The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-07-30

III riddle thst spring halt ole door with
bullets" growled Hines, growing angrieF !
every moment, as he saw himself and his !
cowardly allies held at bay by one man. /
"Yer best Try It ef yer itchin' ter git !
ther contents o. this hyer musket o. mine !
poured inter yer miserable carcass. I'd
ruther save my ammunition fur buz-
cards, wolves an sich, but I'm not be-
grudgin' It ef yer need 1t wuss'n theF
varmints."
'Tm gittin' thunderin' tired o yer lip.
ole mani"
"All right, neighbor Hines, when yer
tired Of thet tharis Q standin' invitation
fur yer ter ride Of about yer business.
I'm able ter run this claim without yer
advice"
"An' doyer actilly refuse ter git ofFn
my claimr roared the infuriated Hines
"Pm not on yer claim, an how hin !
git of'n it?'
"Fll give yer somethin' ter season yer
sass with ef yer amt more civilF'
eyer remarked Somethin' similar Jest
er bit ago."
"Td make yer whistle er diffrunt song
Of yer'd show yerself out hyer."
"Ttd be er plump Gprise ter me ef yer
didn't tote ther biggest heft o. therehune
yerself, Mr.. Hines" a-
"Tl put bullet cI'ar through yer an
thet blamed door, bothr'
mo, yer don't, Dick HinesI" rang out
. clear, manly voice, Is q newcomer
dashed upon the scene, and did not pause
till he had spurred his pony between the
gang and the door Of the dugout. Hines
and his allies shrank back like pack Of
cowardly ours before noble Nswfound-
land, and sat regarding the intruder
with no pleasant grace upon their hard
ened visages.
Eyer didn't expect Tom Byes hyer ter
take hand in yer little camel" said the
young fellow, speaking sternly.
It was with feelings Of real gratitude
that the trembling girl in the dugout
recognized the voice Of the young ranch
man who had taken supper with them
at their camp two nights ago. Provi-
dence had surely sent him, she thought.
"Its himr-Mr. Byers. papr' she whis-
pered.
Eyes, it's him, Nancy. Amt he
spunkyr Jest listen ter him, will yerg"
he chuckled "Hes er match fur or
dozen sich vile snipes as them"
And he was, indeed. Tom Byers was
well known on those wild prairies as
q man Of dauntless courage and decided
character, one with whom It was not
safe to fool Dick Hines knew the man
whom he mnst now deal with, and al
though backed by several allies a. he
was, he had no relish for the encounter.
"What are yer up to, disturbin' Mr..
Hamlet this wayY he demanded.
~ was Jest q maxim er sort O call on
him, an tellin' him held or right ter
this hyer claim, thet's ALL" answered
Hines, hoping follower Tom Byers' wrath
against him.
"Well, Mr.. Hamlet give yer . very
open reception, jedge, seein' a. yer al
out hyer In yer saddles yit," laughed
Byers with contempt.
"But I'd like ter know by what right
yer assert a claim ter this strangers
landT he asked.
"Waal, yer see X Pender bought my
mules, an nuver paid fur 'em, an when
he left ther country l was ter hep hia
claim" explained Hines.
"Stick ter fac's, ef yer please" cried
Byers. II know more erbOut thet mule
trade than yer think. II an me was
good friends, an know his side O. ther
story won't tally with yer'n; besides, l
happen ter know what become o. them
mulesY
"Ther dickens yer dor
eyer sold X er span q mules on er
years time. TX hedn't owned ther crit
tiers two weeks till they was st0led. Yes,
sir, stoledl TX was down with ther ager
at ther time, 90 couldn't track ther
thieves, an yer come over hyer ter this
very dugout, Dick Hines, an told X as
yeTd be willln' ter let him hev his note
ef he'd fork over Afty dollars in green
backs, seein' he'd he'd sich bad luck in
gittin' ther critters stold. Wen, X
didn't hev ther money ter redeem his
note from yer clutches, 80 loaned Il to
him. That's how know % much erhout
thet mule business Yer shelled over
ther note ter X, fur ! seen Il arterward
In his own banda So yer hev no more
right ter X Pender's claim than hev-
an not as much when It comes down ter
ther pint o. ther matter"
"Waal, don't b'lieve this humpy
backed stranger has got any right on
ks claim" Hines declared. "He de-
sarves ter be punished fur claim jumpin',
an fur one favor putin him.
shut up yer hoFnE' interrupted ByeFs.
,qM hyer ter see fair play, an m seei il
too."
"Why, Tom" /" remarked one Of Hines
followers, ~ thought nobody on the
whole Neutral Lands was more posed
ter claim jumpin' than you
"An' % am" returned Byers firmly;
I'm powerful opposed ter claim jumpin'
M all sich low down, lawless doln'a
Ihet thar's no manhood In. e. know
anything erbout ther way ther wind
lies, I'm thinkin' Dick Hines is mad be-
,ause he amt able ter Git ther stranger
Jut an jump the claim himself
"Thets ia Thet's itt' agreed Adam
Hamlet, speaking from the door, which
1e held slightly aiar. Eyer dFiy' there
nail home tibet time, Mr.. ByeFs. Hinea
wants thee claim. an is tFyin' ter scar
ne ont. Thets ther shape O ther huh
Dusiness.' G
"Le's settle this dispute hyeran'now.S
aid Tom Byen In decided tone.
"Mr. Hamlet, didn't yer tall me thet
Ter had some writina mum n Fender ter
prove yer title Ter this landg'
"Yes, an hyer they air right in my
nside cost pocket, answered the settler.