"All there is to it," Stanley began blustering, "you see before
yuh. I've located twenty acres here as a placer claim. That
there's the northwest corner--ap-prox'm'tley--close as I could
come by sightin'. Your fences are straight with yer land, and I
happen to sabe all yer corners. I've got a right here. I
believe this ground is worth more for the gold that's in it than
for the turnips you can make grow on top--and that there makes
mineral land of it, and as such, open to entry. That's accordin'
to law. I ain't goin' to build no trouble--but I sure do aim to
defend my prope'ty rights if I have to. I realize yuh may think
diffrunt from me. You've got a right to prove, if yuh can, that
all this ain't mineral land. I've got jest as much right to
prove it is."
He took a breath so deep it expanded visibly his chest--a broad,
muscular chest it was--and let his eyes wander deliberately over
his audience.
"That there's where _I_ stand," he stated, with arrogant
self-assurance.
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