The Washington critic., 1890-02-27
BEN FARGO'S CLAIM.
ny sAMunL p. MoReAN.

issue, we learn that Ben Fargo
claim has been jumped again. Ben's
return Is expected tomorrow, and we
predict that he will attend to the evic
tion in his usual prompt and thorough
manner"
No fault could have been found with
ms item, except, perhaps, that it
might have been little indefinite to
The uninitiated. New Boston fully un-
derstood IL.
Who's jumped it this timer asked
Colonel Pride, as Cy Hickson retailed
the news TO the citizens lounging on the
porch of the Eureka General Store.
Dun know answered the mail-car-
ricr. Didn't stop to find out. Smoke
was comm out o the shack, an a
seanlous lookin' linch-pin wagin' an
pair o. rickety ole mules was standin'
by"
WAL" predicted Colonel Pride,
about five minutes after Ben gifts there
them rickety mules'll be pullin' that
scandalous looking wagon away from
that claim"
You betl' agreed the citizens.
Pears like Ben Fargo's claim is
allus bein' jumped
An unjumped just as often," said
the Colonel.
Had to laugh, tn other day, as /
was ridin' past said Mr.. Cy Hickson.
''Fcller from Mizzury d jumped the
claim that time, an was bakin
Johnny cake in Ben's skillet. Five
minutes to git your johnny 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 / jumped it, broke
in Mizzury, t,lrnin' over the johnny
cake. Yes, n twill be soon's you un-
jump It, which II be in bout three
minutes, says Ben. Crack ye whip
says Mizzury; I'm able fer you,
reckon; sides, the laws on my side,
AMI Hang the lawp broke in
Ben, and sailed in. They tangled, an
in about two minutes Mizzury found
he'd made mistake. Fer while /
lowed Bend drive his head into the
ground Then, after tukin' him around
awile, Ben sat on him. Whose claims
this now?' says Ben. Your title to II
pears to be very strong one,' says
Mizzury. A little later Mizzury had
his team hitched to his wagin, an was
aeatin' his Johnny cake as he druv
away"
Mr.. Ben Fargo, returning to New
Boston the following day, became aware
that his claim had been jumped.
We'll, he said, half aloud, "I am in
hurry to get to New Boston, but
reckon ] can spare time to start this
jumper on his way. Not overly well
fiSed,' he commented, as he left the
road. Wagon don'tlook safe, and the
mules seem rickety. But they brought
the jumper here, and they've got to
Hello, herep'
The presence of the object that he
had almost ridden over surprised him a
good deal more than the presence of the
Jumper. 1t was merely little grave,
roughly rounded up in the midst of the
long prairie grass. The clods of
the ragged little mound showed that it
had been there only short while. A
tattered little prairie rosebush 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
shrivelled, but one bud had opened, and
the ragged little flower, striving its best
to be bright and pure, lay on one rough,
black clod of the ragged little grave.
Baby" Fargo muttered.
AT that moment woman left the
shack and came toward the grave. In
her hand she bore cup of water. Her
eyes were swollen. Fargo started as he
saw her face. Scarcely glancing at
him, she returned the salutation and
bent and watered the ragged little rose
bush.
Your baby?" Fargo asked, awk-
wardly.
Yes" the woman answered, choh.
ing with her oppressed feeling "She
was all had"
She flung herself prone on the grave
embraced the little mound ana sobbed
aloud.
Fargo looked uncomfortable. "Now
don't cry so. l-you-where's youl
husband? In the shack?"
"No"--lifting her face from the
clods. He's dead. was on my way
home. The baby-well | dug the little
grave myself. / had no coffin, and
buried her in her lettle night gown.
cannot go on yet-ohl 1t seems as If
could never go? Maybe the owner
would not object If lived in the shack
little while, till" Fargo squirmed
little uneasily in his saddle. "Afte1
little must start on toward Indiana. >
What part of Indianag' Fargo
blurted.
Champion County. The little cross
road village just below Fountainville.
Ever know darned fool there
named Fargo?''
"Ben Fargo? He wasn't fool
though. He"
Yes, he was, tool Got mad at moth
ing! Ought to have been shot on thu
spot"
'Nol He-we-"
Mary, don't you know me?'
Ben Fargo"
Yes; a darned fool. Got mad a
nothing"
A little later the dispossessed owner o
the shack was smoothing up the moun(
that covered the child Of the persol
who had jumped his claim. And tn
jumper sat on the grass near by lookini
less desolate
When, later, Mr. Fargo was passin!
the Eureka General Store, he wa
stopped by Colonel Pride
Did the jumper cut up rusty
Ben ?''
Nope % Fargo answered, shortly
moving away.
go without trouble -
"Nopep' More shortly.
''Reckoned he was able for you ?"
"Nope" Farther away
''Waal, then, what did"
Nothing, There yet" Farg
turned the corner.
Hickson, the mail carrier, as he wa
going from New Boston, saw Ben Far
30 smoothing the baby's grave an
marveled thereat. When he returned
from the trip, he retailed the news t
the prominent citizens.
"Waal, I'm beat" announced Col
Onel Pride