South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-05

DAN N1o COMMISSIONER kIlCH Why
they were there. He had half prom
issd TO render a decision that day
upon their location
The chief clerk now brought IN a
batch of duplicate certificates for the
commissioner 10 sign. AS he traced
his sprawling signature. Hollis
SUNNI erheld. Commr. Cenl. Land Of
fee" on each one, the chief clerk
stood, deity removing them and ap-
plying the blotter.
Il notice." said the chief clerk,
you've been going through that Sa-
lado County location Kampfer Is
making a new map OF Salado, and
believe is plating in that section OF
the county now"
IT will see IT." said the commits
sioner. A few moments later he
went 70 the draughtsmen's room
AS he entered he saw Ave or elk OF
the draughtsmen grouped about
I HAMPERS desk. gargling away at
each other in pectoral German. and
gazing at something thereupon. At
the commissioners approach they
scattered TO their several places.
kampfer. a wizened little German,
with long. frtzzlsd ringlets and q
watery eye, began to stammer forth
some sort OF an apology, the COM
missioner thought, for the congrega-
ton OF his fellows about his desk
Never mind" said the commits
sioner, IT wish TO see the map you
are making; and, passing around
the Old German. seated himself upon
the high draughtsuan's stool. Kamp-
fer continued TO break English in
trying TO explain.
Herr Commissioner, assure you
blenty sat I hat not It bremeditated
sat Il waSs-sat IL itself make.
Look you'll from Sc field notes wass
Il blatted-blease to observe Sc calls:
South. 10 degrees west. 1850 varas;
south, 10 degrees each 500 varas;
south, leo: south, west, 200; south.
40 degrees west 400--and so on.
Herr Commissioner, nefer would I
have"
The commissioner raised one white
hand, silently. Kampfer dropped
his pipe and fed.
With a hand at each side of his
face, and his elbows resting upon the
desk, the commissioner sat staring
at the map which was spread and
fastened there-staring at the sweet
and living profile of little Georgia
drawn thereupon-at her face, pen
stve, delicate, and infantile, outlined
in a perfect likeness.
When his mind at length came to
inquire into the reason Of it. he saw
that il must have been, as Kampfer
had said. unprecedented. The old
draughtsman had been plating in the
Elias Denny survey, and Georgia s
likeness, striking though IL was. was
formed by nothing more than the
meanders of Chiquito river. Indeed,
I =. v,Forfd L1ntfar- xuhnrpnrl his
liminary work was done, showed the
laborious tracings Of the calls and
the countless pricks of the COM
passes. Then, over his faint pencil
ling, Kampfer had drawn in India
ink with a full firm pen the simili-
tu6e of ChiquitO river, and forth had
blossomed mysteriously the dainty,
pathetic profile of the child.
The commissioner sat for half an
hour with his face in his hands, gaZ-
ing downward, and none dared ap-
proach him. Then he arose am
walked out. In the business office he
paused long enough to ask that the
Denny file be brought to his desk.
He found Hamlin and Avery still
reclining in their chairs. apparently
oblivious of business. They were laz-
ily discussing summer opera, It be-
ing their habit-perhaps their pride
also-to appear supernaturally tndif-
ferent whenever they stood with
large interests imperilled. And they
stood to win more on this stake than
most people knew. They possessed
inside information 10 the effect that
a new railroad would, within year,
split this very Chiquito river valley
and send land values ballooning all
along its route. A dollar under thir-
tv thousand profit on this location,
If 1t should hold good, would be a
/ loss to their expectations. So, while
they chatted lightly and waited for
the commissioner to open the sub
. iect, there was a quick, sidelong
sparkle in their eyes, evincing a de-
sire to read their title clear 70 those
( fair acres on the Chiquito.
A clerk brought in the file. The
commissioner seated himself and
wrote upon il in red ink. Then he
rose to his feet and stood for while
! looking straight out Of the window.
| The Land Office capped the summit
of n bold hill. The eyes OF the
| commissioner passed over the roofs
of many houses set in a packing of
deep green. the whole checkered by
strips OF binding white streets. The
horizon. where his gaze was focus
sed. swelled to a fair wooded eTnin-
/ ence fecked with faint dots Of shin
/ ing white. There was the GENE
terry, where lay many who were for
gotten. and a few who had not lived
/ in vain. And one lay there occupy
/ ing very small space, whose child
/ ish heart had been large enough TO
desire. while near its last beats. good
to others. The commissioners lips
moved slightly as he whispered TO
/ himself: 1T was her last will and
! testament. and I have neglected 1t
so long"
The big brown cigars Of Hamlin
and Avery were fireless. but they still
] gripped them between their teeth
! and waited, while they marvelled al
/ the absent expression upon the COM
| missioner's face.
By and by he spoke suddenly and
promptly.
Gentlemen. have Just endorsed
II the Elias Denny survey for patent
/ tng. This office Will not regard
your location upon a part OF II as
! legal" He paused a moment and
then. extending his hand as those
dear old-tirne ones used 20 do IN de-
bate. he enunciated the spirit Of that
/ Ruling that subsequently drove the
! Iand-sharks 10 the wall, and placed
the seal Of peace and security over
the doors Of ten thousand homes.
"And. Furthermore. he continued
with a clear. soft light upon his face
l ga. ,--o-- f~+araSt Won RI know tia