Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-08-06

everything and everyone of the coming
theft that Tony almost concluded il
was a dream. He changed his mind
when later in the night, each mar
silently arose, dressed in the dark,
and sneaked noiselessly from the bunk
house. When all had gone Tony too
arose and crept through the manzanita
that grew to the edge of the cliff v
looking the diggings. A score of arc
lights suspended high above brightly
illuminated the working grounds,
making the three giants and the men
below plainly visible. AS yet nothing
unusual had occurred. The superin-
tendept was asleep in his room. Watts
was likewise asleep at his cabin, and
the night foreman was operating No.
3. Tony could not believe the night
foreman and the two pipers were in
the plot. However he would wait and
see.
Just as the men from the clubhouse
emerged from the trail at the head OF
the ~diggings, Tony noted three men
walk casually and simultaneously to-
ward the three pipers. A momen,
later and each of the three unsuspect-
ing men at the giant pipes were
knocked down, gagged and bound. The
giants were turned from the banks,
tied fast, and their streams sent hurl-
ing to n side out of the way. The
men from the. bunk-house joined those
in the diggings and all were soon al
work gathering the gold.
Tony realized instantly that some.
thing must be done. He could have
awakened the superintendent and
Watts, but he had another plan. He
decided to fight the whole crew single
handed. He knew there would be a
man on watch along the trail, SO he
dropped down into the gulch by aid
of the clumps of chapparel, climbed
the opposite bank, and crept up to the
edge of the diggings. Just ahead OF
him was No. 3, unnamed and throw
ing her great stream far away into
into the night.
Noiselessly he followed the shadow
of the pipe line. He reached the
giant, cut the ropes that had held it
fast, took hold of the defiector and
had the stream turned upon the rob-
bling band before they were aware
that aught was wrong. With a yell
that would have done credit to a man
many times his size, Tony commanded
the men to throw up" their hands.
There was a general scamper for
safety. One miscreant attempted to
escape but was caught in the giants
stream and shot against the gravel
bank like a pebble from a %catapult. L.
Proiting by the experience of this
one, the others made no effort to get
away. Tony's hand was true now and
cid No. 3 responded to his every touch.
He played the stream around tho
budding group that stood trembling
like a pack Of whipped ours. 1t was
sure death to attempt escape.
The night foreman at last came to
his senses and began squirming at
Tony's feet. He glared up fiercely at
the little Dago. Tony laughed a loud,
fiendish laugh as he ~playedethe hiss
ing stream close over the heads Of
the robbers. This done to his entire
satisfaction, he cut the night fore
mans bonds and released him of his
gag. The big man jumped angrily to
his feet and in a moment would have
pounced upon Tony had not the latter
yelled:
"You no savvy, yes. Look, see!
Robber devils!" Then the foreman
understood. AS Tony would not give
up his place, the foreman rushed
across to each of the two pipers and
after releasing them, awoke Watts
and the superintendent.
Theylater came down heavily armed
and found Tony still laughing in
hideous glee as he played the giants
stream about the heads of the Gull
prits.
The next day the superintendent
called Tony to his office and while the
little Dago stood trembling, hat in
hand before him, he was told that he
had saved the mine of 100000 robbery.
He was once again asked for his letters
of recommendation. Tony dug them
up from the depths Of his loose coat.
The superintendent read them
thoroughly and casually remarked:
"Well, Tony, I guess you'd better
take the day shift at No. 3. 1t seems
that you can handle her better than
anyone else l know Of"
When the little Dago took the trail
on mis- return to the diggings, he was
whistling Notwithstanding he had
never done before he had won the
confidence he craved. Overland
Monthly.