The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-31
JUMPED HIS CLAIM.
How Young Dakota settler Lost His
Farm and Won Ii Back with Wife.

oil land, ana Dullt nlmseif SHACK.
Two weeks later girl named Helen
Chapman took up the claim adjoining
his on the west, and also built "A cabin.
The neighbors became slightly ac-
quainted, but both were too busy to do
much visiting. Belden was an easy
going fellow, none too fond OF work,
and Helen was an active, aggressive,
good looking, and ambitious young
woman. She did two days work to
his one. and had better farm at the
end of sixty days than he would have
had at the end of year if he had kept
on III the way that he was going.
Alter Belden had been on his place
about three months he became weary
of the monotonous lie, and, going TO
town to have some fun, found so much
enjoyment that he came pretty near
forgetting to 90 home. When he had
been gone longer than the time permit
ted bv the land law, Helen, who had
been watching her opportunity, jumped
his claim, and in less than ten hours
had 4 shack of her own standing on
his farm. Belden returned at last, and,
finding that woman had jumped his
claim he said nothing. If it had been
"A man it would have been his duty TO 90
out and fight him TO the death, but as
it was woman. and 4 rather comely
one at that, he thought he would say
nothing and trust to luck to get rid OF
her Occupying his own shack, he
was not more than three hundred feet
from her new habitation. She held her
ground well, treating him as an inter-
loper, and never acting as though she
had any idea that he belonged there.
Belden's wrath began to rise finally,
and when he reflected on the comments
that would be made if he permitted a
girl TO jump his claim he grew furious.
knowing that the temper of most set
tiers would brook no Interference with
Il girl farmer lie went to town Tor con-
sultation. First he talked with some
of his friends, who drank his whisky.
They shook their heads and said it was
mighty bad job. Then he consulted
a lawyer, who gave him some hope.
In the course of day or two he got
two of his friends and the lawyer to go
out TO his place with him to see what
they could do toward patching up q
settlement. Once on the ground it was
agreed that the lawyer should 60 and
see the girl. He was absent an hour
and nalf, and when he returned he
said it was no use. The girl was post
ed, and he didn't see what could be
dono about it.
IF it was a man." he said, 1--WE
could 90 over there and throw him by
the heels over into the next county,
but it won't do to harm woman"
The four talked the matter over, and
it was finally agreed that the lawyer
should call again in the morning. and
represent to her that Belden's friends
were coming to his assistance, and that
il she wanted to avoid serious trouble
she had better abandon her shack and
leave his claim alone. The lawyer
started out on his errand the next day,
but he was back again in fifteen min
utes with lump on his head the size
of a horse-chestnut, where he said she
had hit him with an aX-handle.
After talking the matter over, every
body being mad, it was decided that
they would give her scare as soon as
it became dark. At about 9 o'clock all
hands went over to the girls new
shack and surrounded it. At a given
signal they yelled and fired their revol-
vers in the air. The report had hard
~ died away when a gun-shot was dis
charged from one window of the shack,
and moment later another shot was
fired from the other side of the house.
The men waited in silence for few
minutes, when two more barrels were
fired. This convinced them that the
glri was not to DC frightened, and they
crawied away as stealthily as they
could. All that night the girls shot
gun numbered ut regular intervals,
uutt her adversaries, who were vainly
trying TO sleep, wished it would eX.
plodc and blow her and her shack to
kingdom come.
Ia the morning Belden's lawyer and
two friends started for town, leaving
the jumped farmer alone in his misery.
After their departure Beiden did some
work on the place, taking care not to
run across the girl. and, though they
saw each other frequently, they both
avoided Il meeting.
Things went along in this way until
fall. Helen worked on her own farm
a good part of the time, and Belder
passed good many days in hunting.
He had made up his mind that he could
tire the girl out, and he believed that
after she found that he was not To be
got rid of she would voluntarily aban.
don the claim. III this he was mis-.
taken. One day, while out OH a hunt.
ing expedition. he discharged his gun
accidentally. and received severa
shots in his arm and side. He gol
home without difficulty. and, examin.
Ing the wounds. made up his mind
that he would go 10 town the next
morning TO have them attended to-
The next day he was in no condition &c
move, and was obliged to keep his bed
Growing rapidly worse. and fearing
that his Injuries would result seriously
il not attended TO. he watched for hi:
ncxl-door neighbor. and when he saw
her he signaled for her to come to him.
The girl came up and heard his story
and volunteered TO 60 to town for Z
doctor When the physician arrived
and dressed Belden's wounds Heller
told them that she would look in oc.
casonally and attend TO the sick man.
wants, and she kept her promise relig.
iously. For nearly month she visited
Belden's shack regularly. cooked and
served Belden's meals. dressed hi:
wounds, and helped him rs tenderly n.
relative could. When he got SO tina,
he could sit up and help himself hel