Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-05-08
CHAPTER vi.
To the Rescue.

were sullen They demanded their pay
Every moment of waiting lent strength
to the rumor that Middleton & Bless
ing were going to cheat them out O
their back wages.
At length. under the leadership o.
bic Jake Wolf, the chief malcOntent
the men had again turned into &
frenzied mob and had hustled Barc
away declaring there should be nc
dedication and taking possession Of
the works
Wolf jumped on key outside the
powder house and harangued the
crowd
"Are we goin' to stand by and see
this dedication go on while we're beat
out Of our pay?" he shouted. Shall
Middleton & Blessing get wealth and
fame through their Lost River Aque
duct while we, the builders, starve:
Blessing promised to have the money
here by noon today. 1t amt here
Neither is he. That shows he's robbed
US. Now, are we goin' to stand tamely
yam see him do it?'
Mo- No" howled the crowd.
Then let's take the law into our
own hands and blow the whole aQue.
duct into Lost River."
yell of delight followed the propO-
sition
Break into the powder house some
OF you" went on Wolf That's the
way. Now, out with the kegs and
the dynamite. So! Now, lay the
train, and in five minutes the work of
Middleton & Blessing will lie in the
bottom of Lost River I'll light the
fuse myself"
He stepped down from the key and
striking match stopped over the fuse.
Stop"
The cry rang out in a clear, girlish
voice.
All turned In the excitement
they had not heard the advancing hoof
beats of hard ridden horse until
Ora galloped into their midst and slid
exhausted from her painting horse.
Stop" she gasped once more.
''What'd we stop for?" grumbled
Wolf
"Because-because I've got the
money!"
A mighty roar of joy rose from the
crowd and hats were thrown in air.
Wolf alone was doubtful
How do we know she amt lyin?"
he muttered. 81 bet she hasn't penny
OF it"
Most of you know me-" retorted
Ora. Have you ever known me to tell
a lie? All of you know Jake Wolf.
Have you ever known him to tell the
TRUTH"
A shout of laughter followed her
words
IF you've got the cash give it to
me" snarled the discounted Wolf.
Not on your life!!" laughed the
girl. IF | did no one else'd get a cent.
No My orders was to give the money
to no one but Bard"
But Bard's gone away
Find him them"
Despite VOLTS protests, the whole
mob rushed off in search of the fore
man, leaving Ora alone.
The excitement over. she sank list
lessly on the steps of the powder
house.
I've saved Bob's honor. anyhow"
she thought, happily He said twas
disgrace and ruin to him if the works
was destroyed. I'm not educated nor
rich, nor anything like that, and l
s'pose folks II sheer at him for mar
ryin' me. But | mean to get books
aud teachers and study hard till I'm
clever and talk and write as good as
those city girls that laughed at me at
the hop last night He shant be
ashamed of me"
faint rustling in the bushes
aroused her from her happy reverie.
CHANGING around the corner of the
powder house she saw Bill Loucks
stealthiIy making his way toward that
building
He mustn't see met" she thought
There's murder in his eyes. Hell
stop at nothin' now"
Noiselessly she slipped into the pow
der house, closing and barring the
door behind her, but quite oblivious o.
aae fact that one of her bonnet strings
was caught in the jamb and fiuttere(
along the outside of the Intel
She could hear Bills stealthy tread
as he neared the space in front of tn,
powder house; then his growl of rage
at finding no one there
Urged by forlorn hope of gettins
the money before it could be handed
Ora from the tollgate
He knew that his attempted robber,
would land him in state prison if h,
were caught, and he had determine,
On one final struggle for the 500, 90
before he f1ed.
Rage and despair had driven tn
man nearly insane. Ora could hea
him muttering curses and threats a
he stood irresolute near the auueduct
Then he spoke, unconsciously, hi
thoughts as he moved nearer tn
powder house
TOO late!" he grumbled She
given Bard the money. Yes. she &c
here just on time for here's til
powder train ell laid ready to blow Il
the aqueduct She will tell what I di
at the tollga,e. Maybe I can get hol
of her before she tells. If I cal
there'll be no tellin by her. Not
this world. But she's gone! Al
I'll have to steal horse and make
break across the state line before tt
crowd gets back"
He was moving away when a gu
of wind gently swayed the hangir
end of bonent string at the powd
house doorway.
The movement oo,cb+ ouoYr,a $40