Morris tribune., 1902-06-07

Slavin and the whole gang are up at
| the Black Rock, so you won't have
much trouble, but come to us as soon
as you can"
And so we went our ways.
Then followed a scene the like of
which l can never hope to see again,
| and it was worth mans seeing, but
there were times that night when l
wished l had not agreed to follow
Graeme in his plot.
AS we went up to the hotel l asked
Graeme:
"What about the law Of this"
"Law!" he replied Indignantly. "They
haven't troubled much about law in
the whisky business here. They get a
key of high wines and some drugs and
begin operations. No." he went on; eff
we can get the crowd out and ourselves
in We'll make them break the law in
getting us out. The law won't trouble
US over Struggled whisky. 1t will be
great lark, and they won't crow too
loud over the league"
did not like the undertaking at first,
but as thought of the whole wretched
illegal business fourishing upon the
weakness of the men in the mines and
camps, whom l had learned to regard
as brothers, and especially as thought
of the towards that did for Nixon,
let my scruples go and determined,
with Abe, to "get back at 'em."
We had no difficulty getting them out.
Abe began to yell. Some men rushed
out to learn the cause. He seized the
foremost man, making a hideous up
roar all the while, and in three minutes
had every man out Of the hotel and
lively row going on.
In two minutes more Graeme and
had the door Of the ballroom locked
and barricaded with empty casks. We
then closed the door of the barroom
leading to the outside. The barroom
was a strongly built log shack, with
heavy door secured, after the manner
of the early cabins. with two strong
oak bars, so that we felt safe from at
tack from that quarter.
The ballroom we could not hold long,
for the door was slight and entrance
was possible through the window. But
as only few casks Of liquor were left
there our main work would be in the
bar, so that the fight would be to hold
the passageway. This we barricaded
with casks and tables. But by this
time the crowd had begun to realize
what had happened and were wildly
yelling at door and windows. With an
ak which Graeme had brought with
him the casks were soon stove in and
left to empty themselves.
AS was about to empty the last
cask Graeme stopped me, saying: Let
that stand here 1t will help U.s." And
so it did. "Now skip for the barri
cadev' yelled Graeme as a man came
crashing through the window. But be-
fore he could regain his feet Greene
had seized him and flung him out upon
the heads Of the crowd outside. But
the other windows men were
coming in, and Graeme rushed for the
barrcade, followed by two of the enc
my, the foremost of whom l received
at the top and hurled back upon the
others.
"Now be quick" said Graeme. ''I'l |
hold this. Don't break any bottles on
the floor. Throw them out there"
to a little window high up in
the wall.
l made all haste. The casks did not |
take much time, and soon the whisky |
and beer were lowing over the floor.
1t made me think of GeOrdie'S regret |
over the "sinfu waste" The bottles |
took longer, and, glancing up now and
then, l saw that Graeme was being |
hard pressed. Men would leap, two |
and three at time, upon the barricade, |
and Graeme's arms would shoot out.
and over they would topple upon the |
heads of those nearest. 1t was great |
sight to see him standing alone, with !
a smile on his face and the light of bat
tie in his eye, .coolly meeting his as
sailants with those terrific, lightning |
like blows. In fifteen minutes my work
was done.
What next!" 1 asked "How do we
get out?"
Glow is the door?" he replied.
l looked through the portfolio and
said:
~ crowd of men waiting"
"WeII have to make a dash for it,
fancy" he replied cheerfully, though |
his face was covered with blood and
his breath was coming in short gasps.
Get down the bars and be ready"
But even as he spoke chair hurled
from below caught him on the arm,
and before he could recover a man had
cleared the barricade and was upon
him like tiger. 1t was Idaho Jack.
"Hold the barricadew Graeme called
out as they both went down.
l sprang to his place, but l had not
much hope of holding it long. had
the heavy oak bar of the door in my
hands, and, swinging it round my head,
l made the crowd give back for a few
moments
Meantime GTaeme had shaken off his
enemy. who was circling about him
upon his tiptoes, with long knife in
his hand. waiting for q chance to