Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-12-21

DO you mean to tell me that some
low down sneak has dared to Jump nv
claim while I've been back visiting my
father and mother?'' cried Desmond,
| the flush Of doubt changing to one of
! resentment
| Looks powerfully thet way" admit
/ ted his tormentor. Seed a kivered
wagon thar an smoke pourin' out o.
\ yer chimbley."
/ "Nyho is the sneaking cur?' demand
ed the now thoroughly aroused man.
Il dunno"
well, it won't take me long to find
OUT retorted Rob, drawing on his
heavy buffalo overcoat with an angry
| jerk
"Wot! Yer amt goin' ter go ter yer
claim right noW?v
Eyes, and I'll see that that sneak
thief gets out of my shack in hurry.
I've got pretty well warmed up with
a grim smile, land don't need Mileys
fire any longer"
/ Il wouldn't go if / was you" said
Ike.
You wouldn'tg'' eying him with con-
tSAdptuOuS dctOuioliluCut.
/ Nor
s.You must be fool if you think I'm
going to give up my land, after all I've
done on it, without so much as by
your leaver"
But yer might get inter trubble."
Might TT cried Desmond, with
gesture of disgust, holding up pair
of heavy pistols and then thrusting
them into his belt. well see about
that! If the cuss isn't off my premises
inside an hour I'll give him trouble
and lots of it!''
Il don't think you'll run that settler
OUT said Jim coolly.
You don'ty'
NO. / don't"
whats the reason?''
'sThar's sev'ral reasons, an as fei
me, wouldn't want ter tackle the
job"
''You wouldn't? Well, don't worry.
I'll not call on you for assistance"
and, with quick stride, Rob Desmond
walked out Of the store, got his horse
from the stable where 1t had been kept
during his absence, mounted and was
soon galloping away through the snowy
dusk of the late afternoon.
/ When he was well beyond earshot the
two conspirators went off into roars of
laughter. Then they had to acquaint
Miley with the occasion of their mirth,
for he enjoyed joke as well as the
next one.
It's good one on Rob, by gumy
cried the storekeeper, joining heartily
in the laughter.
Which calls fer a box o. cigars an
two bottles o Miley's temperance phos-
phate, don't it, Ike?" demanded Jim.
That's woteverr' affirmed Ike. 'sAn'
the same to be charged ter Rob Des-
monds account?"
Exactly
Good enough" said Miley. give
dollars is cheap a-plenty fer him to get
off with. imagine kin see him a-git-
tin madden n ever an ridin' like all
persessed through the snowstorm down
ter his claim chuckled the old man
as he reached for box of cigars on
the shelf.
s.Hol' on minute, Miley,'' said jim
''Wot yer say. Ike, ter dispensin' with
them cigars an phosphatizin' this
time an takin' tn amount O Rob's
treat in the toys an SIGH tricks fer
Christmas presents fer them kids an
! putin in five of our own fer some
thin neat fer that leetle woman?''
THE very ideei By thump! / kin re-
member how Noay's ark an tin whis-
ties an SIGH do-funnies ulster stir me
up when wus kid back in Jackson
county at Christmas time. Yer plumb
genus, Jim, yer air, by gingerr
Meantime Rob Desmond, his mind
filed with righteous wrath against the
unprincipled wretch who had dared
Jump his claim was nearing his cab
in. In his anger snow and cutting
winds were scarcely noticed. Only one
dominating desire possessed his soul
to set eyes on that rascal of a claim
| jumper and order him of his domain
forthwith.
When he reached the persimmon
thicket he hitched his horse and walk
ed energetically toward his cabin The
door was partly open. held so by little
Bessie, who was watching the falling
snow. She was alone, the others hay
ing gone to the dugout stable to see
that the mules were made comfortable
for the night.
| The glow from the fireplace revealed,
to the owners astonished gaze, bright
| eyed little fairy with long golden hair.
She was swaying back and forth hum
ming to herself. Then she broke out
earnestly:
| "Oh, Sanity, tum right here an make
our wagon well, an, if you can spare
'em, just drop some nice Trismus pres
ents down."
/ She ceased suddenly as the form Of
a man doomed up before her. She had
been asking for Santa Claus, and there
was now no doubt in her mind but that
Rob, in his big fur overcoat covered