The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-01
THE HCLAIM,JUMPER"
How He Got Even with tho Two
"Pardners.

SA0o VvCH Obots pa SoAOO OOS
Sca9ga. pointing towards IN object that had
made it, appearance on the prairie, . mile
20 tho south. Bill Bsrnum looked in the di.
ecction indicated.
"A house, or I'm q livin' liar" exc ,imcd
Bill, with eophasis. AN on Dick B.rber'l
claim. tco! be continued, with . gesture OF
excitement.
ado ye suppose he's goin' ter jump Dicks
claim" asked Joe.
IL dunno" answered Bill. 81 guess he's
il. I'm thinkin' he'll soon 60 way on the
Same arrant, won't he. joel"
You bett" sanctioned Joe. 'But the
way ter 6nd out IL ter so over an see; an
while ye air cookin supper, I'll ride over an
interview tho stranger"
With this, he walked from the door Of the
half board. half -dugout shanty, where the
two had been standing. and approached q
small barb-wiro corral near by. where he
mounted . powerful cayuse and galloped
prairie that separated him from the distant
shanty On tho prairie to the south.
A few momcnts' ride brought him to the
front OF . little dug out shanty that nestled
In the side Of . little hill ct the edge of q
Susot auCs " SLUuuU u SitkuJ 0lCSb u
ton in the prairie stood . covered wagon.
or ''prairic- schooner." a they are familisriy
termed In the West
A pair OF sorrel mules. tied to the rear
en- Of the wagon. were busily engaged in
eating their evening meal OF corn and dry
grass out OF the Wagon-box. A man came
out Of tho shanty with . frying pan in his
6and, and held It over . fre In front Of the
dwelling.
hello, thArr" exclaimed Joe, angrily.
"WhAt In the bla1es air ye dom hyarr"
The stranger turned and looked ut the
visitor . moment and then said, quietly
'Fryin' meat"
joss anger rose 20. 70 cir, air yel Wal,
q ye soon tsr b. 20 smart. mebby ye ken
tell mo whose claim ye cir squsttin' ont"
II reckon I ken; hits mine"
s'H'it 1T"
THAT'S tho way hit looks tar nc"
'Look hyar. stranger" said Joe ScasRs,
cltnching hi l8st. ''me an my pardner over
thar" jerking his thumb over his shoulder
In the direction Of his own shanty, s.air
6oldin' this yerV claim fer Dick Barber.
who's comm out hyar In the spring from
lnjiaay. IN ven fist Give 80 tell ter-morrer
ter git out O. thisl"
"'Tsin't long enough time" said the
stranger. deliberately turning over . liberal
alice OF ''muddling' that smoked in the fry.
in&-ran.
"How long Do 70 wantr questioned Joe.
his wrath aomowhat modified by the
strangers evident intention OF leaving.
'HoW long docs . man ave ter live on q
claim before he ken get . deed for hit!'
Was the reply Of the stranger.
"Fivo yoafa," replied Joe.
"WaA, then" continued the stranger
"'make hit fivo ycars. n hits . barg'in."
'You tmpudent skunx ~ roared Joe, now
thoroughly aroused by b strangers cool
manner. ''fee cent I'd waliup the ground
with yer 0nerv carcasA"
''Yas. We might undertake hit fer . cent
6ut ye'd mover lay up any money 1t hit, "
was the Hnswee . he set the fryius-par
down o confronted Joe Scaggs.
Joe now moved his hand towards hi,
pistol. bat hositatcd.
"Look hyar." aid the stranger. 'sYor
order me ter leave this claim. Il hi,
youru"
mo. not exactly Mise: but we're holdin'
hit fer . friend. me an my pardner air
We've got the two lynn north o. this. an
wore holdin' this fer Dick Barber, an
wore goin' ter hold hit"
IAN right" ho answered. ~ gueas hi,
won't need much holdin'. H'it'l be hys,
when zero fricad comcs-so will I. II hi,
- yere claim. III git on: but 70 can't holi
hit fer somebody else. I know the law"
"Yea. yc may know the law. but We dom
know our law. We've made . special Law
fer sich fellcrs - ye. an we're soiu' ter g,
BY thaA an Loaf yc fergit hit"
IVA. when 70 force mo ter 80. I'll go
~ before"
Angry words rose 70 Joc's lips. but b,
0eoitated. The cool. indifferent manner o.
- claim-junper puzzled him.
Ho Waa about 70 speak. when the tramp o
chores feet sounded in the grass behiut
bin. and BIZ Rarnum rode up . winchcs,e
. Si0e swung across his saddia.
Thought mebbc yefd have trouble" b,
4xplaipcd, AN that I'd come over m %
yeeat"
s.Bin.r said Joa. gaining courage II tn
arrival Of reinforcemeuts, ''he says b
AAainrt aeoin' ter leave"
s.Wonst her, Rill answered. bringing hi
Winchester down on the stranger. ~NoW
- Ieed up yer tnps m Git-"
~ rieAk" 10 answered. doegedly
s.von,ve rot Their s~dvaataee nc. ru q
A.e I'm al eyea With - sometime. - II
Se.,t:" "a - begaa tamblins his eject
~ - Jee wascAsA hin while - PIE
ha.1npshh ~ woeoA
&@osr~an Bun "Ws doa't want q
oea..Se % ~ - N~s