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

was filled with cartridges. And this
was not the last day when the gun
sagged against his thigh, as he trav-
ersed his little domain, patiently wait
ing for the appearance of "A. Bur.
rows"
When the time came, 1t was almost
as surprise. 1t was one bright
forenoon when the air was redolent
with the fragrance of bloom, and the
dew lay heavily In the hollows of the
tangled blackberry and rhododendron
bushes. that the storm burst. Sandy
had grown somewhat older in these
days OF waiting. His quick ear caught
the unusual sound of voices, and, by
the tree where the first location no
tice had been posted. he waited.
Through the woods, with axes
cleaning across the packs on their
backs, with rifies In hand, and steady
tread, came four woodsmen.
"Hello!" they said. in the way Of
greeting to the tall. grim man who
barred their way.
Sandy wasted no time in civilities
"Lookin' for this?" he queried, point
Ing at the white claim notice which
started at them unwinkingly.
EFF that's the Burrows location, we
shore are" came the reply from the
man who was evidently the leader OF
the party.
well, that's It, and We kin save yer
eyesight," said Sandy grimly. But
1t amt goin' to do ye no good, be-
cause / owns this claim, and reckon
I'm goin' to keep on ownin' It,"
"The hell you are! We been sent
up here to put a cabin on it, and
reckon we're goin' to keep on and do
IT," came the retort, ''Ef there's any
dispute about 1t, it's up to you to go
to the cote and fix 1t. We're goin' to
build, and. what's more we hev
bumped into you squatters heap o.
times afore this
The arrivals had slipped off their
packs and were clustered around their
leader. Sandy had held his temper
we'll, but now Miss Trouble" was
here. He dashed out with his knotted
right fist, caught the foreman a ham
merlike blow on the chin, and doubled
him up in the air.
A whirlwind couldn't have worked
faster. The four struck at him, and
kicked him, and endeavored to bring
him to the ground. He felt himself
being overpowered. and worked his
hand to the butt of his revolver. 1t
spoke with one quick snap and the
snarl was untangled.
One man seized useless shoulder
through which the bullet had torn its
way, and the others sprang for their
weapons. Sandy tried to wing one of
them. and found that his remaining
cartridges were defective.
This wouldn't do. He must take to
cover and put in fresh ones. He
jumped, with long leaps. toward one
of the barriers of fallen trees, and
sought shelter. AS he dropped down
behind his logs, two rifle bullets sang
dangerously past his head, and went
"fiick-flicking" through the tree tops
Sandy stood behind a log, with
feverish energy threw out the cart
ridges which had failed him in his
need, and inserted fresh ones from
his belt. Then he clambered along
to a point where he could catch a
sight of his battlefield, and took a
survey. Not a target was in sight
He worked his way back, cut stick
and showed his hat upward to the tor
of the log, trying to draw his enc
mics fire. 1t was effective, and the
old hat went sailing to the ground
behind him. He rushed to a point
of observation, and took another look
but nowhere was an enemy In sight
Not even rife barrel protruded from
behind any of the forest giants, who
calmly furnished shelter.
| Sandy recovered the hat, and from
a new point of vantage tried his ruse
It failed to attract attention. Plainly
his opponents were enemies of nc
mean ca1iber. An old trick could be
played upon them once, but that was
all He must either retreat or use
new tactics. The first was untenable
because he never had run yit." and
| the second meant a reconnoiter
Sandy made his way around the thick
et and by the aid of another fallen
log gained an angle. from which he
peered An elbow was in sight. He
would practise on that.
"Whang" went his pistol, and the
elbow lurched violently. and smoth
cred oaths told that the shot had beer
well aimed. Sandy smiled The Joy
| of battle was on him. He felt that
exultation which comes from deadly
strife. He wanted to yell It would
have helped him. he felt sure. He
caught sight of a head, and fired, but
evidently missed That bothered him
a little. Misses were not in his line
Once more he emptied his pisto
and carefully inspected each load as
he placed 1t in its chamber. "Toc
bad" he unused. ito lose that last
shot! Fellers that sell no-account
cartridges like these ought ter have
the law on EN-. Coin ter smash thai
Teller one. next time see him"
Then the battle became slow. San
dy couldn't work farther around bis
barricade. and, peep as he would. he
could catch no sight of an enemy
Well, they being the strongest, 1t was
up to" them to come and hunt him
|