Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-30
That's the way hit looks ter me-"


over his shoulder in the direction Of
his own shanty, "air hOldin' this we're
claim fer Dick Barber who's comm out
hyar in the spring from Injiany, an
WellJust give We till ter-morrer to git
out o thisw
faint long enough time" said the
stranger deliberately turning over
liberal slice Of "midling" that smoked
in the frying pan.
How long do you want?" questioned
Joe, his wrath somewhat Modified by
the strangers evident intention OF
leaving.
How long does a man have ter live
on claim before he ken git deed fer
h'it?' was the reply Of the stranger.
Five years, replied Joe.
Wal, then continued the stranger,
make hit five years an hits a bar
gin
"YCu impudent skunk" reared Joe,
now thoroughly aroused by the strang-
| er's cool manner, FER a cent I'd wallop
the ground with yer ornery carcass.
Vas, We might undertake hit fer a
cent but yOu'dneverlay upany money at
HIT" was the answer, as he set the fryA
ing pan down and confronted Joe
Scraggs.
Joe now moved his hand toward his
pistol, but heSitated.
Look hyar, said the stranger, you
order me ter leave It's claim. Is hit
yourn?"
NO, not exactly mine; but we're
holdin. his fer friend me an my par
( dner air We've got the two lyin
north O. this, an we're holdin, this fer
Dick Barber, an we're goin' ter hold
hit"
All right" he answered, q guess
hit won't need much holdin,. Hitn
hyar when yer friend comes-so will l.
IL hits yer claim I'll sit off, but yer
can't hold it fer somebody else. know
The law
Yes. We may know the law, but ye
don't know our law. We've made a
special law fer sech fellers as We, an
were goin' ter so by that, an don't yeS
fergit hit"
wal, when yer force me ter go, IN
go-not before.
Angry words rose to JOe's lips, but he
hesitated. The cool, indifferent manner
of the claim jumper puzzled him.
HeWes abOuttO speak when the tramp
of a horses feet sounded in the grass
behind him. and Bill Barnum rode M,
a Winchester ride swung across his
saddle.
Thought mebbe ye'd have trouble"
he explained" an that I'd con q over
an see We cut.
bill" said Joe. gaining courage at
the arrival CT achievements, he says
he h'ain't a-gOin' ter leave
Wont he" Bill answered, bringing
his Winchester down on the stranger.
Now sc lead up yer traps an git.
All right" he answered doggedly.
You've got the advantage OF me. Ill
80. but I'll git even with we some time,
see If don't" and he began 10 tumDla
his effects together"
Bill and Joe watched him while Re
piled his traps into the wagon.
stranger" said Bill. we don't want
ter be hard on yer, an we don't mind
payin We Ter yer little shanty, seem "a
We can't take hit along.
mo. hit amt worth nOth-n', was
the answer. 81 don't mind giyin' good
ne,ehbor a little thing like that.
wal. Bill" said Joe, hits gittin
late an we'd better be gittin' back ter
the shanty an lookin' after our sup
:supporr exclaimed Bill. Thar
bain't nothin' fer supper nor breck-
ferst either unless that ornery cuss gus
back from Atticy ter-night.
Don't say that answered Joe'
"H'it makes me hungrier an oar ter
hear We speak like that. Ham We SoI
nothin' ter eat"
No. nothin' but q few pieces O nara
bread an a bit or two o. meat. That
orncry cuss, John Biggs, that we sent
after grub to Atticy II git drunker aI
billed owl an not comeback TIL we 50
after him, like rs not.
With this the Y turned their horseS
around and rode away in the dlrectloh
of home. leaving the stranger stanolhS
in silence looking after them.
Ike Dover, for such was the stranS-
er's name, turned and entered his
shanty.
wal. hit means pull out, reckon,
he muttercd. but III stay hyar TIL
mornin, anyway.
The sun ha6 gone down behind q
bank of tawny. purple clouds, ana al
ashv pall0r overspread the Sky.
coin ter have bad weather, obserV-
ed Joe ScraSgs, as they rode through
the fast gathering darkness.
Late that night Bill punched joe III
the ribs with his elbows and SAID:
Zoe. it's gitin colder n all git out.
We've got ter git up an find some moIa
covers. Gee whiz. listen ter thaI
wind" .,.,
hin cot up and struck light and put
on his clothes. :.
The weather had suddenly grown IN
tensely cold and the wind was roaring
across the prairieand sweeping through
The dead grass with a sharp, Missing
sound. ,.,.,+
A Great gust OF wind swept into the
room wbirling a cloud OF snoWAahes
with it and extinguishing the lighC
a bIizzardw exclaimed Bill, SIAM
min, the door and relighting the lamp.
we must see ter the bosses, he saie
drawing on his heavy boots. Ihey Il
freeze ter death IN that Sneu Il 'i''
bain't blanketed."
He opened the door and went out
and in a few minutes returned.
THE bosses air gone!' he exclaimed
broke loose. an bein' driy away by the
ION. One nv us must go after EN-" ex-
c1oimed Biu 1t won't do to lose EN-.
They'H die in this storm if they don
find shelter. " ..-..- ,for.
Yes an we'd die dozen times fore
,.o,d 6nd 'em inthis storm
Poor animals exclaimed bllI' O"'
hit can't be helped. H..