Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-19
TAKING A FIGHTING INTEREST.

Mack Black, Mike Killum, and
Jake Ropes, all swore they would
have fighting interest in the grated
lead. They were regular fighting.
cocks, and believed in the supremacy
of might. They had a natural thirst
for blood and violence, and would
pounce upon lead in contention like
wolves upon carcass. By force or
by fraud, one or the other of these
biped hyenas had for years managed
to get an interest 10 half the leads in
the country. Nothing but the dis
covery Of lead, by somebody, could
ever arouse them from their devotion
to the faro banks. They quartered
themselves in the most frequented
groceries, in diggings where mineral
and money is plenty, and there open
ed their faro banks and roulette ia.
bles to decoy and entrap simpletons.
1t they heard Of a mineral discovery.
they closed banks, and suddenly be-
came miners. Their first movement.
then, was to foment a dispute among
the diggers They were sure to find
some one through whom to set up a
claim adverse to the discoveries, no
matter how frivolous. Having once
got the lead in contention, they would,
stealthily, while the parties were bad
" frightened, secure fighting inter-
est upon their own terms.
Armed to the teeth, these gentle.
men made their appearance at Major
Whites windlass hole, the day after
they had heard of Smith Il Hawkins
pretentions to the lead.
u say, stranger" quoth old Mack,
looking White in the eye to see if he
could be frightened, 81 say, old boss,
Smith & Hawkins ore going to play
with your ducks eggs! They are
going to drive you right plum of. We
advise You to leave. Bill Hawkins
is boss. II Bill says he'll do thing,
he'll do il; now mind tell YOU"
"Perhaps, gentlemen, You would
ike to help me defend my diggings?"
said the Major with an expression OF
scorn which was not quite UNDER
stood.
ave will, shore" said Black.
Eyes, to the Knife +" added Mike
"a little delicate soap.lock, in whose
eyes slept the ferocity Of the leopard.
| "-d-my roaring soul il we
don't, too" added great staggering
Jake.
| Old Nike thereupon took hold Of
the windlass-hook to 20 down, as if
possession were already his.
| "Hold I" said the Major. aYou
may be very nice young men, per-
haps-and my friends, and all that !;
but do not like your conduct, and /
wish You to leave. This is my lead
4 1 discovered it. You must not inter.
Ifere with me. / allow no man to bully
me. You must leave I"
\ The three looked at each other. as
iii hesitating whether or not to throw
the Major into the mineral hole.
"You are three" said White, "and
i / am
4 At this instant Nike began 10 feel
/ for his pistol. Quicker than thought,
White drew and discharged six
shooter at him, disabling HE arm !;
and instantly wheeled and presented
ithe same formidable weapon at Mack.
while Jake took to his heels. The
| repulse' they met with was unlocked
for but effectuaI. They never at
4 tempted to jump on to the Major
with force. again; but retreated to
Smith q hawkins shaft.
"Bill. you cant win at this game, =
said Black
ll "Weil.I reckon - how l will ,hoss, y
answered Bill Hawkins, leaning up.
on his sindlass; why moi. win ~
well says Mack, .sin the FIRST
place you can't drive White off-he il
mot skeery- Then you can't win at