92
The University Courier.
Finally they came to the claim, and the stranger, pulling up his trembling horse, jumped off and fixed his flag in land that had never before been touched by the white man. He turned to his companion, who had dismounted also, and saw big tears standing in the clear blue eyes. Then he realized that he had taken her home, that the mere turn of fortune had given him an undue advantage over the helpless woman. He stood as if perplexed, for a moment, and turning to her said in a frank open way:
"Miss, I don't know what your name is, but mine is Brown; and I don't know just which of us reached this claim first, seeing as we came on the same horse, so the only way that I can see of getting out of a bad fix is to divide interests and go in together. What do you say?"
A couple of hours afterwards Brown had left the young lady to hold down the ranch, and had started to the nearest settlement for "a friend," as he laughingly told her, and in a short time he brought his "friend" back with him. The friend was a preacher, and before the sun went down on that eventful day, Mr. and Mrs. Brown had put their few things into a tent, and started up housekeeping in the same primitive manner as many more did in those times of stern necessity.
Another rather odd and interesting thing occurred on the same day in one of the towns of the territory. A Miss Harrell had staked out a town lot, but had scarcely gotten her stake driven, before a strange young man had taken possession of the other end of the lot, and had started to driving his stakes. The young lady quietly drew a pistol and walking up to the young fellow, told him in the plainest kind of terms to "get out of here." The stranger regarded her quietly, shook his head and said in a very deliberate manner:
"No, I guess not. Good lots don't grow on every tree, and as much as I admire your nerve, I reckon I'll stay here, being as I got here about the same time as you did."
The young lady retired rather put out, but staid on the lot. The rival claimants kept aloof for some time, until at last the young man approached and asked to speak for a moment with the girl. He said that his name was Harry Evarts, told her a little of his history,and concluded by saying:
"Now Miss, I see that you are going to stay with this lot, and as I intend to myself, wouldn't it be a little handier all around for me to get a preacher, and for us to go into partnership on this little deal? It will cost us both a lot of money, if we fight it out in the courts, no matter which one of us gets it at last."
The young lady asked for a little while to consider it, and at last came to the same conclusion as Mr. Evarts.
These are but samples of the many amusing incidents that happened during the great rush for homes and wealth.
Amusements.
Mr. B. S. Spooner and Mollie G. Spooner, whose joint efforts, aided by the talents of their wonderfully clever daughters, Edna May and Cecil, have in a few years succeeded in the face as hard times and harder competition, in making the Spooner Comedy Company a representative repertoire attraction, and one that the very best houses and shrewdest managers recognize as a money winner. Mr. Spooner, with a strong desire to always be in the lead with the best, has been spending money with a free hand in the purchase of new plays, new scenery, calcium effect and the engagement of a strong and efficient company. The repertory consists of ten of their own copyrighted plays: "A Fight for a Mill,""Esther's Guardeen," "Inez," "Little Miss Mab," "The Judge's Wife," "Wanda," "His Little Sister," "The Dean," "468," "Eccles' Girl" and a few other popular dramas. Miss Cecil Spooner is the coming soubrette and premier danseuse of America. Her pirouetting in the serpentine dance is a dream of fairy land. Edna May Spooner is a true daughter of Thespis. The other members of the company are well known and powerful actors.-Chicago Dramatic Journal.
At the Opera House one week, beginning Monday, Oct. 8th. Popular prices, 30, 20, 15 cents. Get seats at Santa Fe office, Leis drug company.
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