Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
Fighting Jim's Claim.
TOriginal.1


California were hunting for the big
mines that afterward became bOnan-
zas a man appeared in Billion gulch
and located a claim. He was power
full fellow and bully. and it was not
long before his neighbors were afraid
of him. He didn't trouble them to re-
member his name, and they gradually
got used to calling him Fighting jim"
One day Jim told his neighbors that
he was going to Frisco. He intended
leaving his cabin unlocked and his
claim unprotected ''just for the fun"
he said, "of seem some galoot jumper,
when get back, bunkin' in the one or
workin' the other" Then he added,
''Ye'll see somepin happen" With this
lie departed.
There was none of the people of Bill
lion gulch so rash as to interfere with
either of Jim's properties. Several
strangers came along, took n look at
the claim, were duly warned and de-
parted. Jim's belongings were cOnsid-
cred as safe as if he had left dozen
men for its protection.
One day young fellow came to the
gulch, asked great many questions
about the prospects of gold, claims to
be had and claims not to be had. Incl
dentally Jim's claim was mentioned,
with the usual warning. That night
light was observed in Jim's cabin, and
the next morning the stranger was at
work in Jim's claim. \ self constituted
committee of the most prominent citi-
ZenS proceeded to the hole that had
been dug and kindly informed the
youngSter that he was not only wasting
his time, but that Jim, when he re-
turned, would necessitate their buIying
the jumper at the public expense. The
fellow put his hand in his pocket and,
taking out a bag of gold dust, re-
marked:
"Tm no sponge to bring unnecessary
expense on my neighbors. Take that
for security" With that he resumed
his pick and the committee departed
to spread the news through the gulch
that there was a lunatic working
Jim's claim and the gulch was sure ON
Jim's return TO be disgraced by its first
murder.
In n couple of weeks Jim returned.
He gathered all he met into the prin-
cipal saloon of the town to drink to his
return, and several citizens took adj
vantage of the fact to break the news
of the jumping of his cabin and his
claim and to strive to induce Jim to
bring no disgrace on the hitherto peace
full community. Their efforts were
vain. Jim had scarcely heard of the
outrage when, hitching his revolver
forward, he left the saloon in hot haste
TO wreak vengeance on the stranger.
The crowd followed with bated breath.
On nearing the mine the peaceful
sound of the pick was heard. Jim, dis
daining to take advantage of an I'M
warned enemy, strobe up empty hand
ed to the side of the hole. The jumper
went on picking the earth, and Jim
growled:
"Hello. you. there!
The youngster turned his oval face,
delicate except the mouth, which was
firm as adamant, and replied:
"Hello, Jimi'
Jim stood paralyzed, and the jumper
continued: -tt
1--WE understood from these people
that y're goin' to make hash O. me-
If v do. y're a good deal changed from
what v were last time 1 saw y.
reckon this western air must ha' put
n lot o. starch into y"
Still Jim stood mute, and those who
had come to see him "chaw up" the
stranger wondered.
"I want Y TO understand" the jump
er continued, that this claim belongs
to me. While we been foolin' yer
time away at Frisco I've been a-work-
in it. Now, git down here and go to
work men''-addressing the
crowd-"the shows over. There isn't
a-goin' to be any funeral today nor to-
morrow nor none at all. So v might
as we'll go about yer business"
The party walked slowly away, leav-
ing Jim and the jumper together.
From that day Jim was a changed
man. He talked no more of fighting,
kept away from the saloon, devoting
his time to the working of the claim,
which had apparently passed into the
control OF the stranger. Then sudden
~ the jumper disappeared. AS soon
as he had gone Jim stopped work. His
old associates expected that he would
reveal the mystery. but he maintained
absolute silence. Weeks passed, then
months. Occasionally Jim would wan
der into the saloon, apparently to kill
time, but was careful of his potations
and his words.
One day letter came to Jim bearing
New York postmark. From the mo-
ment of its reception Jim was again
changed. This time it was a different
change; he was hilarious. He gather
ed the people Of the gulch into the sa-
loon and treated all round. Then he
went to his cabin and to bed. The next
had disappeared.
Its as plain as the nose on yer
face" said the chief citizen. "Jim was
wanted for murder 1t wouldn't do
no good for him to kill the jumper,
sence he'd been located; so he bribed
him to go back and clear the coast for