The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-07
THE CLAIM-JUMPER.
Why the Rightful Owners Failed
to Plug Him Full of Lead.

''Fellers, reckon we've struck it at
last"
Reckon we hev, Dock, an purity dog
goned rich, too"
Bet yer right, Jim. That thar claim
is jest lousy with gold, an ever blamed
one of US ill git rich often it. Tell yer
whut, l never see as fine layout in my
life"
oval, fer my part" Jerry DunlIin re-
marked, in his drawing tone, 1--WE can't
git rich none too soon. Pm dog-goned
tired O. diggin' fer nothin'."
"Recllon Uerry'd think it wuz monty
hard work if he jest had to pick the
gold up" said old Dock Perkins. Il
low l never seed his equal fer gittir
tired. Pears like he gifts tired of ever
thing but eatin'."
Bet he never gifts tired O. eatin',''
Jim Buster cried, at which there was
general laugh at Jerry's expense.
"You fellers kin laugh if you want
to-" Jerry replied, in an injured tone:
''but when Teller amt feelin' we'll l
reckon he don't materially feel much like
workin'."
"No; ner he orient to feel much like
eatin', nuther. But l reckon our noun
tain days air about over, boys, an in
month or two Jerry an all the rest of us
III be gittin' fer the East l figger that
We'll git at least five thousand dollars
apiece out O Their new mine, an yer bet
If we do, Pm goin' back to see the wild
der an the young 'uns."
Here, too, Dock. Blamed if l amt
hanlerin' to see the ole oman an the
children wuss than | ever have in the
seven year I've been away from 'em.
Pears like the hope O SEEM 'em sorter
makes Teller wanter see EN-"
Jerry an me amt got nobody to go
back to- said Dave Rice; 'leastwise no
wives an children, but guess We'll go
long O the rest"
Reckon mebby yer won't be banker
in, Dave, to see that thar gal what
you're allus writin' to. low mott
just at that moment Jake Lane, who
had been out to picket the donl1eys,
returned, and approaching the group
said:
oval, fellers, there's a job fer u.s."
'What sorter job?' Dock asked.
ooD " III VI SuOOblL L GUESS.
''Whut in the dickens do yer mean?
Who air we goin' to hang or shoot?"
Il reckon we'll hev to do one or the
tother to the Teller that's jumped our
claim"
"Which-the new claim?"
''Edzaclly. A Teller has squatted
onto it an pears to be maxim hisself at
home.''
THAT shorely can't be, jake" Jim
Buster protested.
oval, it pears like it kin be-" Jake
replied.
''Why, blame it all, Jake, yer shorely
mistaken" said Dock. THAR can't be
anybody up thar"
Gosh ding it, Dock, low know a
thing when l see it, an asides, the fell
Ter is thar to show fer hisself."
For moment the men smoked in ST.
lence, looking at each other in the
meantime with an inquiring glance. At
last old Dock broke the silence by say
ing:
''Fellers, you hear what Jake says
What yer low to do?"
'Guess thar amt but one thing to do
Dock" Bill Nelson said, IAN l reckon
we all know what that isl
Guess we do. Thar only question is,
shall we shoot or hang?n
Reckon it don't make no special diff
ference. Shootins leetle the handiest,
though"
wal, we'll shoot, then. Air you
ready to act now?"
"S'pose now's as good as any time.
The quicker we git i'm often the claim
the better, an, asides, we won't have
no time to fool with i'm to-morry
Guess we'd az we'll go right up an fix
SIN and have it over with"
The miners armed themselves and