Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-16
A JUMPED CLAIM.

the New Boston Clarion in its first issue,
Two learn that Ben Farpo's claim has
been jumped ngain. Ben's return is OK
pcctcd tomorrow, and we predict that no
will attend to the eviction in his usual
prompt and thorough manner"
No fault could have hoon found with
this item except perhaps that it might
hnye been u little indefinite to the unin-
itinted. New Boston fully understood 1t.
who's jumped 1t this timo?" asked
Colonel Pride, as Cy Hickson retailed tho
rows to the citizens lnunging on the porch
OF the Eureka general store.
dun know" answered the mail oisr-
rler. Didn't stop to find out. Smoke
was comm out Of the shack, an "A n'lous
lnokin linchpin wagin an n pair of rickcty
ole mules was standin by -
"Waal, predicted Colonel Pride, "ahout
five minutes after Ben gifts there them
rlckety mules'll be pulling that scandnlous
looking wagon away from that claim"
You betr' agreed tho citizens
Pears like Ben Fnrgos claim is nllus
boin jumped"
And unjumpcd Just as often" snid
the colonel
Had to laugh, the other day, us was
ridin past" said Mr.. Cy Hickson. Eel
lor from Mizzury' ID jumped the claim that
time nm was hakin II johnny cake in Bens
skillet. Five minutes to git your johnny
out Of my skillet, says Ben. The year
1901 will find me right yere' says Miz-
curry. Says Ben, This is my claim, an
'MOhby twas fore | jumped It, broke In
Mi22ury, turnin over the johnny cake.
Yes, an twill DO soon's you unjump 1t,
which il be in bout three minutes, says
Bon. Crack your whip says Mizzury.
I'm able for you, l reckon: sides, the
laws on my side, an Hang the lawl'
broke in Ben an sailed in. They tangled,
an in about two minutes Mizzury found
he'd made n mistake. Fer awhile lowed
Bend drive his head into the ground.
Then, after tukin him around awhile, Ben
sat on him. Whose claims this nowr
says Ben. Your title to 1t pears to be u
very strong one, snys Mizzury. y little
lator Mizzury had his team hitched to his
wagin an was a-eatin his johnnycGke as
he druv away"
Mr.. Ben Fargo, returning to New Bos.
ton the following day became aware that
his claim had been jumped.
well, " he said, half aloud, al am In n
hurry to get to New Boston, but l reckon
l can spare time 10 start this jumper on
his why. Not overly well fixed. " he com
mentcd as he left tho road wagon don't
look safe, and tho mules seem rlckety, but
they brought the jumper here, and they've
got to- Hello, here"
The presence of tho object that he had
almost ridden over surprised him good
deal more than the presence OF the jumper,
1t was merely little grave, roughly
rounded up in tho midst Of the long prairie
grass The clods OF the ragged little
mound showed that 1t had been there only
a short while. A tattored prairie rosehush
huI t,la .al ha ~ 81
mound. The tips of its leaves had with
cred and the blossoms it had borne at
trnnsplanting were yellow and shriveled,
but one bud had opened, and the ragged
little flower striving its best to be bright
and pure, lay on one rough, black olod 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 faoe
Scarcely CHANGING at him, she returned tho
salutation and bent and watered tho rag
| ged little rosebush.
"Your baby" Fargo asked awkwardly
Eyes, the woman answered, choking
with her oppressed feeling. "She was all
| hnd"--
She flung herself prone on the grave.
aloud
Fargo looked uncomfortable. "Now
don't cry so. l-you-where's your hus-
hand9 In the shack?"
"No," lifting her face from the clods
Hes dead. was on my way home.
The bnby-weli, l dug the little grave
myself had no coffin, and buried her
in her little niRbtgown. | cannot go on
yet-oh, it seems as If 1 could never 60
Maybe the owner would not object II
lived In the shack a little while till"--
Fargo squirmed little uneasily in his
saddle. "Aftor "A little must start on to
ward Indiana"
What part of IndianaY" Fargo blurtot
champion county. The little crossrond
| village just below Fountainyile"
Ever know a darnod fool there named
FarpoY'
Ben FargoH IIo wasn't fool, though.
| He"--
Eyes, he was tool Got mad at nothingl
Ought to have baen shot on the spot"
"Nol He-we''-
Mary, don't you know mes''
"Bon Fargol'
"Yes. A darned fool. Got md at moth
ing"
little later tho dispossessed owner OF
the shack was smoothing up the mound
that covered the child OF the person who
had jumped his claim, and the Jumper
sat ON the grass near by looking less desc
late.
When, later, Mr.. Fargo was passing the
Eureka general store, he was stopped by
Colonel Pride
Did tho jumper cut up rusty, Benz"
"Norev' Fargo answered shortly, NOV.
ing away.
"Go without troubloS"
alNps"of