The Huttig news., 1914-02-07
MAN WHO DRIFTED ON
By GEORGE PATTlLlo.

While we dawdled in the shade cast by the wagon, the Bantys told us their history. It was that of restless wan- caravan from as far cast 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 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 fabulousls rich; always that hope-it never burns out. The memory of starvation can- not dim hardships and distance do but fan 1t; it fires their souls as the lure Of gold tempts prospectors. And on their heels comes the ploddins farmer, who goes patiently to work to wrest a living out of the claims they have abandoned, and wakes, some morning, to find that civilization is knocking at his door and he is rich.
 Banty had tried raising maize close to the nations. No; the climate did not agree with him and his wife.
 T liked it, Ed" she protested. Goldie," he said T could see that easy."
 He had nothing to say against the climate. It was good enough climate, but it's effects were far from satisfac- tory In consequence, they had dis posed of their acres to migrate to the Panhandle. All that was years ago.
 That land is selling at $20 an acre now, I observed.
 Twenty dollars. I swan! Do you hear that girl? This gen'fman says they're paying $20 an acre for that plains fand," said Banty, his eyes gilt tering. And we done sold ours for B If we'd only waited!'
 Yes" his wife sighed; its too bad And we done lost that s1,9o0 in New Mexico, you recollect, E6?"
 Indeed, he did. Banty wagged his head over the inscrutable ways of the jade Fortune, and murmured, Well, we'll Who'd have thought it?"
 This was a worn-out tale to us, one of little meaning. Nesters came and nesters went. If they did not go soon enough we sometimes furnished the impetus, for, of course, the southwest was intended by the Creator to be COW country. and it is an iniquity that agriculturists should win it for corn and cotton and other mainstays of life.
 Banty had fenced quarter section near Fl Capitan mountains, and, with this as base of operations, had put his nestegg in sheep. But the sheep had dived over cliff on night of rocking storm, and there was none to prove what, Or who, propelled them. Much good it would have done him could he have proved it. So once more he had gathered his scant belongings into a wagon to set out for that promised land.
 This is the last time; yes, sir, cried Banty, in his excited cracked tones. Where we're going now they say It s regular 6dTueu Ol Eueu, like what the Good Book tells about. All you have for to do is to stir the ground some and you've got crop. Six cuttings of alfalfa in a year; yes. sir"
 And don't forget how calm and peaceful it all is, Ed" Goldie spoke up. Don't you mind how Brother Ducey said they were all so friendly? He said no mans hand was lifted against his neighbor, Brother Ducey did"
 "Huh-huh," Dave grunted. He had given the recital his most earnest at tention, and now he shook his head geprovingly.
 That's just the way it is every time the way you done. It's what I've been telling these boys here for ten years" he declared. Birds of feather gati>~.. no moss"
 Whats that you say, MP. Dave?'
 "A rolling stone gathers no feath- ers," Dave corrected sternly. You all know what mean. n."-McClure's Maga-