Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-12-21

same pattern affaHSeu dbOul tHt tcl-
minus of a scraggly spur of railroad
known as the Pumpkin Vine which in
situated itself through Il narrow pass
in the hills. The only evidence of
civilization about it was the red school
house, where Captain jim drilled an
educational awkward squad. There the
old soldier instructed such of the coal
miners sons who We're not old enough
to be hopper boys or gate tenders.
Captain Jim had been graduated
early in the sixties from a little hilltop
Ohio college. His most successful en-
terprise was leading company ut the
Battle of the Wilderness. The war
records bear testimony Ito n gallant
and heroic charge led by Captain
James Fortescuc, of Company c, One
Hundred and TIL regiment, Ohio vol
unteers. The gentle occupation of lead
ing soldiers TO fields of carnage cannot
last forever, SO Captain Jim, at the
close of the war, turned To storckeep-
ing. surveying and various other occu-
pations, and finally ended up as Il
schoolmaster.
The boys seem to be getting ugly"
the old soldier remarked to his land
lady, as he blew long Whit of smoke
toward the ceiling.
The Captain was sitting in the parlor
of the Widow Kerrigan. who kept the
only boarding house ut Lots Corners.
Young Harris, the superintendent of
the mine, who had just come in. looked
at the old captain for Il moment and
then lighted cigar.
Yes" said Harris. 1--WE are going to
have machines. Machines don't get
full of bad whislley ana they don't go
on strikes. It's all very well for you
to talk about wives and children and Il
cold winter. We gave those fellows
fair warning. and we don't propose to
stand any more foolishness. Good
night
Harris, with mock military salute
to the old soldier left the room
Captain Jim pored until midnight
over his Caesars Commentaries"
reading anew the battles of the Roman
DICTIONARIES with flying columns of
Huns and Visigoths. He sat looking
into the embers Of the fire, picturing
the struggles of Caesar and Orgetorix.
The screech of a whistle down the
winding course of the Pumpkin Vine
caused him to start to his feet. He
heard the beat of driver wheels over
the ill-ballasted railroad. A moment
later he stood in boots and i'm long
army overcoat lie flung open the door
and FASTENED toward the little station.
The dry snow crunched beneath his
feet. The wintry gust sent hinty white
crystals against his face and nearly
ioosened his SLOUGH hat from its moor
ings. Outlined against the frosted hill
side was the giant hopper, gaunt and
blackened skeleton. About IL Captain
Jim could see figures moving to and
fro, and once he thought he saw the
CLEAN of lighted match.
There's trouble coming he said,
half aloud, land when these ignorant
foreigners break loose it's terrible"
Down the track he saw an eye of fire.
That's no ordinary Pumpkin Vine
engine" muttered the old captain:
''they send down all their broken down
locomotives to a place like this; that's
special from Columbus, and specials
to my thinking are always sign of
bloodshed around this part of the coun-
try"
The locomotive, with rumbing
wheels and screech of escaping
steam, came abreast of the station.
From the ends of the three ears behind
descended n hundred blue coated men.
with rifles flung over their shoulders.
They were guards from Western de-
tective agency--former street car con-
ductOrs, truckmen and the like-who
are sent to the Hooking Valley when
ever the miners show signs of insur-
rection.
You're come none too SOON" said
the young superintendent. as he adj
vanced to meet the leader Of the
guards.
Lots Corners was awake. The sound
Of a horn echoed among the hills. From
every ramshackle house there came
forth man; from some dwellings
tHltt VI lOuI. bIoupS lOTUleu Ut VAIL
Gus corners, and over the snow there
crept little companies. Those who
walked in the centre of the knots of
men carried oil cans and fagots of
kindling wood. a deputy sheriff. who
stood Mt the base of the hopper, saw
the approaching host and fired his re.
volver into the air. He was caught
bound, and hurled head first into a
snow drift. Another deputy rather
than fire upon the miners, dropped his
gun and ran MS fast as his legs could
carry him. Half dozen railroad
spikes and three or four chunks Of Goa
whizzed past his head. The crack OF
rifle and the ping Of bullet FASTENED
his steps toward the station. where the
guards were slowly forming.
They're going to fire the hopper ht
yelled, as he stumbled and fell at tho
superintendent feet.
A quick word of command, n shoul
dering of guns and column of armed
men were going at double quick ovel
the snow. Ahead Of them they saw /:
tall. gaunt figure. The long hair wa
flying I'm the wind One hand wa
stuck In the breast OF an old army coat
AT the sound of marching feet the Cap
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