Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-07-14
just a Squatter on
Abandoned Land
BY KATE EDMoNDs.
70. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

spfL4&lElNAatE G+rHfH MElLs /
Cephas Merritt. was dead-Merritt,
the rich, eccentric, philanthropic old
merchant OF Grand boulevard, whose
name had been a synonym for integ-
rity in Martinsviile for forty years.
And the big store and the bank and
the innumerable pieces of real estate
that he had owned here and there in
the state capital had fallen to his
misery nephew, Hamilton Hall.
Hamilton spent five days with his
lawyer, and at the end Of that period
discovered that one-fourth of Cephas'
tenants had been living rent free for
years.
But not all of Cephas' tenants had
been poor. One of them, Miss Sido-
MIA Travers, occupied the old Travers
mansion on Hurland Heights, which
had come to her on the death of her
father twenty years previously. When
Hall read this name he whistled; and
when the lawyer told him that she.
too, lived rent free, he whistled again.
you see, it's this way, Mr.. Hail."
said the lawyer, Miss Sidonia be-
lieves that the property is hers. She's
got only a tiny income Of six dollars
a week outside 1t, and If she lost it
she'd be practically a beggar-she
and her niece, Mary Travers."
Mary Travers was prettier than
ever. in Halls eyes. When he saw
her enter the old-fashioned drawing
room a flame of jealousy of Blaine
burned in his heart. His greeting of
Mary was in itself a triumph.
"Sit down, Miss Travers," he said.
II have something to say to you. You
know, Of course, that my uncle is
deadE'
Yes" answered Mary. HE was a
good man and an old friend Of my
aunt's. l am sorry, Mr.. Hail."
well, that's more than l am, by
long Odds" Hall answered. Don't,
you know that I've fallen heir to
everything he had? Yes, and I find
that I'm worth a cool eight hundred
and fifty thousand at the lowest esti-
mate. Now, Mary. | want you to be
sensible. Be my wife. Don't be in
fatuated by that man Blaine. He's a
good, honest toiler, no doubt, but he'll
never be anything"
"Mr. Hail." said Mary, rising, II
cannot hear any more"
what, you won't marry me nOw?"
"Never!" she cried angrily, con
fronting him with blazing eyes. Il
hate and despise you"
Then why don't you marry
Blaine?" sneered Hamilton Hall. And,
as she did not reply, he continued:
"Ill tell you why. You're waiting un-
til your aunt dies SO as to get her
property. But 1t isn't hegs-TiittA's
mine" A
'ssThis house is not my aunt's?" she
cried.
mo, Miss Mary, it's mine," Hall an
swered. but if you'll throw Blaine
over and marry me I'll settle, it on
Miss Travers for life. Give me a
kiss and then I'll make you love me.
II
Vincent Blaine was at the door. Hall
turned, to see Blaine advancing upon
him with clenched fists.
What's the matter with youy Hall
shouted.
Blaine did not strike him, for Hall,
was a much smaller man. Instead, he
quietly wrenched his chair from his
grasp and, taking his shoulders in a
firm grasp, shook him backward and
forward till the mans head wagged
foolishly upon his shoulders.
"There goes Travers House," muir.
INJURED Mary, as she nestled into her
lovers arms.
What do you mean?" asked Blaine,
grimly. And Mary told him.
Vincent, dear, she. said presently,
I'VE have a hard fight before us.
Now that we must fight shoulder to
shoulder-help me out, Vincent"
He pressed her in his arms
"When?" he asked, kissing har.
Next month"; she whispered back
But long before the date set fol
their marriage arrived Hamilton Hall
had begun his legal battle.
Were at the. end, Mary" said
Blaine, despairingly. The case is
scheduled for next Tuesday. and we've
no answer to make"
'uThat means a death sentence to
Aunt Sidonia," answered Mary, weep,
ing.
by the way, did / tell you rye got
q new lawyer?" asked Blaine present
~. HE used to be a partner of ole
Fingall-the mar who acted for Mr.
Merritt so many years. He wants us
to attend a conference the day before
the trial, to be held in his Offices
He eeIns to have a card up his sleeve
I'll call for you on Monday at nine
Blaine called for Mary and took hel
to the lawyers office in a cab. There
they net Hall with his attorney, ani
the five seated themselves around the
table. Blaine's lawyer, d lank New
Englnnder named Robertson. made hi.
proposal.
find. said MI. Robertson
funbling with his papers, that Misi
III 1yro uora hoe socr,1p5ad the prnu,icn,