Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-10
The Daily Story
HIS EDUCATION-b1 JOHN TUhNLEE.
Copyrighted. 1914 by Associated Literary Bureau.

PeSe VI i'apei VI "pich somethino a..
been written and handed II II ~ ~
Ainsworth. ION
What's this?" asked the latter
ITS a deed to this property vo-.
on" sVars
III that's what it is 1 dec,;,.
read IT," .
Harding folded the paper and m. .
in his pocket. saying: 'h
This yere property belong. ..
and my pals, and yer wants IN 49,
stand that we hain't got no ma. !.
claim Jumpers. Wen give va, =.
tomorrer mornin' at o O'Clock IA =
out"
He turned on his heel ana -.
away. Ainsworth knew that the n.,..
he had offered was merely nr...s.
for an attempt to drive them ~, =
claim. Charley was not at home :, ~
time, but when he came In his fs.s..
informed him Of Harding's visit 49,
what 1t meant. The two sat dow i
gether for a conference. II tbet H.,
known exactly how their enemies w.
intending to proceed they would bs,.
been able to make preparations iptaM
gently, but being without this inform,
ton they did nothing.
Tom Ainsworth had spent most .,
his life where shooting was In vo0us
without being himself armed. beesu..
he was opposed to both armiu9 ana
shooting, the former leading to the lat.
ter. AS for Charley, he said be knew
nothing about handling a revolver. ana
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, IL their neigh.
bors demanded the property, of givinr
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 apy
suspense they felt. A few minutes an
er 9 o'clock their neighbors shovel
signs of an offensive movement. They
came out of their cabin and stood tax
ing together, casting occasional glance
at the Ainsworth home They were
about zoe yards distant. the interven.
ing ground being covered at Intervals
by protruding rocks, earth thrown I'd
from digging and an occasional tree
Charley Ainsworth insisted on bis
mother keeping in the cabin. behind
the log walls of which she would be
safe from bullets If any were fred
Charley also persuaded his father to
remain inside till he was called out
the young man thinking it better that
be alone should receive their enemies
and determine whether there was to
be fighting These matters being ar
ranged, Charley went outside and. pick
ing up a few round stones of the
ground. each about the size of goose's
Egg. put them in his pocket
Charley did not wait long before
earning that there was to be fighting
The tougbs, thinking TO brighten their
started for the Ainsworth
"a bin. each 1ourishing revolver.
leading the way ten PAGES
lhead of the other two. Charley took
me of the stones from his pocket and
aking aim, threw it at Harding and
lit him in the stomach, knocking the
Wind out of him and doubling him up
The other two men didn't seem to
now just what TO do. Presently they
10Th advanced to Harding, picked hin
10 and carried him back to the cabin
HARLEY could see him between bis
asps for breath. evidently urging
hem to go for their enemy and shoot
i'm down. Murphy, cooking bis re-
Oliver, started on that errand. moving
onward to get within range. keeping
tree in line between him and his
nemy. The ex-pitcher threw an "out-
boot" The stone went circling around
ne tree and took Murphy on the TEN
lie.
Murphy dropped and lay perfectly
TILL
1t was now Gums turn to take Up f
lie fight, and. protiting by the expe-
ence of his pals. he ran forward 10
of earth that had been
,rown out of mine and with hs s
res above it was taking aim with DIS
,volver at his opponent when MS
-esight was seriously interfered WIG
ON the dirt knocked up by stone
lat grazed the top of the barrier. be
Icked. while Charley kept sending
ones. one of which, a drop, took NM
the top of the head and. though
d not crack his skull, knocked tue
e temporarily out of him.
This finished the fight. Hardins
uld by this time stand on his feet
1t was shaky. Murphy was stu ih'
nsible. He died few days atel.
unn had had a bruise on the sSuli
at had taken all the ambition out Q,
IN. Charley called his father ana
Mt him off TO the nearest minins
mp for assistance. Tom returneu
tn some friends a couple OF hoars Z
ter. but meanwhile no further oen
stration had been made by the GU L
".
Nor were the Ainsworths ever agalh
.erfered with. They are now ~
ne owners. Tom says that Chsr'es
ucation in mining engineering wa
ghty valuable. ''but 1t warn't notnis
,ngside of the way he larDed 10 pitsA