Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-03-20
Ainsworth. hoping to do so

ture of their mine, its paying qualities
and its extent. after which Charley was
to go back to the east and get capital
for Its development. The family lived
on the property In hut 1t had built.
One evening one of the neighbors,
Harding. came to the hut with dirty
piece of paper on which something had
been written and handed 1t to Tom
Ainsworth.
whats this?" asked the latter.
ITS deed to this property you're
on"
IF that's what It Is 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. Wen give you till
tomorrer mornin' at o O'Clock to git
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 ut home at the
time. but when he came In his father
Informed him of Hardlng'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 Alnsworth 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 1t 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
1t 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 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 mp
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 II any were fired
Charley also persuaded his father to
remain inside till he wns called out
the young man thinking II better that
he 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 n few round stones off the
ground, euch about the size OF goose's
egg, put IUefn III nlS pocket.
Charley did not wait long before
learning that there. was 10 be fighting.
The toughs. thinking to brighten their
nelghbors, started for the Alnsworth
cabin, each fiourishlng revolver,
Harding leading the way ten PAGES
ahead of the other two. Charley took
one Of the stones from bis 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
beth 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-
yolver, started on that errand. moving
forward 10 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
II was now Gums turn to take up
the fight, and, profiting by the expe
rlence OF his pals. he ran forward to a
brenstwork of earth that had been
thrown out OF mine and with his
eyes above II was taking aim with his
revolver 1T his opponent when his
eyeslght was seriously interfered with
from the dirt knocked up by stone
that grazed the top OF the barrier He
ducked while Charley kept sending
stones. one Of which, drop, took him
In the top Of the head and, though 1t
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. lie died a few days later
Gum had had brulse on the skull
that had taken all the ambition out Of
him. Charley called his father and
sent him of TO the nearest mining
camp for assistance Tom returned
with some friends n couple Of hours
later, but meanwhile no further dem
onstratiOn had been made by the en-
envy.
Nor were the Ainsworths ever again
lnterfered with They are now rich
mine owners Tom says thnt Chnrey's
education In mining engineering was
mighty valuable. but II warn't notlIln'
alongside OF the way he larned TO pitch
stones around corners"