The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-02-13

IL the! uilSul pe EASILY lFlAite1leu mt
Abandoning it. II the three men ,oult
not scare the owners they might xii
them in a free fight. which would bt
lawful in that lawless country. though
vigilance committee.
Meanwhile Tom and his son wer.
working away with Il view to finding
out as much as possible about tile IN
ture of their mine. it's paying q,lalitie.
and its extent. after which Charley WA.
to 90 back to the east and get capita
for its development. The family lived
on the property in a hut it had built.
One evening one Of the neighlWrs,
Harding. came to the hut with Il 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 l decline to
read it."
Harding folded the paper and put II
In his pocket. saying:
This we're property belongs to me
and my pals. and yer wants tn under.
stand that we hain't got no use for
claim jumpers. Well give you till
tOmurrer mOrnin' at 8 O'clock to git
out"
He turned on his heel and went
away. AinswOrth knew that the paper
be had offered was merely a pretext
for an attempt tn drive them or the
claim. Charley was not ut home at thu.
time. but when he came In his father
Informed him Of Harding's visit anil
what it meant. The two sat down to-
gether for a conference. II they had
known exactly how their enemies wer.
intending to proceed they would hav.
been able t0 make preparations intelli
gently. but being without this infOrn,a
ton they dill nothing.
Tom Ainsworth had spent most OF
his life where shooting was in vogue
without being himself armed. because
be was opposed to both arming and
shooting. the former leading tn the lat
ter As for Charley. he said he knew
nothing about handling a revolver. and
any one who did would have such HI
advantage Of him that 1t would be bet
ter for him not to enter any shooting
match. Mrs. Ainsworth dreaded hltNd
shed and vas In favor. II their neigh
bors demanded the property. Of giving
It up and recovering 1t 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 8 O'clock their neighbOrx 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 NJ
from digging and an occasional tree.
Charley AinswOrth insisted on bis
mother keeping in the cabin. behind
the log walls of which she would b.
safe from bullets II any were fired.
Charley also persuaded his father to
remain inside till he vas called out.
the young man thinking it better that
be alone should receive their enemies
and determine whether there was to
be lighting. These matters being ar
ranged. Charley went outside and. pick.
ing up Il few round stones OF the
ground. each about the size of q gOoHe's
egR. put them In his pocket.
Charley did not wait long before
learning that there was to be lighting.
The tOughs. thinking to brighten their
neighlOrs. started for the Ainsworth
cabin. each hOurishing a revolver.
Harding leading the way ten PAGES
ahead Of the other two. Charley took
Que Of the stones from his pocket and.
taking aim. threw 1t al 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 biz
gnsps for breath. evidently urging
them to 70 for their enemy and shGOt
him down. Murphy. cooking bis re-
vOlvsr. started on that errand. moving
forward to get within range. keeping
a tree in line between him and hts
enemy. The ex.ritcher threw an i'out'
xhi,Ot." The stone went circling around
the tree and took Murphy on the TEN
l,le.
Murphy dropped and lay perfectly
xtili.
1t was now Gums turn to take VI
the fight. and. protiting by the expe
sience Of his pals. he ran forward to Il
brpast work Of earth that had been
thrown out Of a mine and with his
eyes above 1t was taking aim with bis
revolver ut his opponent when nj.
eyexight was seriously interfpred Will
from the dirt knocked w by u stone
that Erazed the top Ut the barrier. HI
ducked. while Charley kept sending
stones. one Of which. a. drop. took him
IN the tOl, Ut the head and. though Il
did nat crack his skull. knO.kpd the
hfe temporarily out at him.
~ This finished thp Hyht Harding