, 1890-02-20
DUMPED"



".Just us we 70 to press, AN
nounced the New Boston Clarion,
In its first Issue, "we learn that Ben
Fargo's claim has been jumped
again. Ben's return Is expected to-
morrow, when we predict that ne
will attend to the eviction In his
usual prompt and thorough man
ner." .
No fault could have been found
with this item, except perhaps that
II might have been a little indeh-
mite to the uninitiated. New Boston
fully understood IL.
"Who's jumped II this timer
asked Colonel Pride, as Cy iiicksoh
rcu,ilcd the news to the citizens
louuglng on the porch of the Eureka
general store.
"Dun know answered the mall
carrier. "Didn't stop to find out
Smoke was comm out o. the shack,
AN n scdnlous-loOklu' lInchplu
wagln an pair o. rickety ole mules
was standin' by
"Waal," predicted Colonel Pride
"about five minutes after Ben gifts
there, them rlckcty mules I'll be
pullin' that scandlous.lookin' wagon
away nom that claim"
"Nou Letln agreed the citizens.
"'Pears like Ben Fargo's claim IL
allus bein' jumped
can un umped just as often,"
said the colouel.
"Had to laugh Mother day, as !
was ridin' past" said Mr.. Cy Hick'
son. "Fellcr from Mliz2ury dumped
the claim that time, an was bal>in'
johnny-cuke In Ben's skillet, Five
minutes To git your johnny-cake out
o. my skillet, says Ben, The year
1901 will find me right yere,' says
Mizzury. says Ben, This is my
claim, an - 'Mebby 'twuz fore
l jumped it, broke In Mizzury, turn
in over the johnny-cake. Yes,
m twill bo agin soon's you
unjump IL, which II be in bout
three minutes says Ben. Crack
yer WHIP says Mizzury; I'm able
fer YOU, | rccken; sides, the laws
on my side, am Hang the law
broke in Ben, and sailed In. They
tangled, AN In about two minutes
Mizzury found he'd made II mis-
take. Fora while lowed Ben ID
drive his head into the ground.
Then, after tunkln' him around
awhile, Ben sat on him. Whose
claims this now2' says Bon. You're
title to 1t pears TO bc II nightly
strong one, says Mizzury. \ little
later Mizzury had his team hitched
to his wngin, an was a-eatin' his
johliny-cake ~ he druv away
Mr.. Ben Fargo, returning to New
Boston the following day, became
aware that his claim had been
jumped.
"Well," he said, half aloud. II
ann in II hurry to get To New Boston,
but reckon | can spare time to
start this jumper ON hls way. Not
overly well fixed" he commented,
rs he left the road. Wagon don't
look safe, and the mules seem rick
ETY.. But they brought the jumper
here, and they've got to-liello,
herer
The presence OF the object that he
had almost ridden over surprised
him u good deal more than the pres
cncc Of the jumper, II was merely
a little grave, roughly rounded up
In the midst Of the long prairie
grns-. The clods of the ragged little
mound showed that II had been
there only II short while. a tat
tered little prairie ro-cbush had
been planted at the head of the tiny
mound. The tips OF its leaves had
withered, and the blossoms 1t had
borne at transplanting were yellow
and shriVcllcd; hut one bud had
opened, and the ragged little flower,
striving its Lest to be bright and
pure, lay on one rough black clod of
the rugged little grave.
"BabyV' Fargo muttered.
AT that moment u woman left the
the shack and came toward the
grave. In her hand she bore n cup
of water. Her eyes were swollen.
Fargo started ~ he saw her flc,.
Scarcely glancing at him, she re-.
turned his saiutatiOn and bent aud
watcred the ragged little roscbush.
Your baby?' Fargo asked awk-
wardly.
"Ycs," the women answered
choking with her Suppressed feeling.
"r'he was all ! had
she hung hcrself prone on the
grave, embraced the little mound
and sObbed aloud.
Fargo looked uncomfortable.
"Now don't cry 50! l--you where =
your husband? In the shuck?r
"No'-lifting her face from the
clodi,-"IIe's dead. | was ON my
way home. The baby--wcll, dug
the little grave myself. | had no
coffin, and buried her in her little
nlght-gown. | can not go on vet.
Oh, 1t seems as II | never could 90!
Maybe the owner would not object
II lived in the shack u little while,
till-till-" Fargo squlrmed un-
easily In his saddle. after little
| must start on toward indiana
"What part of lndiana@' Fargo
blurtcd.
"Champion county. The little
cross'road village just below Foun-
tsinvillc.n
"IIver know darned fool there
named Furgo2"
"Iicn Fargo? lie wasn't fool
though. He
"Ies, he was, too! Got mad a,
nothing! Ought to have been shot
on thelspot"
$40! He--we-u
"hlary, don't you know me?n
"licn Fargow
"Scs; darned fool. Got mad ut
nothing"
A little later the dispossessed
nxr,, NJ. pf tbn uhnrls ,yns a,,,o.,Lt....