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Updated: June 22, 2025
The Slogger had come to get him and Dave Chatwourth was behind there, too the whole district was dominated by their gang; but the times would change and with inrush of other men the jumpers would soon be out-numbered. It was better then to wait, to let the excitement die down and law and order return; and then, with a deputy sheriff at his back, he could eject them by due process of law.
They knew him all too well, and the gun at his hip; and they counted it no disgrace to give way before the man who had conquered Dave Chatwourth with rocks. So Denver changed the notices and came back laughing and Bunker Hill made over the claims. "Denver," he said clasping him warmly by the hand, "I swow, you're the best danged friend I've got. For the last time, now, will you come to dinner?"
He stood like a statue, his gun balanced in the air, a thin, evil smile on his lips, and Denver gave way to his fury. "You get out of there!" he ordered. "Get off my property! Get off or I'll put you off!" Chatwourth twirled his gun in a contemptuous gesture; and then, like a flash, he was shooting.
What you don't know never hurt anyone; but now, by grab, I'm afraid of every man I throw in with. For the time being, at least, he's the best friend I've got; and oh, what's the use, anyway, it'll get you, sooner or later I might as well go out like a sport." "You were awful brave," she murmured admiringly, "when you fought with Mr. Chatwourth yesterday.
He could see it all now, from Murray's first warning to this last bold demand for his mine; but two months in jail had broken his spirit and he hesitated to defy the county boss. His might be the hand that held Diffenderfer back, and it certainly was the one that paid Chatwourth; he controlled the county and, if what he said was true, had no small influence in the affairs of the state.
"I'll go when I damned please!" cried Chatwourth in a passion and as he advanced on Denver the crowd behind him suddenly gave a concerted shove. Denver saw the surge coming and stepped aside to avoid it, undetermined whether to strike out or shoot; but as he was slipping away Slogger Meacham made a rush and struck him a quick blow in the neck.
"Nope, it don't look good to me," answered Denver promptly, "there's too many ifs and ands. And I'll stay here till I rot before Bible-Back Murray will ever get that mine from me. He hired that bunch of gun-men to jump my claim twice when he had no title to the mine, and then he hired Chatwourth and Slogger Meacham to get me in the door and kill me.
It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him. The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him would the judge and jury find him guilty?
"Come on, boys," they said but Meacham stood glowering and Chatwourth stepped out in front of him. "I hear," he said to Denver, "that you've been making your brag that you kin whip me with a handful of stones." "Never mind, now," replied Denver, "I'm not looking for trouble. You go on and leave me alone."
"Any relation to that feller they call Dave?" "Oh, Mr. Chatwourth? No, he's from Kentucky they say he's the last of his family. All the others were killed in one of those mountain feuds Mr. Menzger says he's absolutely fearless." "Well, what did he leave home for, then?" inquired Denver arrogantly.
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