Bisbee daily review., 1912-08-13
STAKED

RreSS.)
 'She can't stay here"
 Jets eyes flashed ominously. Standing in the low doorway of the little log shack, half way up Saw. tooth mountain. she stared out at the shabby yellow carryall. with its team of lean, shaggy horses.
 Then where is she goin' ter stay. I'd like to know?" calculated the driver, hoarsely. She's bound for here. and she's paid her way here. and she's sick. too, and she tells me Jim sent for her. You lend hand here, like a good fellow, and help me get her out"
 "Nobody's home but me"
 Then you're boss. ain't you? And what you say goes" He grinned up at her comfortably. Jets temper was familiar to him. She's got to rest up some place. and it's thirty miles back to Double Forks"
 Why didn't she come before?"
 Ask her." said Wilkins.
 Most begrudgingly Jet did the hon ors of her home to the half-uncon. scious stranger. She helped carry her into the kitchen, and loosened heI many wraps. She made strong coffee and winced a little from her own bit terness when she saw how young and sick she was. IL Is not the game tc fight an enemy who is already down
 After the man from Double Forks had driven away. she went silently about her work, while the other wom, an lay on the bed and watched her.
 Finally Jet spoke.
 Well. you got here. didn't you?"
 ''I came as soon as ever could"
 "Yes. you did!"
 q did. started the day after ba by came"
 Jet turned around. What baby?'
 Why. ours; mine and Jim's"
 A pause. Jet looked as if some body had most swiftly and surely slapped her in her pretty, aggressive face.
 You knew I had a baby. didn't you? I wrote to Jim. He might have told you that much. guess he didn't care, anyhow"
 "No, he didn't tell me" Jet sal down opposite the bed.
 When did you tell him about the other-the baby?" asked Jet slowly.
 Not right away. He wrote back he'd try to send for us both, and tc name it after him if it was a boy
 Maybe be meant to-" Jet walked to the open cabin door and leaned her back against the casing A year and a half she had lived down at Double Forks, running a miners boarding house. She was thirty. and amply able to look after herself. HeI pies and cornbread had followed gold strikes in Nevada for years. And she trod her way heartwhoIe until Jim Barclay showed up.
 "He got hurt last month. They had to take him up to Trent, where the company's doctor is. He works foI the Kay-Allan outfit, foreman. Your letter came here while he was gone so I opened and read it. They said he might die, and I sent you the money to come on quick, to get here and see him. So long as you was his wife, you had right 10 be in at the finish"
 Tho other woman was of the bed before the words were fairly out oi Jets mouth. swaying slightly, she caught Jets willing hand for sup. port
 But he isn't dead, is he?"
 "What do you care?" Jet looked at her curiously. You were married to him about two. months, wasn't you? And then he left you. I al. ways liked Jim, and I hoped all along something might happen so we could get married. and swing up further north into some of the provinces and start all fresh again.
 'T want you to know everything first" Jet rose slowly, and crossed the floor of the two-room shack. He's in yonder They brought him up here because it's his place. He's alive. but hell never get we'll again The company's given him pension, so he won't starve."
 She took a hat from 8 nail, put it on her head with a yank forward "Go on in and say hello. I'm going away now. Where's the baby?"
 with my mother-home. It's boy"
 And named Jlm?" she said, care lessly. There's some money in his room there, in a little buckskin sack under the pillow It's his. SO you can use it. Goodby. I wouldn't tell him sent after you. Men don't have to know everything. you know.
 Listen, you mother of Jim's baby! meant to jump your claim. And couldn't It was all nicely staked out and guarded He even told me you made better pies than mine. Your pictures in the inside pocket of that coat. and long curl of hair around it. Don't you worry. You send for the baby quick and call this home Sc long,"
 She stopped at a sound from the other room. the sound of some one waking. stretching tiredly on creaky bed, signing. and cursing soft ly to himself at pain. Then they r,a.a ~d ffsr, a q r,ss.vf..t,rxr 1o,,cfnoIxr.