The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-05

young fellow, speaking sternly.
1t 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
.sIt's him-Mr. Byers, pap!" she whis-
pered.
Eyes, it's him, Nancy. Amt he
spunky9 Jest listen ter him, will yerT
he chuclzled. Hes er match fur er
dozen SIGH vile snipes as them.
And he was, indeed. Tom ByeEs was
well known on those wild prairies as
man Of dauntless courage and decided
character, one with whom it was not
safe to fool Dick Hines knew the man
whom no must now deal with, and al
though backed by several allies as he
was, he had no relish for the encounter.
ssWhat are yer up to, disturbin' Mr..
Hamlet this way?r he demanded.
81 WAS jest maxim er sort o call on
him, an tellin' him I held er right ter
this hyer claim, thet's ALL" answered
Hines, hoping follower Tom Byers' wrath
against him.
"wen, Mr.. Hamlet give yer very
open reception, jedge, seem as yer all
out hyer in yer saddles yit," laughed
Byers with contempt.
ssBut I'd like ter know by what right
yer assert claim ter this strangers
land?n he asked.
"yTaal, yer see TX Fender bought my
mules, an nuver paid fur EN-, an when
he left Their country I was ter hev his
claim explained Hines.
''Stick ter fac's, eff yer please" cried
Byers. 81 know more erbout tibet mule
trade than yer think. TX an me was
good friends, an know his side O Their
story won't tally with yer'n; besides, !
happen ter know what become o. them
mulesi'
'.Ther dickens yer dor
eyer sold TX er span mules ON en-
years time. Tx hedn't owned Their crit
tiers two weeks till they was stoled. Yes,
sir, stoled! Tx was down with Their ager
at Their time, so couldn't track Their
thieves, an yer come over hyer terthis
very dugout, Dick Hines, an told Tx as
yer'd be willin' ter let him hey his note
eff he'd fork over fifty dollars in green
backs, seein' he'd he'd SIGH bad luck in
gittin' Their critters stold. Wen, TX
didn't hev Their money ter redeem his
note from yer clutches, so loaned it to
him. That's how know SO mnch evbout
thet mule business. Yer shelled over
ther note ter Tx, fur I seen it arterward
in his own hands. So yer hey nosmore
right ter TX Pender's claim than. J. hev--
an not as much when it comes down ter
Their pint O ther matter
WAL, I don't b'lieve this humpy
backed stranger has got any right on
Il's claim" Hines declared. HE de-
saryes ter be punished fur claim jumpin',
an fnr one favor puttin' him1
'sShut up yer hornI' interrupted Byers.
s'Pm hyer ter see fair play, an I'll see it
too"
'sWhy. Tom," remarked one of Hines
followers, 81 thought nobody ON the
whole Neutral Lands was more posed
ter claim ju1npin' than you"
can so am returned Byers firmly;
'.Tm powerful opposed ter claim jnlnpin'
an all SIGH low down, lawless doin's
tibet thar's no manhood in Eff know
anything erbout Their way Their wind
lies, I'm thinkin' Dick Hines is mad be-
cause he amt able ter git Their stranger
out an jump the claim himself"
"Thet's It'll Thet's It'll" agreed Adam
Hamlet, speaking from the door, which
he held slightly ajar. Eyer driv' there
nah home tibet time, Mr.. Bgers. Hines
wants ther claim, an is tryin' ter scar
me out. Thet's ther shape O. ther hull
business"
Lies settle this dispute hyer am now"
said Tom Byers in decided tone.
''Mr. Hamlet, didn't yer ten me tibet
yer had some wrstin's frum TX Penderter
prove ger title ter this landy'
Eyes, an hyer they air right in my
inside coat pocket, answered thesettler.
produce 'em, an fix light an Ill
read the dockynnint 10 these doubtin'
Thomases," said Byers, alighting from
his pony and approaching the doorofthe
dugout.
Adam Hamlet handed to Tom half
sheet of foolscap, on which TX Fender, in
uneven, untidy characters, had written
the transference of his quarter section of
land on Deer creek.
Lamp or candle the Hamlets had not,
SO Nancy put cotton rag into asmail
can OF ssmeat fryiu's." and thus secured
a poor, fitful little flame, by which By
ers, standing In une door, read slowly
but distinctly the following letter:
To Whom 1t May Concern:
BY this here Presents belt known that have
traded my claim on Deer creek. in Cherokee
Co.. Kansas, to ono Adam Hamlet of Pinkney-
vile, Illinoy, who did by mutual consent turn
over to me 10 head of big steers for this said
claim
To my old friends out there I recommend
said Adam Hamlet as an honest citizen, and
ask that your treat him white.
ISAAC N. FENDER.
Hines and his gang listened while
Byers read the letter, and as soon as he
began folding it up they started away.
But Tom detained them few minutes
to say: Hold on, Dick Hines. want
yer to understan' thet Mr.. Hamlet's
right ter this hyer claim is genywine,
and viii be supported by all the worthy
citizens O. these parts. 1t won't be well
fur yer Of ketched prowiin' round Deer
creek. Now goF'
And they went.
Tom Byers fingered at the dugout