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White, Stewart Edward, 1873-1946

"The Claim Jumpers"


Anybody could do that.
Old Mizzou explained these things to Bennington.
"You-all does this jes's well's I," he said. "You expresses them
samples East, so as they kin assay 'em; an' you sends them notes and
statistics. Then all they is to do is to pay th' rest of the boys when
th' money rolls in. That ain't none of my funeral."
"But there's the assessment work," Bennington objected.
"That comes along all right. I aims to live yere in the camp jest th'
same as usual; and I'll help yo' git started when you-all aims to do
th' work."
"What do you want to quit for, then? If you live here, you may as well
draw your pay."
"No, sonny, that ain't my way. I has some prospectin' of my own to do,
an' as long as I is a employay of Bishop, I don't like to take his time
fer my work."
Bennington thought this very high-minded on the part of Old Mizzou.
"Very well," he agreed, "I'll write Bishop."
"Oh, no," put in the miner hastily, "no need to trouble. I resigns in
writin', of course; an' I sees to it myself."
"Well, then, if you'll help me with the assessment work, when shall we
begin?"
"C'yant jest now," reflected Old Mizzou, "'cause, as I tells you, I
wants to do some work of my own.


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