Bisbee daily review., 1903-05-08
Fighting
 Jim's" Claim
toriginaL.I


 zas a man appeared in Billion gulch fui fellow and bully. and 1t 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.s
 One day Jim told his neighbors that he was going to Frisco. He intended leaving his cabin unlocked and bis claim unprotected "just for the fun" he said. ''of seein' some galoot jumper, when get back. bunkin' in tise one or workin' the other" Then he added, "Ye'li see somepin happen" With this he departed.
 There was none of the people of Bii. Ion gulch so rash as to interfere with either of Jim's properties. Several strangers came along, took look at the claim, were duly warned and de- parted. Jim's belongings were consid. cred as safe as if he had left 6 dozen men for its protection.
 One day a young fellow came to the gulch, asked a great many questions about the prospects of gold, claims to be had and claims not to be had. Incl dentaiiy Jim's claim was mentioned, with the usual warning. That night 6 light was observed in Jim's cabin, and the next morning the stranger was at work in Jim's claim. A 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 burying the jumper at the public expense. The fellow put his hand in his pocket and, taking out a bag of gold dust, re, marked:
 "I'm 10 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 tine guich that there was a lunatic working Jim's claim and the gulch was sure oH Jim's return to be disgraced by It's frst murder 4
 In couple of weeks Jim returned, He gathered all he met into the prir, cipal saloon of the town to drink to hiz return, and several ctdzeas took ad, vantage of the fact to break the news of the jumping of his cabin and his claim and to strive to, induce Jim ts bring no disgrace on the hitherto peace, ful community. Their efforts were vain. Jim had scarcely heard of the outrage when. hitching his revolve< 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 tine pick was heard. Jim, dis. daining to take advantage of an un. warned enemy, strode up empty hand, ed to the side of the hole. The jumper went on picking the earth, and Jim growled:
 Hello, you. therer'
 The youngster turned his oval face, delicate except the mouth, which was firm as adamaut, and replied:
 Hello, Jimp'
 Jim stood paraiyzed, and the jumper continued:
 'T've understood from these people that y're goin' to make hash O me, If y do. y're good deal changed from what y were last time I saw y. reckon this western air must ha' pus a lot O starch into y'."
 Still Jim stood mute, and those whe had come to see him "chaw up" the stranger wondered,
 T want y to understand,p the jump, CT 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. Gentlemen"-addressing the crowd-"the shows over There isn't agoin' to be any funeral today nor to- morrow nor none at all. So y mighf as well go about yer busInessyp
 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, ly the jumper disappeared. As soou as he had gone Jim stopped work. His Oiu dSSOCidltS eApeCleu llaL ue WOulI reveal the mystery, but he maintained absolute silence Weeks passed. ther 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 a New York postmark From the mo ment of its reception Jim was again changed. This time 1t was a different change; he was hilarious. He gather ed the people of the gulch into the sa- loon and treated all round. Then hs went to his cabin and to bed. The next morning the cabin was empty. Jim had disappeared.
 "It's 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 fos him to take to other cover. That letter tole him that the p'lice he'd been fool. ed"
 One day party of professional mine operators appeared in the gulch and opened up Jim's claim, which proved to be one of the biggest mines in the