The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-02-19

working away with a view to finding
out as much as possible about the ma
ture of their mine, its paying qualities
and its extent, after which Charley was
to go back to the east and get capital
for it's development. The family lived
on the property in hut it had built.
One evening one of the neighbors,
Harding, came to the hut with a dirty
piece of paper on which something had
been written and handed it to Tom
Ainsworth.
whats this?" asked the latter.
Its a deed to this property you're
on"
IF that's what it is 1 decline to
read it,
Harding folded the paper and put it
in his pocket, saying:
"This we're property belongs to me
and my pals. and yer wants to under
stand that we hain't got no use for
| claim jumpers. Well give you till
| tomorrer mOrnin' at @ o'clock to iyit
| out"
/ He turned on his heel and went
/ away. AinswOrth knew that the paper
| he had offered was merely a pretext
/ for an attempt to drive them off the
/ claim. Charley was not at home at the
/ time but when he came in his father
informed him of Harding's visit and
| what it meant. The two sat down to-
| gether for a conference. If they had
known exactly how their enemies were
intending to proceed they would have
been able to make preparations intelli-
gently. but being without this informa-
ton they did nothing.
Tom AinswOrth had spent most of
his life where shooting was in vogue
without being himself armed, because
he was opposed to both arming and
/ shooting, the former leading to the lat
ter. AS for Charley. he said he knew
nothing about handling a revolver. and
any one who did would have such an
advantage of him that it would be bet
ter for him not to enter any shooting
match. Mrs. AinswOrth dreaded blood
shed and was in favor. if their neigh
bors demanded the property, of giving
it up and recovering it by law. This
plan did not suit the father or the
son, who proposed to hold on to what
belonged to them.
The morning brought an end to any
suspense they felt. A few minutes aft
er D o'clock their neighbOrs showed
signs of an offensive movement. They
came out of their cabin and stood talk
ing together. casting occasional glances
at the AinswOrth home. They were
about 200 yards distant, the interven-
ing ground being covered at intervals
by protruding rocks. earth thrown up
from digging and an occasional tree.
Charley Ainsworth insisted on his
mother keeping in the cabin. behind
the log walls of which she would be
safe from bullets if any were fired.
Charley also persuaded his father to
remain inside till he was called out,
the young man thinking it better that
he alone should receive their enemies
and determine whether there was to
be fighting. These matters being ar
ragged. Charley went outside and. pick
ing up few round stones off the
ground. each about the size of a goose :
egg. put them in his pocket.
Charley did not wait long before
learning that there was to be fighting
The tOughs, thinking to brighten their
neighbors, started for the AinswOrth
cabin. each fiourishing revolver.
Harding leading the way ten PAGES
ahead of the other two. Charley took
one of the stones from his pocket and
taking aim. threw it at Harding and
hit him in the stomach. knocking the
wind out of him and doubling him up.
The other two men didn't seem to
know just what to do. Presently they
both advanced to Harding. picked him
up and carried him back to the cabin.
Charley could see him between his
gaspS for BREATH evidently urging
them to go for their enemy and shoot
him down. Murphy. cooking his re-
volver. started on that errand. moving
forward to get within range, keeping
a tree in line between him and his
enemy. The ex-pitcher threw an ''out-
shoot" The stone went circling around
the tree and took Murphy on the TEN
pie.
Murphy dropped and lay perfectly
still
1t was now Gums turn to take up
the fight, and. protiting by the expe-
Renee of his pals. he ran forward to a
breastwork of earth that had been
thrown OUT of mine and with his
eyes above it was taking aim with his
revolver at his opponent when his
eyesight was seriously interfered with
from the dirt knocked up by a stone
that grazed the top of the barrier. He
ducked, while Charley kept sending
stones. one of which. a drop, took him
in the top Of the head and. though it
did not crack his skull, knocked the
life temporarily out of him.
This finished the fight Harding
could by this time stand on his feet.
but was shaky. Murphy was still in
sensible. He died few days later.
Gum had had a bruise on the skull
that had taken all the ambition out of
him Charley called his father and
sent him off to the nearest mining
camp for assistance Tom returned
with some friends IL couple of hours
later. but meanwhile no further dem
onstration had been made by the en-
envy.
Nor were the AinswOrths ever again
interfered with. They are now rich
mine owners. Tom says that Charley's
education in mining engineering was
mighty valuable hut il warn't nothiu'
alongside of the way he larned to pitch
stones around corners