Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-09
JUMPING A CLAIM.

II was New ! 49,. eve In tic cemp, and
tbe Gold NGl.,. i..,n W. t,ii- n heavy
business all nlo"g the live. Drinks were
being rspidly dispensed over the counter,
and init r,ar faro, roulette and draw poker
were fiouIishing
Pete was in high huInor. He had "bucked
the tiger" successfully tonight and had quit
enough ahead to work his claim in Cork
screw gulch.
True, he had not done his assessment
work this year, and by law anybody could
lump" the Lone Star that very day at
midnight But Pete was not the man tC
be fooled with. as he already had two
graves 10 his credit in Doc Turner'S ranch
Ohe name applied to the cemetery in honor
Of local DOCTOR. which contained thu
bodies Of two ''trnderfcet" who had "dif
fered" with him grd were accidentally shot
So the nhabitant- l Galensvile concluded
he WAS safe man 10 let alone, and he
laughed at the idea that anybody would b,
so foolish as TO commit suicide" as he
termed it, by attempting to jump his claim
The old year had but a few minutes e
live when Hank tied up his horse amona
the tall, snow laden pine trees near the
Lone Star, and loosening the thongs which
fastened a pickaX TO his horses sadd,
and transferring couple Of sticks OF dy
Mantle and some candles from his saddle
bag TO his pockets shouldered the piaR
and slowly mounted the tortuous trail.
He had long awaited this moment. -Four
years ago he had owned the Lone Stal
himself, but sickAess came, and he could
not work his assessment, and when he re
turned to the prospect and found Pete,
armed TO the teeth. in possession, he had
accepted his hard luck with good grace,
but had laid" for Pete ever since. But
now At last his opportunity had come, and
he determined To regain his property and
defend il at the risk of his life if necessary.
The tunnel was soon reached, and the
moonlight, streaming aslant its black
mouth, easily disclosed To his eyes Pete's
location stake.
He looked at his watch 1t marked ex
actly midnight.
Reaching down, he fercely wrenched tn,
stake from the ground and fungi il far from
him down the mountain.
He then lit candle, and finding "A board
quickly sharpened one end Of it, and smooth
ing Off the broad end wrote his location no.
tice on it-rechristening the claim the
Bright Hopes"-and planted the stake
firmly In the ground.
Thinking he would go into the tunnel
and "see how she looked" he took up his
candle and pick and started in.
Just as he did so he thought he heard .
whistle. He paused and listened. Some
one was coming up the trail below whis
tling softly. Quickly dousing the light, he
crouched behind "A big bowlder just at the
mouth OF the tunnel and drew his revolver |
A few minutes later Pete stepped In |
view, with weeks supplies in "A sack |
slung over his shoulder.
Before he could put his burden down |
Hank suddenly rose up before him with |
the muzzle of his pistol almost touching |
the others face.
Hands upY' he cried. 1--WE got tn. |
drop on yer now"
Pete, seeing the other man had a full |
hand, promptly threw up his, while Hank |
deftly relieved him of his firearms.
""Tain't worth fighting about anyhow" |
said Pete carelessly There amt pound |
Of ore in the hull claim"
"Oh, come Off" said Hank. "How about |
all that ore you shipped last summeri"
THAT WAS out of pocket struck which |
petered OH, mighty quick, but il you don't |
believe me I'll 20 in the hole and show |
you" and taking candle Pete started In |
tnt IldHh lOllOWtu, DuI keeping nlt
hand within easy reach of his gun
The breast of the tunnel was soon reached,
and Pete, holding his candle up before it,
said: There now, what did tell yert It's
Duthin but dead rock"
Hank took his candle and carefully ex
amined the breast, roof and sides, but not
a trace OF mineral could be seen.
you're welcome to her, said Pete. "Ive
blown in all the money ! want 10. You
can have blast at her now II you want
to-"
Hank did not reply, but appeared TO be
lost in thought. Finally he said, Hold my
candle a minute Pete" and taking up his
pick in both hands he struck the breast a
heavy blow, and the rock and mud with
which Pete had plastered il 70 fool curious
and unwelcome visitors fell away, exposing
a vein OF glttering white metal.
Almost at the same instant there was a
deafening report, and Hank fell to the
ground with bullet through his heart.
Pete, with smoking revolver In biz
hand. which he had snatched from Hanks
belt as he struck the blow, stood over him
with grim smile as he muttered, "An-
other accident!'
But retribution was close at hand. The
reverberations Of the shot had hardly died
away among the neighboring peaks when
rock, which had long been loose, started
by the sudden shock, fell from the roof,
bringing tons OF earth with IL, and Pete and
his third victim were crushed into shape
less mass.-St Louis Post-D Dispatch.