Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-04-07
THE MARIPOSA WAR
By ROY NORTON
Copyrights by II. L. Nelson
w A r

IL had sounded rather fhsptriting
then when read at "The Woman's
Saturday Advancement Club" but
when put to the test its ringing turn
ed to pitiable tinklings. She decided
she would have to have help.
So 1t was that one night she took
Bills advice. He agreed to hire a
man for her. let the man live at his
cabin, and kinder boss the job" The
hiring wasn't easy, as men we're
scarce in those days in Mariposa--
that is. men who would work for day
wages; but Bill hired an ancient
miner whose chief claim to notice was
that he complained about most every
thing In sight. from the way the will
lows grew on the creek to his daily
rheumatism. They called him "Doc,"
because he had never been a doctor,
but had taken more patent medicines
than any other man on the Big d.
vide, and titles don't count much,
after all In hydraulicking. That lat
ter part he understood, and in few
days more there might be heard each
AAGAAAA6 bhO vi WSlA-
directed waters on Number Three.
Miss Esmerelda did learn one thing
about Mining, though. She knew how
to clean up the sluices and treasure
the gold that came In inviting yellow
grains between the rifles So. before
long, affairs on Mariposa were pros
porous and pleasant.
There came a day, as before, when
the stage came up with jerk before
the Palace Hotel, and as IL In repeti-
ton, dumped out another woman who
didn't have much luggage and was not
alone. She was accompanied by about
the ugliest brindle bulldog that ever
came west Of the Rockies. She step
ped out with a self-confident air,
glowered unabashed at the men who
gaped at her, and said to the pro
prietor of the Palace:
Here, you! Hook onto them things
and look lively! I'm Mrs. Mirandy
Tibbets, and I've bought Number
Three gold mine on river called the
Mariposa. Take them things inside
till find some one who amt too lazy
to take me up to my property"
She was business, all right. and she
knew woman's rights and Mrs. Pink
ham from A to 2. She made folks
step around lively. and, partly be-
cause he was afraid of her, and part
ly because he didn't want to work, the
landlord Stuffed her off" on Jim Tip
ton. She started in to boss Jim from
the minute she met him, but he
wasn't the kind to be bossed. He
sized her up critically, and decided, as
he afterward said, that IL she were
well halter-broke and taught not to
tangie her picket-rope. she wouldn't
be bad one to own" So he called
her down.
Look here, Mrs. Mirandy," he said,
with his soft drawl, II don't know
nothin' about winners rights, nor
none of them things, SO don't give me
none of your guff on that line. You
amt got no soft snap buttin' up agin'
you. There's a woman a-workin'
Number Three now, an she says she
owns it. IF you've got the goods. It's
your'n. Eff you amt you've been
bunked, an somebody's peddled you a
brick. Now. let's git down to bust
ness"
That took her down some. She
looked at Jim for a minute. as II she
thought of sticking the dog on him,
but no didn't look the kind to be
afraid. They stared into each others
eyes for about moment, and from
then on she belonged to James Tip
ton. She was widow, and under
stood men. After that they got on
amicable terms, and 1t wasn't very
long until Jim was involved in all the
| trouble about Number Three. He
pacified her as best he could, and
told her that on the following day he
would take her up to the claim and
try to get the tangle Strengthened out.
The sun was shining, the birds
singing. and everything bright and
gay, when they came up to Number
Three ON the following morning,
heard the boom of the hydraulic, and
the singing notes Of a woman's voice.
Doc was hard at work. grumbling to
himself as usual. and Bill was Just
coming down the trail when the visI-
tors arrived. It all looked peaceful
and very little like war.
Morning" said Jim. after stopping
his horses.
''Mornin'," answered Bill. coming to
halt and looking at them. He con-
| fssssd after that he thought by the
way Jim assumed proprietorship over
the woman and the bulldog that he
owned them both.
HIM calmly climbed down from his
blackboard. after throwing the reins TO
Mrs. Mirandy. and sauntered forward
| The singing inside the cabin had
stopped, and Esmerelda stood In the
doorway, looking with wonderment on
| the meeting.
"Bill." began Jim, there's somethin'
crooked about this deal out here on
Three. This here woman with me is
Mrs. Mirandy Tibbets. and she's got
deed OF sale for this mine She's come
after 1t"
Bill stopped an instant. aghast He
recalled now that he had never seen
any papers conveying the claim to
Esmerelda, and suddenly 1t came over
him strongly that he would hate TO