Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-01-07

julius Fischer claimed The woods are
full of moose, and there are beaver and
otter and that's where the trouble
came in"
But Fischer had trouble from the
| day he went up to shoot at Kalmacks.
He had to run for it, so | was told.
Didn't your father know that? Why
did Mr.. Petersham have anything to
do with the placer
"Oh, it was just one of pops no
tons, / suppose" said Linda, with the
rather weary tolerance of the modern
daughter.
''They are a dangerous lot round
| there
He knew that They are squatters
-trappers who have squatted among
| those woods and hills for generations.
Of course they think the country be-
longs to them. Pop knew that, and in
his opinion the compensation julius
Fischer offered and gave them was in
adequate"
1T would be- / commented
could without effort imagine Julius
Fischer's views on compensation. for
| had met him in business.
well, father went into the matter,
and he found that the squatters had
good deal to be said for their side of
the case, so that he did what he
thought was fair by them. He paid
them good high prices for their rights,
or what they considered to be their
rights. for in law. of course, they pos
sessed none Every one seemed pleased
and satisfied. and we were looking for
ward to going there this spring for the
| fishing when news came that one Of ia
theirs game wardens had been shot at. "
Shot at?''
Linda nodded the Greek head / adj
mired so much.
Yes Last autumn father put on IA
couple Of wardens to look after the
game. and they have been there all
winter. From their reports they have
got on quite we'll with the squatters,
and now suddenly, for no reason that
they can guess, one of them, William
Worke by name. has been fired upon in
his camp
| "Killed?" | asked
mo. but badly wounded. He said he
was sure the bullet could have been
put into his heart just as easily. but it
was sent through his knee by way Of
notice to quit, he thinks
Those folks up there must be half
savages."
'"They are, but that's not all. Three
days ago letter came. meant for ia
Their. but addressed to me, Whoever
wrote it must have seen father and
knew that he was not the kind of man
who could be readily frightened. so
they thought they would get at him
through me- 1t was a horrible letter.
The words were written upon a sheet
torn from an old account book They
ran as follows:
You, Petersham, you mean skunk!
Don't you come in our WOdS unleS yOr
willing to pay five thousand dollars. Bring
| the goods and you'll be told wher to put it,
so it will come into the hands Of riters
Dollars amt nothin to you, but they can
keep an expanding bullet out yor hide
DO you IllIlk IL Is IL lOdA
''Well. no. can't honestly say do"
(Which means, in plain language,
that if father does not pay up that S.
600 he will be shot"
mot necessarily. He need not go up
to Kalmacks this fall"
but Of course he will go! He's more
set on going than ever. You know ia
Their when he's dealing with men. And
| he persists in his opinion that the let
ter is probably only bluff"
I considered for a little before
spoke. Linda, have you really sent
for me to try to persuade your father
that it would be wiser for him not to
go to Kalmacks?"
Linda's lip curled scornfully. 81
should not put it just like that! l can
imagine fathers answer if you did.
Pm afraid it will be no good letting
"You mean that 1 have no tact?"
She smiled at me. and l instantly
| forgave her. "Well, perhaps l do, but
you know it is far better to be able to
| give help than just to talk about it.
Father is determined on going to Kali
macks. and l want you to come with
u.s."
U.S. cried
NATURALLY. I'1n going"
But it is absurd. Your father would
never allow itv'
He can't prevent it. dear James,"
she said softly. Il don't for moment
suppose that even the Kalmacks people
would attack woman. And father is
all that I have in the world I'm go
| ing"
Then | suppose shall have to go
too. But tell me what purpose does
your father think he will serve by I'M
dertaking this very risky expeditions"
HE believes that the general feeling
up at Kalmacks is in his favor. and
the shooting of the warden as well as
the writing of this letter is the work
of a small band of individuals who
wish to blackmail him. We will be