want any good women hit by any such mean rascals as that crowd
over there."

The men with the rifles scowled dangerously.

"Now, listen to me---all hands," begged Tom, raising his right hand.
"It's none of my business, as I very well know, but may I inquire
what all this trouble is about?"

A rather portly, well dressed and well-groomed man of sixty, who
had been leaning against the side of one of the cars, now spoke
up promptly enough:

"I am head of the company that has legally staked out a claim
here, young man. Ours is a mining company. The men yonder say
that they own the claim---that they found it first, and that it
is theirs. However, they never staked it off---never filed their
claim."

"It's our claim, just the same," spoke up the at the four men.
"And we won't have it jumped by any gang of tenderfeet on earth.
So get out of here, all of you, or the music will start at once.
We don't want to hit any woman or children, but we're going to
hold our own property. If the women and the child won't get out
of here, then they'll have to take their chances."

"That's the case, and the line of action!" growled another of
the men.

"But let me ask you men," continued Tom, facing the quartette, "do