And so he's meanin' to slap a new location on the
claim the minute this here year is up."
"Wal, the little feller's awful sick," said Jim. "I'm thinkin' of
goin' up in the mountains for some stuff the Injuns sometimes use for
fever."
"You can't go and leave your claim unprotected," said Bone.
"How did Parky happen to tell you his intentions?" said Jim.
"He wanted me to go in with him," Bone replied, flushing hotly at the
bare suggestion of being involved in a trick so mean. "He made me
promise, first, I wouldn't give the game away, but I've got to tell it
to you. I couldn't stand by and see you lose that gold-ledge now."
"To-morrow is New Year's, sure enough," Jim replied, reflectively.
"That mine belongs to little Skeezucks."
"But Parky's goin' to jump it, and he's got a gang of toughs to back
him up."
"I'd hate to lose it, Bone. It would seem hard," said Jim. "But I
ought to go up in the hills to find that shrub. If only I had a horse.
I could go and git back in time to watch the claim."
Bone was clearly impatient.
"Don't git down to the old 'if only' racket now," he said, with heat.
"I busted my word to warn you, Jim, and the claim is worth a fortune to
you and little Skeezucks."
Jim's eyes took on a look of pain.
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