The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-11-27

/ him for his c0uTNo. But he could eeA
no other way out. and with his heart
body. ne set out for 4 distant part 81
the country.
AS Sam and Clymer were
to leave the hotel, much TO the surprise
OF h freQuenterH I, Barton appeared
there. He drank little. but treated
everyone. cursing and calling down an
athemas ON Clymers head and that OF
his hired deputy sheriff and traitor.
Barton said to Clymer. II would as soon
shoot you an a dog, n i have q good
mind TO az II Is n hat lecherous
spy OF yours" pointing to Baker. Bar
went away swearing vengeance against
the two.
I've a piece OF important informa-
ton for you B~ittersweet," said Amos
Barton, bounding into the house ana
confronting his oldest sister. That
fellow OF yours whom 1t 10 understood
you are goin' to marry on Thanksgiv-
ing. but not with my help or Consent
and whom I have always hated ana
detested, q sold his birthright for .
mess or pottage. This dog OF a Ben
Jamin Clymer has come here from
and home. He has hired this Baker.
this Judas, made him o deputy sheriff
to execute the laws and dispossess I,a
among others. OF our rights with the
understanding that the Bakers are to
be let alone" he howled with increas-
ing indignation.
you lie, Amos Barton, you liel" said
Bittersweet ~springing tor his throat
Hike a panther. Samuel Baker has
done no such thing. He 10 Incapable
OF it."
Warding her of. Amos said: wait
and see for yourself. He IL Just what
I have always thought him 10 be. .
usAAa " 10uunF nj and traitor 49,
we found him out before he got into
our family"
San Baker deserted her, his friends
and neighbors 20 be an ally OF a rioh
land company with the ayowed pur-
pose of dispossessing all the settlers
so to obtain what they hadi But she
heard 1t from other and indisputable
sources and she grew hard and bitter
toward him. III struggled with this
problem. crying herself to sleep. But
finally her great. pure love for him
She tried to excuse him. He would
not have done such q thing, deserted
her, unless the agent had held out In
ducements which he could not help but
accept But why, II he loved her as
ne ought. why did he undertake this
II only the hated Ciymer had not
comet II only ne would go awayl
Suddenly she sat upright and ceased
weeping. A thought had taken pos
session OF her. She stiffened and
straightened Ike Q wild beast p
as one with q purpose and went about
her daily tasks silently. Next day she
overheard Amos say to his mother: Il
don't believe Mary cared much for
that young traitor, Sam Baker. She
made an awful fuss at first, but she
RnAY1a FaNnnTfIad nnNv % uvhtrh afN Ja~akH
Bittersweet was prompt to resent; but
she kept her own counsel ana smiled
knowingly and sarcastically.
For the first time since the settlers
had located I'm the vicinity Thanksgiv-
Ing day came and went unobserved. II
Joicing heretofore. The relatives had
gathered In one Of the homes, and after
song n praise to the giyer OF every
good and perfect gift had set down to
a feast OF wild turkey, pheasant and
rabbit, ~cranberries from the forest
and other good things. recipes for
which had been brought from New
England by h settlers. It was, up to
this time, a greater day than any In
the year; but there was nothing to
Indicate that II was different from N
other sOrrOwful days about his settle
ment then. A few conyivials gathered
at the inn n celebrated, but they
were doing that with frequency. 1t was
cold; there were a few flakes OF snow
falling. s.'
This day was one Of unusual sorrow
and depression for the two principals
who expected 1t to be their crowninR
had come back to the settlement the
night before. to take up their work in
the immediate vicinity the day follow
Ing. Clymer had asked Baker to come
down to the hotel In the evening that
they might plan the morrow's work.
unusual. number Of fires lighting UP the
country. Indicating that more settlers
unable to pay for the land twice, had
burned their improvements that they
might not fail into the hands of the
greedy corporation.
II got dark early ana Samuel Baker
started for the hotel, taking along his
gun, which he always had carried since
being sworn In as an oficer OF tho law.
There was a faint noon, but 1t was OBJ
secured by clouds. 1t was not so dark
but that he could distinguish objects
dimly. clymer sat all unconscioIsly by
the hotel window after q hearty meal
his portly form filling the whole lighted
space. Y"
AS Samuel Baker approached the
hotel he saw a man with a gun skulk-
ing along the stump fence trying to get
In range OF the barroom window where
sat Clymer, all unconscious of his per-
II. Bakers quick wit told him II was
as attempt al assassination, and he
primed his gun. The clouds parted and
Baker recognized Amos Barton's but
ternut suit just az the latter pointed
his rife at the window. Bakers gun
spoke first n Barton fell, shot through
the head. The crowd In the hotel came
running out and carried the dead man
into the inn and placed him on the
Barton. I .
With a wild cry of "Bittersweet!"
which is said by some to echo there to
this day, Samuel Baker threw away
his u and strobe into the primeval
forest.