The Claim Jumpers

e in camp. Old Mizzou had wandered off up the gulch. Arthur had wan

but stilted in most; the erudition was pedantic, and dragged in by the ears; the action was idiotic; and the proportions were padded until they no longer existed as proportions. He was astounded. He began to see that he h

s taken a step in advance of it. Although he did not know that was the reason of it, Bennington perceive

s about to sit down again, but noticed that the door had remained open. He arose to shut it. Over the trunks of the nearer pines played a strange flickering light, throwin

imself face to face with a third man, also masked. Beyond him were a score or so more, some of whom bore pine torches, which, partly blazing and partly smoking, served to ca

this means?" broke ou

gnation, the young man was impressed. He twisted his shoulders again. The men at either ar

e you trying to do? Take y

he sile

to the Easterner a full minute

et ye knows," it said in slow and solemn accents, "but by t

f said corp'ration, so they sez, an' tharfore we welcomes you to our bosom cordial. What happens? You insults us by paying such low-down ornary cusse

do you

you in fiv

he occasional bursting crackle of a blister in the pine torches. Bennin

aughter sinks to nothing against the horror of a great darkness. Bennington began to feel impressed in earnest. Across his mind crept doubts as to the outcome. He alm

single withered branch. Over this the unseen threw the end of the lariat. Bennington faced the expressionless gaze of twenty

?" he inquired in

nking quickly, but, being unuse

stuff sent?" the other

owed, and found

any distinctions. I just paid the oldest debts, that's all. You'll all get paid. There'll be some mo

," some one muttered a

the watch n

s more," he

iat was thrown over the oak limb. During the short colloquy just detailed, the attention of the other

esperation, and the weight of a young and active body. The man went down. Benn

tily aimed blow, seized him about the waist and threw him neatly to the ground. Benningt

ried, panting and laughing a little. "

thing hard and the short struggle had heated his blood through and through. Bunker Hill h

dimly saw a tall muscular figure, tense with the expectation of effor

uring of low voices. Bennington looked, and, to his surprise, perceived Lawton's girl in earnest expostul

exasperated tones, "you don't play fa

oined sharply. "I've watched the whole performance, and I've been

ce the man spread his hands out in deprecation. The maskers grouped ab

Fay were discovered. He approached and began sullenly to undo the young man's pinioned arms. The others rolled up thei

he, "and you don't go down in

ering from his daze at the rapid passage of these events, stepped forward to where Fay and the girl had resumed their discussion. He saw t

I hope you will allow me, after your great kindn

fore the girl

aney," said he, in a most cava

nnington coldly. The Westerner's eyes twi

Fay is right-I wouldn't trouble you." Her ey

in an undertone, "but it's better that wa

replied, a little mollified. "How can

laug

ngry, are you

not; what right

ut I suppose it will do. Y

now I

down the hill after Fay, who had gone on. Bennington saw her seize

the table lay his manuscript, and the ink was hardly dried on the last word of it. Outside a poor-wil

A

o become