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

y VI CANn Va dfJ0A1HllNALAAAk NAI w WOAN
freely made. But what was the USE
II Clymer we're killed, other agents
would come to TAX his place. The
sherin and posse would be sent to dis
possess them OF their lands and homes,
and there was nothing that could be
done to right the wrong.
After CIymer's arrival, occasionally
at night, the woods would be lighted
up for miles around by o bright blaze.
Some settler who had by the greatest
privation paid for the land once, seeing
no possibility or being able to do 90
again, had taken his stock and fam
lily, set fire to his buildings, the work
and savings OF years, and gone to an
other location where you pay for land
but once, and then Ii Is to you and
your heirs forever"
Unwilling that the unjust company
should benefit more than possible by its
greediness, the buildings were torched.
and by their burning light the few be-
longings which could be toted were
packed up, the women, children and
goods In wagons, the mel on foot, by
the light of their blazing homes, struck
another trail where justice was melted
out TO all deserving II.
Next morning, after a hearty break
fast, Clymer had q long talk with the
landlord, and then started out or his
D0oiAACog AOhAidSa "a 1fAG nI6l PtdC0 ING
visited was the home OF the widow
Baker. He Knocked pompously on the
door and the widow opened IL just q
crack. Seeing this portentous, mer-
cenary-looking individual outside, she
held lsr portal.
who lives here?" he Numbered.
1.-THE Widow Baker and her sever
children said the woman, holding the
door almost shut.
my name Is Clymer," r~everberated
he attorney. II am from Philadelphia,
and agent Of the Pennsylvania COM
pany. ] want to know when you can
pay for this farm OF 200 acres that you
are sqdatting on which belongs to the
Pennsylvania company" "
It don't belong to nc Pennsylvania
company" said the widow. SIT be-
longs to us. Ny dead husband bought
II OF the Connecticut company, and
here's the deed she said, showing that
paper gingerly through the crack In the
door, but not far enough out for ely
mer to grab it even II he had 80 de-
sired.
That deed Is no good" said Ciymer,
derisively. 1The Connecticut company
didn't own this land. Never did. All
this land up to the New York state
line belongs TO u.s." he said, swelling
up with pride. "If you want to stay on
1t you must buy OF us. You have got
to pay the owners, not persons who
have no titles to convey" he said
gruffly.
II understand you have a husky boy
In your family" patronizingly contin-
ued Clymer. ~ ~ ~
II don't know the people In this
Northern Tier section. I understand
there r some squatters hereabouts on
u claim, who would value my life at
about the expense Of a bullet" at which
saying he grinned. what / need is q
bodyguard and guide, and If you have
a boy big enough and smart enough
and willing to accompany me on my
somewhat disagreeable journey through
this section, I will give you a free deed
to your farm" he said.
The Widow Baker went to the door,
and taking an empty powder horn blew
on II a blast. 1t was q signal agreed
upon v to be used except to sum
mon her eldest son in time OF great
distress. It awakened the echoes even
beyond the woodlot where he was
working, and he came to the house on
the run. Clymer made the proposition
direct TO Samuel Baker, and, both
mother nj son asked till morning to
decide. Clyme2, gruntinE an assent.
returned to the hotel.
The Northern Tier has witnessed few
such nights Of agony In primitive
homes az OF that OF the Widow Bakers.
The loyal nature OF the lad rebelled at
assisting the greedy corporation
against relatives and metaphors And
there was Bittersweet, the only beau
tiful thing which had aver come into
Sam Bakers life OF priyation and hard
ship. Sam and his mother went over
the matter step by step, again and
again. The conference did not end un-
I'll after daybreak, and Baker. after
looking at the tear-stained faces Of the
sleeping children, terrified by the mon
ster who had come to rob them of their
home, and realizing that he could not
by any possible exertion. single-hand-
ed and alone, wrench enough from the
wilderness to pay again for the farm
and keep the family together. sweating
drops OF agony at thought OF Bitter
sweet, and remembering his oath to his
dying father, took his rifle, went to
Harris hotel, called for BENJAMIN ely
mer, told him he had accepted his Of
fer, n turning his back on the por-
tais of love, the door Of duty opened
for him az he made the supreme sac
.rifice OF his life. But not until a visit
to the thorn tree where his troth with
Bittersweet was plighted, and there on
his knees In the frosty dawn prayed
God to direct him right.
Samuel Baker was sworn In by Ben
Jamin Clymer as a deputy sheriff and
fully qualified to perform all the duties
of high sheriff, Clymer having notariaI
powers and blank papers for the pur-
pose attested by the high sheriff OF
Northumberland county, who had CIV
en- them to the agent Of the Pennsyl-
yanta company. Sam was given the
day to go home and make arrange
ments to enter on his new official
duties. I@'
But It was little he could do but
stand In view Of the thorn tree, watch
the path OF the forest fire to Min creek
and wonder IL dispossession OF Bitter
sweets family would come before the
day set for their wedding. He knew
that the loyal spirit Of Bittersweet
would spurn him for his cowardly
course; that h at the first opportun-
tty would light upon him like a pan
ther, her love turned to hate, and rend