Then he had let
the claim lapse, and only recently had decided to resume what he
sincerely believed to be his rights in the matter.
Bob did not at any point suggest any of the counter arguments he might
very well have used. He listened, leaning back against the rail,
watching the moonlight drop log by log as the luminary rose above the
verandah roof.
"And so there come along last week a ranger and started to tack up a
sign bold as brass that read: 'Property of the United States.' Property
of hell!"
He ceased talking. Bob said nothing.
"Now you got it; what you think?" asked the old man at last.
"It's tough luck," said Bob. "There's more to be said for your side of
the case than I had thought."
"There's a lot more goin' to be said yet," stated Samuels, truculently.
"But I'm afraid when it comes right down to the law of it, they'll
decide against your claim. The law reads pretty plain on how to go about
it; and as I understand it, you never did prove up."
"My lawyer says if I hang on here, they never can get me out," said
Samuels, "and I'm a-goin' to hang on."
"Well, of course, that's for the courts to decide," agreed Bob, "and I
don't claim to know much about law--nor want to.
Pages:
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698