The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-30
MAN WHO DRIFTED ON
BY GEORGE PATTiLio.

While We dawdled In the shade cast
by the wagon. the Bantys told u thc!l
history. 1t was that of restless wan
derers who constitute a nevar-ceasiMs
caravan from as far east as Louisiana.
vending westward and north through
Oklahoma, Texas. New Mexico and
Arizona. They find a virgin country.
break it, and nature heaps her boun'
ties In their laps. Then comes o bad
year, and they have made no pro-
vision: or the spirit Of the rover. that
will not die. wakes once more: again
their wagons take their whining way
through the wilderness.
Surely the goal will prove fabulcusly
rich; always that hOpe-it never burns
out. The memory Of starvation can
not dim; hardships and distance do
but fan It: It fires their souls - the
lure Of gold tempts prospectors. And
on their heels comes the ploddinS
farmer, who goes patiently to work to
wrest Z living out Of tho claims
they have abandoned. and wakes,
some morning. to find that civilization
ID knocking ct bis door and ho d
rich.
Banty had tried raising maize close
70 the nations. No: the climate did
not agree with him and bic wife
II Mkeo Il, 3D." she protested.
e.. But Il wasn't doing you no good.
0oldie," he said. II could go hat
easy."
He had nothing to say against the
climate. II was good enough climate.
but To effects were far from satisfac'
tory. In consequences. they had dis'
posed Of their acres 70 migrate 70 the
Panhandle. All that was years ago.
THAT land Ii selling ct 80 40 acre
now. observed.
Twenty dollars. I swan! Do you
hear that. girl? This genr'usau says
they're paying $40 IN acre for that
plains land" said Banty. his eyes gilt
tering. And We done sold ours for
81. II we'd only waited!"
EYES," bis wife sighed; ITS tUv bad.
And No done lost that. $500 In New
Mexico, you r(collect, Edf"
Indeed, be did. Banty waggcd his
head over the inscrutable ways OF the
Jade Fortune. and murmured. WELL
we'll. Who'd have thought ~"
This was q WORKOUT tale to 10, QUO
OF little meaning. Nesters came and
nesters went. II they did not 80 soon
enough We sometimes furnished the
impetus; for, OF course. the southwest
was intended by the Creator to b .
COW country. and It 10 an iniquity that
agriculturists should win It for corn
and cotton sad other mainstays OF
life.
Banty had fenced . quarter section
near FL Captain mountains. and, With
this % Q base OF operations. had put
bis nestegg In sheep. But the sheep
had dlved over . cliR on . night Of
rocking storm. and there was none
to prove what, or who. propelled them.
Much good e would have done him
could he have proved Il. So once more
he had gathered his scant belonsinga
into . wagon 70 cot out for that
promised land.
"This 10 the last time: ycs, oil"
cried Banty. In bic excited cracked
tones. "Where we're going now they
cay IT, q regular Garden Of Eden.
like what the Good Book tells about.
All you have for to do 10 to stir the
ground some and you've got . erop.
Six cuttings Of alfalfa IN . year: yes,
cir"
And don't forget how calm and
peaceful II al 10. 3D." 0oldie spoke
up. Don't you mind how Brotheg
Ducey said they were oil 20 friendly! !
He said no mans hand was lifted
against his neishbor. Brother Ducsy
aid"
"Huh.huh," Dave srunted. He sad
given the recital bis most earnest at'
tention, and now he shook hls head
rsprovingly.
That's just the way Il 10 every tame
the way you done. It's what I've
been telling these boys here for ten
years." he declared. "Birds 6 q
feather gather no moss"
whats that you say. Mr.. Dave!'
"A rolling stone gathers % feath.
en-" Dave corrected sternly. "You al
know what l med "-Mcclusss Maya
dina