Year: 1873

his laud was offered for sale, and his
face was once more turned toward Texas.
It was about this land that Shultz had
come over to see him in the morning
The proprietors Of the Speddens estate
were casting eovetous eyes upon the
possessions Of the smaller ranchmen;
and whenever the land contiguous TO
their own could be purchased, they were
making arrangements to include it
within their own boundaries. The men
who offered land for sale were disaffected
for about the same reason Miles pro-
fessed, and sold out cheaply-being will
ling and eager TO part with it at the
same time the shrewd speculator be-
came equally willing and anxious TO
buy. Miles, however, had seen some
Yankee farmers coming in around him,
and turning the wild pastures into grain
fields, even though they were forced to
hire vacqueros to keep his cattle out of
their grain, in country where fencing
was well-nigh impossible. This kind of
enterprise, while it disgusted the old
Texan, who wanted "elbow-room,n -
failed not at the same time to give him
greatly increased and continually in
creasing estimate Of the value Of his un-
titled acres.


The two men, the agent OF a great
estate, and the owner of a much less
one, were sharpening wits against one
another this morning. AS always is
the case where culture is pitted against
ignorance, the man Of the world has
the advantage in all except dogged
obstinacyi in that quality the ignorant
man is sure to excel.


at amt no use talkin'," said Jack
Miles, raising his voice as he lost assu-
rance in his own ultimate success; and
starting up nervously from the covered
way between the two rooms, began pac-
ing the ground outside. at amt no use
talkin'. The Speddens amt agoin' to
hev an acre ov my land 'thout they pay
me my price fur it; not eff stay here
till rot-an' like enough l shall!" he
added, casting a glance nortbward
toward the still invisible, but inevitable
railroad.


Every WE'LL" returned Mr. Shultz,
calmly. al shall report your answer to
them; but / do think it extremely
doubtful il they make any further Of
fers. In less than year they will have
bought up all the small ranches on the
other side OF your place, and will have
you SO closed in that you will require
vacqueros on every side to keep separate
your herds; or you must fence at a cost
of five or six hundred dollars per mile.
l think now is your time TO sell; but
you must do as pleases yourself"


So saying, Mr.. Shultz rose from the
bench, put on his hat, and seemed on
the point of taking leave. But chang
ing his intention, he hesitated a mo-
ment, re-seated himself, and returned
10 the point Of attack.


ait may be true,n he said, frankly,
"that we do not offer you all that your
land will be worth when the railroad
has brought it to market; but we do Of
fer you all that it is worth at the pres
ent time. These railroad men will come
upon you before long for the right OF
way, and you will have to grant it TO
them. Certainly they will pay you
something; but for all of it you will not
be satisfied. You will find in il many
disadvantages which already know
you do not wish to encounter. You will
say to yourself that you do not wish to
have your stock frightened or run over
that you do not like the noise of the
trains, and that you are in danger Of
being burned out by the sparks from the
locomotives. Is it not so? OF course.
Then if you take what we offer you, IL
is within your power to purchase q
larger boiy OF land away from the rail-
road, which in short time will again
increase in value and afford you a Sec
ond chance Of realizing good profit of
a small investment. II it is any induce
ment toward concluding a bargain, l
will agree to take half your stock at a
fair price, with the land, and thus re-
iieve you of a possible encumbrance in
making new settlement


But Jack Miles was deaf 10 argument
and persuasion alike. Knitting TO-
gether his black brows in an expression
OF dogged fierceness and obstinacy, he
paused in his restless march up and
down-up and down in the bit of shade
cast by the two-roomed house, first to
eject yellow stream Of tobacco Juice
several feet in advance of his position,
then to cast out Of his mouth an enor.
nous guild, and finally to give utter.
ance to his determination:


"iTain't no use argefyin' with me,
Mr.. Shultz. 1 amt a-goin' ter sell my
land 'thout gittin' my figures for it; and
amt agoin' to guv them railroad felleri
any right ov way, nuther. They can
Just cut around me through them other
ranches you're a-thinkin' Of buyin'. ]
reckon they won't disturb me none then,
nor my cattle no more" And without
further ceremony the rough old Texan
turned on his heel and walked off in the
direction Of group of herdsrnan.


In the family-room within hearing oi
this conversation the young house
keeper, Judith Miles, had been pursu.
ing her daily tasks, monotonous, il moi
wearisome. Her only companion wai
''little Katie" fiyeyears old, so-called in