Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-01-24
knows it, so they're goin' TO try an
steal his place"

sledi lis pldce-
But they can't
They say they can. They say
they'll try an give the tenderfoot a
big scare, anyhow. Why, l never
heard of such an outrage ~
How do they intend to go TO work
to get the Professors claimg'
Il heard em talkin' it all over
Said they'd take along a akeg o whisky
an move into his shack an stay
there. They're goin' up tonight.
They won't have any time tomorrow
cause the Professor'll get back then.
You know he went to Jimtown Tues
day. Can't you do somethin', Mr..
Barlow p
The law won't uphold them,
Miss
She snapped her fingers.
That for the law | tell you these
fellers shan't get into the Professor s
shack if l can help it,
She drew herself together like an
angry Amazon and her eyes were
twin Goals of fire.
Il beg of you don't be rash, Miss
Williams. Remember"
There came chorus of yells from
Spangler's. Nance Williams listened
a moment.
Hear that she said harshly,
they're gettin' ready to go. It's
time | was movin' You mark my
words, Mr.. Barlow, the Professors
claim Is safe-Nance Williams says
So
She rushed out of the store and
away into the night. \ few minutes
after horse came past at lightning
speed with Mad-Cap Nance crouch
ing low in the saddle and speeding
away on her hare Drained mission.
Shouts and yells came from Spang-
ler's, and not long after Nance had
gone a drunken rabble rode by the
store in the direction she had taken.
| felt certain something of serious
nature was threatened, so, as soon as
| could leave the store, | saddled my
horse and followed.
The moon had come out of the
purple sky overhead. In her light
the landscape was brought out with
startling distinctness, for Dakota
moons are noted for their intense
brilliancy. Tom Jenkins gang had a
half-hour the start of me and | put
nv horse to the run in order that l
might be on hand with as little delay
as possible. AS my horse clattered
over the bridge that spanned the
Pipestem, | heard a succession OF
faint rifle shots from the direction OF
the Professors claim.
NV God" cried, "the girl will be
killed ~ and | lashed my horse to
greater speed.
1t had never occurred to Inc that l
would be helpless in an encounter
with the drunken rabble. | had
thought of nothing but getting upon
the ground in the quickest possible
time, for it was more than probable
that Nancy Williams would be alone
at the mercy Of the crowd. As drew
nearer and nearer my destination i
heard cries from time to time, and my
nerves were all a-tremble. When L
came close to the Professors claim
shanty, however, realized that Nance
Williams was In no immediate danger
for the men, some ten or twelve In
number, stood counseling together.
From their talk | CLEANED that they
had met with disappointment-they
bad thought that the Professor was
in Jimtown, while they had found
him in the shack, on hand to protect
his property.
Whats the matter, boys?" / in
quired, springing from my horse.
Its Barlow" said Tom Jenkins to
his associates in low and not very
delighted voice. Then, advancing
toward me, he asked What do you
want, Ike Barlow p
ITO see fair play" said | promptly,
what are you fellows here for p
"Tain't nothin' to you. You go
back to town an leave us alone"
While was haranguing Tom Jen-
kins, Rice Fielding, his partner, tried
to steal up to the door OF the house.
He had gone barely half way, how
ever, when a rifle was thurst through
a partly-open window and fired in his
direction. The bullet whistled un-
comfortably near him, and Rice re-
treated with more haste than grace
fulness.
No use, Rice" said Tom Jenkins
1.-The feller means business. There's
only one way to get at him, an that's
to burn him out.
Look here, cried eAclteuiy :
have you men any idea of the crime
you are perpetratingr This out
rage"
There were several derisive yells
from the crowd and l could see they
were too much bent upon mischief to
be Influenced by me.
Say, Barlow, you know as well as
| do that Charley Atwood hadn't no
right to jump that claim in the first
place. That there place belongs to
Inc an Tom, an the rest Of the fellers
are goin' to help me get it back, so
you just keep mum an get out Of the
way
All. that was the idea! 1t was a
fact the quarter had originally been
filed on by Rice Fielding, but he