The Springfield herald., 1913-03-28

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w y to flnd anywhere 4 more
NA pleasant and prosperous
" 7A 4 land. Fertile fields and
G shady country roads and
pastures where sleek
cattle are contentedly
grazing great stacks Of
green alfalfa: farmhouses with how-
ers and vines. a. we'll as thriving
kitchen gardens; windmills that pipe
houses with water as we'll as fill the
barn troughs; automobiles and good
roads-there could hardly be a great
er contrast. And 1t il pleasant to
hear that the pioneers who suffered
incredible hardships during the lean
years are now reaping the reward OF
their toll, courage and versatile, In
domitable ingenuity.
The frozen soil ratified under the
horses hoofs; the wagon wheels rat
tied on their own account. A Decem-
ber wind was keen enough to make
the driver wrap his patched quilt
closer and pull his battered straw hat
lower over his ears. He was man
OF thirty. with high. tanned features
and eyes that would have been hand
some but for their sullen frown.
II should call 1t getting good and
ready for blizzard" observed the
other man on the board (seat the wag-
on had none): maybe he won't
come"
He'll come fast enough" returned
the driver; lyon don't catch buzzards
staying in for weather."
al don't know. He's q pretty luxu-
rious young scoundrel. Bixby says he
had letter from him-very particular
about a fire In his room, and plenty
of hot water and towels. Bixby Is
worried lest the boys make fuss
with him in his hotel"
''Bixby IL q coward from Wayback."
was the drivers single comment or re-
ply. The other man eyed the dark
profile at his shoulder, out OF the tail
of his eye. rubbing his hands up and
down his wrists under his frayed
sleeves. He was young man. short
er OF stature than the driver. He had
. round, genial tanned face, and bad
cold on him. His hands were bare
because he had lent his mittens to the
driver; but he wore a warm. II shah
by greatcoat and a worn fur cap.
II don't suppose" he said in care
less tone, you fellows mean to do
more than scare the lad we'll"
I'VE scared the last man. Doc Rus
sell got him fairly paralyzed; told
him bout the Shylock that turned out
the Kinneys. and Miss Kinney's dying
in the wagon, she was SO weak; and
Kin--somebody Ccourse he didn't men
ton names) shooting that man; and
their arresting Kinney, and the jury
acquitting him without leaving the
box. oh. he told a lot of stories. Some
OF EN-, guess, he made up out OF
his own head; but that Iowa lawyer
swallered the whole batch, hide and
hoofs and all. And he couldn't git
out of town quick enough! But
whats the good? Here's this young
dude come again. Say. did you know
its his pa that owns most of the stock
in the trust?" =.
Nor"
Eyes. sir. He's got the upper hand
of 'em all. They've bought up every
last bit of foreclosed land round here.
Yes, we was SO mighty smart, we
flxed 1t that nobody'd dare to buy: and
nobody round here would dare. even
s'posing they got the money. which
they amt"
There certainly amt much loose
money round here, Wesley. At least.
when ran the paper l didn't find It;
I was glad to rent an abandoned farm
and trade my subscription list for
enough corn to pay the first install
ment on some stock and cultivator." F."
did you pay any more?"
mo; times got worse instead Of
better. I'd have lost the stock and
the cultivator and every blamed thing
in the way of implement I've got II it
hadn't been for you fellows running
the implement man out of the coun-
try; he'd chattel mortgage that
was terror. But what were you say
ing about the land? Nobody would
Suy7"
"Of course nobody would buy. and
We hugged ourselves We was 80 burned
slick. oh, my! Now, here comes
along one of them bloody trusts that's
Obs4hB thaS SOohtAy n.y. oho 6oCb "
the land company and buys the fore
closed land for a song. 1t goes all the
cheaper because its known far and
wide that we elected the sheriff not
to enforce writs. but to resist 'em;
and the same with all the Officers: and
were ready to shoot down any man
that tries to push US on the earth.
That scared folks, and the Investment
company sold cheap as dirt. They
knew they couldn't git anybody to
take up farm round here. Look q
there!" He Jerked the point OF the
switch that served for whip in the
direction of a dark bulk looming
against the glowing belt of rcd in
the west. The outlines OF ruined
chimney toppled over the misshapen
roof. The door and window openings
gaped forlornly: doors and windows
were gone long since. wrenched OF
for other needs. Bit by bit the house
had been nibbled at-here porch
platform taken, there q patch Of
weather-boarding. shingles pulled from
the roof. the corn crib a wreck, the
ortbuildings carried away piece-meal
until, a sadder ruin than IRE leaves.