The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer

  CHAPTER XXVI

  THE BATTLE

  Some time after the opening it was announced from Washington that theLand Office, which was located in one of the larger towns of the state,about one hundred and fifty miles from the Little Crow, would be movedto one of the towns in the new territory. The Land Office is somethinglike a County Seat in bringing business to a town, and immediately everytown in Megory County began a contest for the office. However, it wassoon seen that it was the intention of the Interior Department to locateit in either Megory or Calias. So the two familiar rivals engaged inanother battle. But in this Megory held the high card.

  That was about the time the insurgents and stalwarts were in a struggleto get control of the State's political machinery. It had waxed bitterin the June primaries of that year and the insurgents had won. Caliashad supported the losing candidate, who had been overwhelminglydefeated, and both senators and one representative in Congress from thestate were red-hot insurgents. The Nicholson Brothers, bowing totradition, were stand pats. Their father had been a stalwart before themin Iowa, where Cummins had created so much commotion with hisinsurgency.

  Ernest, with his wife, had left for the Orient to spend the winter.After leaving, the announcement came that the land office would bemoved. Even had he been in Calias the result would likely have been thesame, but I had a creepy feeling that had he been on the ground Megorywould have had to worked considerably harder at least.

  After sending many men from each town down to the National Capital, thetowns fought it out. With, as I have stated, and which was to beexpected, with both Senators recommending Megory as having advantagesover Calias in the way of an abundant supply of water and a NationalBank with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, the InteriorDepartment decided in favor of Megory, and Calias lost.

  Ernest, on hearing of the fight, hurriedly returned, went in toWashington, secured an appointment with the Secretary and is said tohave made a worthy plea for Calias; but to no avail and the Megoryitesreturned home the heroes of the day.

  I was away at the time, but was told a good share of the men of Megorywere drunk the greater part of the week.

  Some evidence of the rejoicing was visible on my return, in the loss ofan eye, by a little gambler who became too enthusiastic and run upagainst a "snag." What amused me most however, was an article writtenespecially for one of the Megory papers by a keeper of a racket storeand a known shouter for the town. The article represented the contest asbeing a big prize fight on the Little Crow and read something likethis.

  BIG PRIZE FIGHT ON THE LITTLE CROW

  PRINCIPALS

  MEGORY, THE METROPOLIS OF THE LITTLE CROW REPUTATION, THE SQUARE DEAL

  CALIAS BOASTER REPUTATION GRAFTING

  SCENE.--Little Crow Reservation.

  TIME.--A.D. 190-- Referee--Washington, D.C.

  SECONDS FOR MEGORY.--Flackler, of the Megory National.

  FRED CROFTON, POSTMASTER.

  FOR CALIAS, MAYOR ROSIE AND A HAS-BEEN, FORMERLY OF WASHINGTON.

  Round one. September. Principals enter the ring and refuse to shake hands, referee Washington, D.C. announces fight to be straight Marquis of Queensbury. No hitting in the clinches, and a clean break; a fight to the finish. They are off. Calias leads with a left to the face, Megory countering with a right to the ribs, they clinch. Referee breaks them, then they spar and as the gong sounded appeared evenly matched.

  Round two. October. They rush to the center of the ring and clinch, referee tells them to break. Just as this is done Calias lands a terrific left to Megory's jaw following with a right to the body, and Megory goes down for the count of nine, getting up with much confusion, only to be floored again with a right to the temple. Megory rises very groggy, when Calias lands a vicious left to the mouth, a right to the ear just as the gong sounded, saving her from a knock-out. They go to their corners with betting three to one on Calias and no takers. During the one minute's rest the crowd whooped it up for Calias, thousands coming her way. Megory looked serious, sitting in the corner thinking how she had fallen down on some well-laid plans.

  Round three. November. They rush to a clinch and spar. Referee cautions Calias for butting. They do some more sparring, and both seem cautious, with honors even at the end of the third round.

  Round four. December. They rush to the center of the ring and begin to spar, then like a flash, Megory lands a terrific swing on Calias' jaw, following it up with a right to the heart. Calias cries foul, but referee orders her to proceed, while Megory, with eyes flashing and distended nostrils, feints and then like the kick of a mule, lands a hard left to the mouth, following in quick succession with jolts, swings, jabs and upper cuts. Mayor Rosie wants to throw up the sponge, but the referee says fight. Megory, with a left to the face and right to the stomach, then rushing both hands in a blow to the solar plexus, Calias falls and is counted out with Megory winning the prize,--Great Land Office.