The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-07

blood.
All at once like wine their wrongs
mounted to their head. They remem-
bered their dead comrades. They re-
membered the heart-breaking days and
nights of toll they had endured on ac-
count of this man and his associates.
They remembered the words of Collins,
the little bookkeeper. They hated.
They shook their fists across the skies.
They turned and with one accord
struck back for the railroad right-of-
way which led to Shingleville. the
town controlled by Morrison & Daily.
The railroads lay for a mile straight
through thick tamarack swamp, then
over nearly treeiess cranberry plain.
i The tamarack was a screen between
the two towns. When halfway
through the swamp, Red-Jacket stop
ped, removed his coat. ripped the lin
ing from 1t, and began TO fashion a
rude mask.
Just as well they don't recognize
US" said he.
Somebody in town will give us
away" suggested Shorty. the chore-
boy.
mo. they won't: they're all here"
assured Kerlie.
1t was true. Except for the women
and children. who were not yet about,
the entire village had assembled. Even
old Nanderhoof. the fire-catcher of the
yard, hobbled along breathlessly on his
rheumatic legs. In a moment the
masks were fitted. In moment more
the little band had emerged from the
shelter of the swamp, and so came
into full view of its objective point.
Shingleville consisted of big mill;
the yards, now nearly empty of lum-
Der; the large frame clearinghouse;
the office; the stable; a store; two sa-
looms; and a dozen dwellings. The par
~ at once fixed its eyes on this collec-
ton of buildings. and trudged on down
the right-of-way with unhastening
grmness.
Their approach was not unobserved.
Daily saw them; and Baker, his fore
man, saw them. The two at once went
forth to organize opposition. When the
attacking party reached the millyard,
1t found the boss ana the foreman
standing alone on the sawdust, re-
volvers drawn.
DAILY traced a line with his toe
The first man that crosses that line
gets it," said he.
They knew he meant what he said.
An instant's pause ensued, while the
Dig man and the little faced a mob.
Days rivermen were still on drive
He knew the mill men too we'll to de-
pend on them. Truth to tell, the pos
sibility of such a raid as this had not
occurred 20 him; for the simple reason
that he did not anticipate the discov-
cry OF his completely with the forces of
nature. Skillfully carried out, the plan
was good one. No one need know
OF the weakened link, and it was the
most natural thing in the world that
Sadler & Smiths drive should go out
with the increase of water
The men grouped swiftly and silent
Iy on the other side of the sawdust
line. The pause did not mean that
Days defense was good. have
known of a crew of striking mill men
being so bluffed down, but not such
men as these.
DO you know what's going to hap
pen to you?" said a voice from the
group. The speaker was Railway but
the contractor kept himself we'll in the
background. Were going to burn your
mill; we're going to burn your yards;
ing match, you low-lived whelpl"
Yes. and we're going to string you
to your own trestle!" growled another
voice harshly
Dyer" said Injin Charley, simply,
shaking the wet scalp arms length to-
wards the lumbermen,
At this grim Interrupt ton a silence
fell. The owner paled slightly; his
foreman chewed a nonchalant straw.
Down the still deserted street crossed
and recrossed the subtle occult influ-
ences of half-hundred concealed
watchers. DAILY and his subordinate
were very much alone, and very much
in danger. Their last hour had come;
and they knew it.
With the recognition of the fact, they
Immediately raised their weapons in
the resolve to do as much damage as
possible being being overpowered.
Then suddenly, full in the back, a
heavy stream of water kpocked them
completely off their feet, rolled them
over on the wet sawdust, and finally
damned them both against the trestle
where 1T held them, kicking and gasp
ing for breath, in a choking cateract
of water. The pistols flew harmless
ly into the air. For am intanst the
Fighting Forty stared in paralyzed as
constituent. Then a tremendous roar
of laughter saluted this easy vanquish-
ment of a formidable enemy.
DAILY and Baker were bounced upon
and captured. There was no resist
ance. They were too nearly strangled
for that. Little Solly and old Wander
hoof turned OFF the water In the fire
hydrant and disconnected the hose
they had so effectively employed
There, damn youi" said Rollway
Charley, jerking the millman to his
feet. How do YOU like too much
water? Hey?"
The unexpected comedy changed the
party's mood. 1t was no longer ques-
| ton of killing. A number broke into
the store, and shortly emerged, bear
| ing pals of kerosene with which they
| deluged the slabs on the windward side
| of the mill. The flames caught the
structure instantly. A thousand sparks
borne by the off-hore breeze, fastened
like so, many singing insects on The
| lumber yard.
1t burned as dried balsam thrown on
camp fire. The heat of it drove the
| onlookers far back in the villa ye
where in silence they watched the de-
struetion. From behind locked doors
the Inhabitants watched with them.
| The biuow of white smoke filed the
northern sky. A whirl of gray ashes
| light as air. fioated on and ever on
over Superior, The site of the mill
the squares where the piles of lumber
had stood, blowed incandescence over
which already white film was form
| ing.
| Daily and his man were slapped and
cuffer hither and thither at the mems
will. Their NAes bled, their bodies
| ached as one bruise.
| THAT squares u.s. said the men. eff
we can't cut this year, neither kin you
| It's up to you nowi"
Then, like the destroying horde of
| locusts, they Quilted the office and the
1 store, smashing what they could not
carry to the fire. The dwellings and
| saloons thew did NOT disturb Fin aIlx,