Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-04-07

the same time Jim Upton was ex-
planning his forebodings to the widow
in tho camp below.
Then came several days Of waiting,
with nearly every one in the camp
making bets as to which one of the
contestants would win out at the next
encounter, and all expectant Snd ar
gumentative.
The result of this was that pretty
nearly every man in Mariposa had
taken sides. and was ready II 1t came
to final settlement to enlist actively
In the war. Sympathies were about
evenly divided, and things were quiet
at night because nearly all the par
tisans were busily engaged in the
back ends of their cabins cleaning up
their weapons. 1t promised to be
warm.
Both Jim and the widow had disap-
peared from the rude public gaze, and
were said to have gone to burdick to
consult other lawyers. Bill was re-
ported to be too busy nursing Doy
and guarding Number Three to ap-
pear in the camp; and only the bull
dog was left to howl dismally in an
fmprovised kennel until lis mistress
should call for him.
And In the meantime the lawyers
were busy, and fussy, and important,
most of them being very young men
or very old men who had come to the
West because their talents didn't
seem to be in demand elsewhere.
The break came Unexpectedly. A
man on horseback. partisan of the
BillEsmerelda faction, pulled up one
afternoon in front OF Bills cabin and
hailed. Bill came to the door and
peered out, his fingers clutched on a
rife-barrel behind the door until he
could recognize the character Of re-
ception awaiting him.
BILL" the rider said, throwing one
leg over the pommel of his saddle
and dexterously rolling cigarette,
"Jim's back from up at Burdick, but
he amt got nothin' to say. He Jest
materially came in on the stage with
that wilder of his'n, acted grouchy as
usual, and pulled out with her for his
claim over on Goldpan."
"Yes?" said Bill, emerging from the
door and looking disconsolately at his
friend.
Thought I'd better come by an
tell you, SOS you can keep on the
lookout. No tellin' whatn happen
next, now them lawyers is fightin'."
Lawyers fightfn' now.
Yes, they We got into q 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 Three's a good
piece of ground. an they kalkerlate
there's fat plckin' comm In some
where when 1t gifts to trial"
Thanks, pal" And the door shut
with a bang. This was the limit. Bill
walked up and down and thought out
a solution which resulted In a trip
to camp by the now-recovered Doc
on the following morning.
1t 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 a quick reach
for his gun, and then slowly dropped
his fingers away at the evident signs
OF amity. He advanced to meet his
enemy, and waited quietly for him
TO approach within speaking distance.
Hello, there, Jim," said Bill, and.
without waiting for return Of his
salutation, continued: i've got no
shootin'irons on my belt and no III.
viii In my head. I've come to be
friends with you. Jim. If youM let
me"
Jim paused a moment and peered
at him from under his heavy gray
eyebrows, and then. as II satisfied, ex-
tended his hand, which was tightly
gripped, They stood awkwardly for
moment, each waiting for words,
and then Bill continued.
7 come to tell you don't want
the Number Three II I've got to fight
for 1t. You can tell the wilder she
can have 1t. Esmereldy nor me amt
goin' to fight for 1t no more, and we
don't want to be bad friends with
either you or Mrs. Tibbets."
A slow grin overspread Jim's face.
"The wilder don't w-nt IL. either.
BIZ, and I'm mighty glad you come
over. Somebody was bunked by that
pesky agent, but 1t don't make no diff.
ference, nohow. Mrs. Tibbets got
other things to think about now. Wa
went up to Burdick and got married.
and she don't have to have Number
Three so longs I've got q pretty nice
patch Of ground myself"
He'll said Bill. That's kind OF
the same IS with me and Esmereidy.
We had the parson over from the
camp couple Of days ago, and we
Amt In a hghtin' mood none SOS you
can notice."
Then they laughed together. slap
ped eacn other on the back, and
forthwith proceeded to talk 1t over