The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-10-31
THE CLAIM
JU RS


claim. He lad been to Frisco for 4
month trying TO induce some one with
means 10 "grubstake'' him, but had
tailed. This was not because be did
not have Z good claim. but because the
capitalists he met did not care to looG
into it. Ben was very gloomy. \ year
before lie had married the girl of his
choice in the east ana a week after
the marriage had returned TO his min
Ing operations. He had hoped before
this to bring his Susie to him. but the
fates had been against him. And now
his failure to secure mean with which
to prosecute his work made him doubly
Respondent.
Before him. coming OF horseback. tn
broad rim of his felt hat tapping with
each lope. was Il man whom lie recog-
nized as Andy Kitchen. the owner of a
Claim not far from his own.
"Howdy. Benz" said Andy, %grinnins
oTably. and without lessening his pae'
added. Yer claims jumped"
What's that to laugh atE' called Ben
sharply. How many Of emf
Two. But one on EN- | reckon yoG
can handle without trouble. He's a lit
tie cuss. T'other may down you"
Zen would have asked more cues
tons. but Hallowell seemed to be in 4
hurry and rode on. Here was more
trouble. Ben was a peaceful, Flooding
man. beloved by his %neighbors. and
the last man in the world to fight ex-
capt for his rights. But he was not a
man to suffer imposition. Besides. b.
had strong faith in his hole in the
ground and relied upon it to unite him
in time with his beloved wife. lie rode
on, considering what he should do. He
had no faith in peaceful measures, for
jumpers were not respecters of justice
and usually did not jump a claim uu
less prepared TO maintain their ground
He finally concluded TO ~reconnoiter the
jumpers from a distance and watch for
an opportunity to catch them apart.
1t was about 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing and a bright summer day when
Ben left the road and struck a trail
through Il wood which led to his claim.
now but half n mile distant. The birds
were singing in the trees. and every
thing about him was so peaceful that
he approached the encounter before
him with still greater reluctance. His
young wife was ever present in his
thoughts. and he could not dismiss 6
picture of her anguish if it were fateG
she should zeal that he had been killed
by the Jumpers. After going as far or
horseback as he dared. lest be attract
attention he d%ismounted and proceeded
on foot. pausing behind a tree in sight
Of his claim and his cabin beside it.
There was no one about, but the cab
In door stood open, and smoke issued
from the stovepipe chimney. Between
two trees swung a hammock. in the
center of which was a bundle. Be-
eyed all this cautiously. listened till hc
was convinced that there was nc one
present. her boldly went forward.
Curious to learn what was in the ham
mock. he pulled apart its sides and re
vealcd Il roll of blankets. But as the
blankets contained something. he pull
ed aside a corner covering n end OF
the bundle and revealed
W eli. nat Den EtN6dlGd was III
more striking thar the expression OF
his face on seeing it. The stern look
he had worn up to this moment melted
into one as kindly as, more kindly than
had ever rested on his features. He
looked down into the face of a sleep
ing baby.
For a time the diminutiye creature
slept on. then began to stretch its little
legs and fling its little fists about, al
last opening a pair of blue eyes which
1t fixed i~ntently on Ben.
Reckon you're the little jumper
said Ben. giving the baby his finger
to clutch. II hope the big n is no
more formidable. If your dad has
taken my property | don't see how ]
can have the heart TO ~dispossess him.
By this time Ben was on his knees
beside the baby. making all kinds OF
grinaces and saying all kinds of ride
ulous things to show his good will and
attract the child's attention. Then &
sudden thought struck him. He re
membered Andy Kitchens grin when
be announced that the claim had been
jumped.
by thunder!" he exclaimed. Sup
pose the big jumper is a woman.."
For a moment his face fell. If this
were so. what an uncomfortable stu
alton. Even the shooting he had ez.
pected was not so bad as that.
He was so ~engrossed with this
thought and the baby, in whose face
be fancied be could trace something
pleasantly familiar. that he did not
hear a fOotstep approaching. Then he
felt a light touch on his shoulder. In
stinctively his hand few to his re-
volver as he turned.
He looked into the smiling face of
his wife.