Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-12-06
HER CLAIM.
A Mining Incident.

EFellers, thar's business fer us!" Ike
into the cabin where the miners of Pow
G1ty Gap were collected.
Business? What sort O. business,
eh?" Jack Hines repeated.
"A little job O. hangin', I guess.
Thar's fellow jumped our new claim
mp the gulch."
What Teller on the Liza JaneP"
old Jack cried, jumping up in a high
state of excitement. "Is that what you
nean?"
@That's exactly what I mean, Jack, I"
Ike replied.
~How do you know it2"
Il know it bekase see the smoke
comm from the cabin"
For a moment the miners stood
silently looking at one another; but at
last old Jack spoke.
Boys, pears like the evidence is
Purtv printed" he said, "an' 1 reckon it's
asetGled fact that somebody has jumped
our claim. 1 s'pose you know what the
law is in SIGH cases?"
Il kinder reckon we do" said Jerry
Bennett.
Bout all the law, thar is in SIGH
cases is twenty foot o. rope an tree"
~Yer correct, pardl Them's our law
m we know how to use 'em. Fetch
ont yer rope, an we'll purceed ter give
the claim-jumper dose forthwith"
The new claim was nearly mile up
Ihe gulch from the camp.
It had been taken by some one year
or 80 before the Poverty Gap miners
found it, but whoever had taken it had
simply built a little cabin on it, and
then gone away.
The Poverty Gap miners had been
working it for few days, and it had
developed wonderfully. It promised to
turn out a regular bonanza, and the
miners set great store by it.
Olaim-iumping was a heinous crime
under any circumstances, but under
such circumstances as the present it was
simply awful. and the guilty party
could expect no mercy from the out
ragged miners.
you bet that thief will go monty
blamed student" said old Jack, as the
men fled up the gulch. We'll nater'ly
1Astie him off so quick that he won't
hardly know what's struck him."
That's jest what we will" replied
Bennett, "sn' we don't do no talkin'
EEther."
When they came within sight of the
cabin, sure enough a light was
shining from the window. 1t was dark
nov, and the little speck of light shone
out plainly.
See here" said Jack. at might be
blamed good idea to go up thar kinder
cautious. That Teller may have a
whole arsenal O. guns and pistols, an he
may be sorter reckless bout usin' of
1em. If we act in too much Of hurry
some of Us mout git hurt"
That's SO. These claim-iumpers,
Teplied Ike, ARE scandalous keerless
bout shOotin'. It'll be safer to kind er
sneak up on him an take him by sur
prise
So the miners stole stealthily up
through the brush, stopping now and
then to listen.
No sound came from the cabin, and
The light in the window was the only
sTidence of life about the place.
At last they reached position di-
Ssctly under the window, and again
hating, listened intently for some time.
All was still as death.
Reckon he's asleep boys" Jack
whispered.
@Guess he shorely is" said Ike. $50
We mout ss well jest go in an nab i'm
N have i'm hung fore he wakes"
They we're just starting around to the
door when g moan reached them from
within.
Again they listened. and after min
ute voice faint and weak said:
Il am coming, Joe, as. soon as I rest
Gttla 1t has been q long walk, but I
don't mind that, only SO that I find you
at LAST. Igot lost from the wagons, and
/ have been 8 long time finding the
way; but as soon as I rest little I'll
come on
Boys" said Jack in hoarse whis-
Per, that's quare sort O. talk, amt it p
What does he mean by it?" asked
Ike.
Look here, fellersl" exclaimed Ben
nett, don't you know nothin'? Thar
amt no Teller In thar, an that
aint no man talking. It's woman,
by Jinksl'
@What?' exclaimed Jack.
Il say it's woman" repeated Ben
nett @Hain't no man goin' to talk like
that--not bit of it. !"
docs sound Like q voman's voice,
shore admitted Jack; %but what's 9
xOman dom here7 That's what I'd
kkst 20 know