Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-04-17
!. .m mere" replied.

res, Am mere" l replied.
swell, well!" He was evidently at a los
what next to say or do SITS a hot day,
its'
ssPretty hot" l remarked. 1 thought it wa
or would be soon In every sense, and the
Dhsdow Of a laugh came over me as I thought
stalking weather. at such a juncture.
Mr.. Pratt sat himself also down upon q
rock, drew a rusty red bandana, mopped
with it his face md partly bald head, and
aid "WhewI" Then he poked the ground
before him with the end Of his hammer, and
I poked Mother Earth before me with a stick.
1t was clear to me that Mr.. Pratt intended
to stay here and wait for my going. 1t was
clear to me that I should remain-thoughI
did not like 80 to do. The situation was
somewhat akin to that in which two gentle
men calling on the same lady sometimes find
themselves-and of all work sitting your man
out ranks among the hardest. Both of US
recognized silence as the factor most EFT
cacious for the removal Of his adversary
only while Mr.. Pratt hoped that the dull
ness of his company might remove me, l had
no hope that my taciturnity would remove
Mr.. Pratt from the vicinity Of the golden
mistress he knew was near.
So we sat one full hour, and the longest
hour of my life. Pratt made the first move.
He commenced examining the rock near the
solid mountain formation. Nearer he a6-
vanced toward the place where Broener had
screened the worked portion Of the vein with
Q layer of cut brush. He was in the act pf
removing this when l called out: "Dolft
touch that brush, pleasc!"
"'Why not?'' said Pratt, looking back.
"Never mind why not. Don't touch it." ]
said, advancing toward him, feeling as II on
my way to the scaffold.
"Well, young man, do you own this moan.
tainY" he said.
II own that brush, that's ALL" was my
reply.
The brush was ranged against the white
streak of rock for not more than ten OF
twelve feet. Pratt passed it. His eye fell
on one end Of the vein-untOuched there by
the pick. He commenced chipping 1t witt
his hammer
"You must let that rock alone" I said
going toward him. s.
Pratt was now up and deing. The wal
had commenced.
"Oh, Gomez he exclaimed, don't YOU
fool around ne any more. You must be of
your head This mountains as much mins
as yours.
''That's my claim" I said. LET it alone
Momentary wonder showed itself in Pratt
eyes that any one else should know Ct golt
in this form.
"Your claim,' said he, "up here! What
sort of diggings do you call these anyway?'
perhaps you know as well as l. But
that's my claim by right of discovery"
"Where's your notices."
The written notice OH the ground was ther
indispensable to hold a claim. We had none
Broener had put none up, knowing 1t would
attract attention.
where's your toolsi" he continued.
Tools left on q claim were regarded a
most important proofs Of possession. Broenel
had hidden away those he used-where ]
knew not.
mo notices, no tools and no work done
and you call this q claim!" said Pratt deris
lively.
Clearly as to the mining rights Of the %
riod Pratt had the best Of me. felt TIKI
moral weakness Of the situation. Pratt
seemed also to know his own strength and
my weakness in this respect. Meantime he
had taken out his six-shooter and cooked it
He stood facing me, and had the drop or
me. l was powerless. "Now, young man.
said he, II give you while I count ten to gel
of this ground, and if you don't I'll put
ball through you. Dye hear2 Get! Vamos
One-two-three-" As he spoke he made 6
step backward. It was all a tumble of rock