Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-03-31
". WAS dusk when Bill ,Oao

lAe sdAie uLae Jim Upton was u
planning his forebodings to the VIA
in the camp below.
Then came several days of waltz
with nearly every one in tba o"-
making bets as to which one ~ -,
contestants would win out at the NJ
encounter, and all expectant and
gumentative
The result of this was that nra..
nearly every man in Mariposa baN
taken sides, and was ready IL q
to final settlement to enlist aoti~
in the war. Sympathies were abo'
evenly divided, and things were cn,T
at night because nearly all the No
tisans were busily engaged in n
back ends of their cabins cleanins
their weapons. 1t promised to II
warm.
Both Jim and the widow had dis.
peared from the rude public gaze on
were said to have gone to BurdicE j
consult other lawyers. Bill was )
ported to be too busy nursing m
and guarding Number Three IA
pear in the camp; and only the buIl
dog was left to howl dismally in u
improvised kennel until his mistrasA
should call for him.
And in the meantime the lawno
were busy, and fussy, and important
most of them being very young MAJ
or very old men who had come to tbl
West because their talents diar,I
seem to be in demand elsewhere
The break came Unexpectedly
man on horseback, partisan Of tb1
Bill-Esmerelda faction, pulled IN On
afternoon in front of Bills cabin ana
hailed. Bill came to the door and
peered out, his fingers clutched on /
rifie-barrel behind the door until III
could recognize the character of rel
ception awaiting him.
BILL" the rider said, throwing ora
leg over the pommel of his sad6)a
and dexterously rolling a cigarette
"J1m's back from up at Burdick, bud
he amt got nothin' to say. He iest
materially came in on the stage with
that wilder of his'n, acted groucby aa
usual, and pulled out with her for his
claim over on Goldpan."
'Yes?" said Bill, emerging from tba|
door and looking disconsolately at bis
friend.
Thought I'd better come by anil
tell you, SOS you can keep on the
lookout. No tellin' whatll happenI
next, now them lawyers is fghtin'."|
Lawyers t1ghtin' now.
eyes, they We got into row among
'emselves, each one in the camp
claimin' he saw you an Jim first.
Three of ems dissolved partnership
and are fightin' over which one the
case belongs to-"
''Humph! Yes?"
'You see, Number Threes a good
piece Of ground, an they kalkerlate
there's fat pickin' comm in some.
where when it gifts to trial"
Thanks, pal" And the door shut
with bang. This was the limit. Bill
walked up and down and thought out
solution which resulted in a trip
to camp by the now-recovered Doc
on the following morning. i
It was late on the following even.
ing when Bill, contented and whist.
ling, his mind made up, crashed
through the brush on the hillside Of
GOldpan, and came cautiously down
into the fiat in front of Jim's cabin.
He was wise as to the frontier, and
being on an errand of peace, came
unarmed and ostentatiously Whistling
and swinging his idle hands.
Jim saw him, made quick reach
for his gun, and then slowly dropped
his fingers away at the evident signs
of amity. He advanced 70 n1eet his
enemy, and waited quietly for him
to approach within speaking distance.
Hello, there, jim" said Bill, and
without waiting for return Of big
salutation, continued: 1--WE got no
shootin'-irons on my belt and no Ill
will in my head. I've come to be
friends with you, Jim, if you'll let
me-"
Jim paused a moment and peeTed
at him from under his heavy gray
eyebrows, and then, as if satisfied, eS
tended his hand, which was tightly
gripped. They stood aWkwardly lot
a moment, each waiting for WordS
and then Bill continued.
Il come to tell you don't want
the Number Three if I've got to lgl'
for it. You can tell the wilder SID
can have it. Esmereldy nor me AIN
goin' to fight for it no more, ana w.
don't want to be bad friends WIFI
either you or Mrs. Tibbets."
A slow grin oVerspread JimS lace
'The wilder don't want 1t, elInelI
Bill, and I'm mighty glad you com'
over. Somebody was bunked by 'na'
pesky agent, but it don't make 10 uil
ference, nohow. Mrs. TibDetS ~
other things to think about now W.
went up to Burdick and got marilea'
and she don't have to have NunlD'.
Three so longs I've got a pretty n'''
patch of ground myself"
HE'LL said Bill. That's hlu "
the same as with me and EsmeIelu'