Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-20
The Argus Daily Story
A Man of Extremes-By Margaret Brotherton.
copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

SAauG ALOh4A tAC NAAaAC hC NOoh0
talk was considered peculiar. As a
little boy he evinced q 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 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 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. BE
bought 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 q 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 at home reading
When he did ride out 1t was for the
purpose of seeing IL 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 ar
eminence he saw a little shanty bull
of a few logs, some boards and con
siderable brush on a spot that ht
knew was within his bounds.
With blood in his eye he put spur
to his horse and rode to the cabin
Refining up before the door, he calle'
for the trespasser to come out. Re
ceiving no reply, he dismounted ant
put his head within the door He sur
veyed one room, all there was. A mu,
| chimney with an open fireplace stoo'
| at one side. Instead of a bedstead
hunly x-oc b,,ilt IN a o0rpar Thora ruar-
a chest of drawers, a table and severa
chairs, the bottoms of the latter bein
imperfect.
Crane went inside with a view I
leaving a notice for the trespasser t
| quit. A charred stick he found on tn
clay hearth served his purpose, and
board which constituted a part Of tn
wall stood in lieu of writing paper. II
wrote simply:
Leave at once.
OWNER OF PROPERTY.
BE was turning to leave when on tn
bunk he saw a heap that excited hi
curiosity. Removing a light covering
he looked upon the face Of sleepin
babe. The covering had evidentl
been laid 20 protect it from flies an
other insects. There was something
this little lump Of unconscious nonr'
sistance that was Numerically diffe
ent from Edgar Cranes combativ,
ness.
The child slept on, unmindful {
being at the mercy of the man o
whose property it had illegally squa
ted.
AS Crane looked down upon til
innocent face his pugnacity began I
ooze out. A fly lit on the soft roun
cheek, causing a slight twitching o
the part of the sleeper. Crane brusl
ed it away. Then. carefully replacin
the covering, he tiptoed from the bun
lest he should awaken the baby. Lea
ing the cabin, he mounted his hors
and rode away.
He had no sooner left the infuenc
of the innocent little squatter tina
the habit of his life regained its ma
terry. He was pleased at rememberin
having left his notice to Quit-not thu
he expected the child on awakening (
pay any attention to 1t, but when ii
parents, who were away doubtless pr
viding in some way the necessaries I
life, returned they would see 1t an
understand that they must move on
The rancher gave the squatters thrs
days to get off his premises-not tn,
so much time was needed. but /
didn't wish to listen to excuses; the
he went to the spot again. He foun
the same status as before No or
was at home but the baby, and tn
infantile squatter was asleep. He a.
preached the bunk to find that. thong
the head was covered. a fsot and d,
little toes were exposed. Crane WI
about to draw the clothing down ov,
them when he paused for a loo
From look he proceeded to a touc
How waxy they were! He bent dow
to examine them more closely, and ii
first thing he knew he had touched b
lips to them.
The baby pulled fits little foot out (
sight, and that ended its connectic
with Cranes visit Turning. he Loo
ed for a reply to his message. Thong
he searched everywhere. he four
hone. With a charred stick he wrot
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