Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-05-26

kS~ ~ by one A. Burrows"
e He leaned his axe
against the fosA Of the tree, pushed
his dingy old white hat back on his
shock of brick-red hair, hitched up
his trousers by the belt. and again
read the notice. There was no mis-
taking 1t. There was rival claim
ant for this patch OF timber in the
almost impenetrable wilderness OF the
olympics, where for more than a year
he had abided with the proud feeling
OF possession.
Claim-jumping. in n mining way,
was not a new thing to him. but here
in the big woods 1t seemed a little
out Of place. II was bewildering, and
the method Of its fighting would be
new. He sat down on a small log
and looked at the staring white sign,
as II trying to read from It q solution
of the difficulty. He might tear the
notice of the tree, but that wouldn't
do any good, Now. K cnly It were a
mining claim, the procedure would
be simple. namely. take gun and
nil the Jumper full OF lead.
Sandy Strengthened himself up and
sighed. He had decided that this
should be the method in this case. II
he were driven to 1t.
I'm the peacefullest cuss that ever
lived" he mourned as he turned
away. 'but they're always gettin' me
cornered where there amt nothin' to
do but shoot. Then l gets shot up
some, may be, and am sorry a heap,
because had to shoot the other fell
low up"
The world looked pretty forlorn to
him, as he picked his way along a
trail through the woods to his cabin,
and for once the birds and squirrels
who knew him and expected greeting
were given no recognition.
His path led through timber such
as but few men know; It was a II
tanic forest of monstrous trees in
which he wandered a pygmy, Here
and there a giant had fallen. sending
his three hundred feet of length
crashing downward to a resting place,
to those who would cross him in his
proneness. Perhaps another giant
having lived out his life of hundreds
OF years. had dropped across the first
and stiIl others piled themselves on
until the barrier was completely I'M
erossable.
Around one of these distractions
the troubled Sandy came In sight oil
his cabin. where It nestled in a little
clearing. with all its evidences oil
habitation. From the doorway a
three-legged dog arose, and, with
much effort, gave a home greeting
Even In the stress Of his trouble, the
tall master stopped long enough tc
pet the waiting head and take
kindly look into the eyes that sought
his
"Dick," he said, we've been pards
ever since ! dragged you out from
under a street car, way down In
Seattle, and we've most always had
some kind Of a home since then; but
now they're goin' to try to take this
one away from us and make us hi
the trail again"
Dick seemed to understand, al
though he said nothing. He was moi
laxative dog, his strong point be
Ing sympathy He felt the gravity Of
the situation, and hobbled after his
master into the cabin.
Thar you go again" Sandy re
proachfully said as he entered, this
time addressing his remarks to mis-
chievous wood-mouse who calmly sal
on a shelf and looked at him while
washing off with his diminutive fore
paws the unmistakable signs of flour
dust from his whiskers.
Here | Jugs a sack Of -four twenty
miles into the woods, and you jest
won't let 1t alone even when makes
friends with you and feeds you til
you're fat" The mouse showed NJ
sign of fear. and with twinkling eyes
continued his toilet, as Sandy, will
arms akimbo. stood in front OF hin
and delivered his scolding. well
you little cuss." he concluded, ''yot
Amt Hike men, you don't know nj
better" He laid coaxing hand or
the edge Of the shelf, and the mouse
accepted the truce by scampering VI
Sandy's arm to his shoulder.
Sandy prepared his homely woods
mans meal. finished 1t with woods
mans appetite, and seated himself
with lighted pipe on a bench in from
of his cabin. But this night ther'
were no interludes Of whistling Oh
singing: his trouble was upon him
It seemed strange that through al
the years. stretching away back tt
those of the desert sands, when hi
had been alternately packer, cow
puncher. miner. or woodsman. he wht
loved peace and quiet should be com
PEELED always to fight, and fight. ant
fight, Now he was facing another
fight. "Old Miss Trouble must have
been my godmother." he said aloud
as he prepared for his nights rest
81 banker after the peaceful life, bu
I'm goin' to kill any damn man tina
tries to git this claim, an the maj
might as well be A. Burrows as b.
otherwise known as Sandy, Smith.
II had been many months since tht
heavy Colts was taken down from 1T
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