was 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 a
board which constituted a part of the
wall stood in lieu of writing paper. He
wrote simply:
Leave at once
OWNER OF PROPERTY.
He 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 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
ent from Edgar Cranes combative-
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 pugnacity began to
ooze out A fly lit on the soft round
cheek. causing a slight twitching on
the part Of the sleeper. Crane brush
ed it 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
and rode away.
He had no sooner left the influence
OF the innocent little squatter than
the habit Of his life reganed its mas
terry. He was pleased at remembering
having left his notice 20 quit-not that
ne expected the child on awakening to
pay any attention to il. but when the
parents who were away doubtless pro.
Viding in some way the uecessarias Of
ufe returned they would see it and
understand that they must move on
The raneher gave the squatters three
days to get of his premises-pot thar
so much time was needed. but ne
oldnt wish to listen to excuses. then
De went to the spot again. He found
the same status as before. No one
was at home but the baby. ana this
infantlie squatter was asleep. he an.
preached the bunk to end that though
the head was covered, a foot and five
nttle toes were exposed Crane was
about to draw the clothing down over
them when he paused for look
From a look ne proceeded to a touch
How waXy they were He bent down
TO examine them more closely. and the
iirst thing be knew he had touched his
lips to them.
The baby pulled its little foot out OF
sight and that ended its connection
with Cranes visit Turning. he look.
ed for q reply to his message Though
ne searched everywhere he found
none WIN charred stick he wrote