Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-18

I against the strange coast line of the Pictured rocks shallow bay and what I looked to be dock distorted by the northern mirage
 That's her,'' said the captain. 1 Two hours later the steamboat slid between the yellow waters of two out 1 lying reefs and with slackened speed moved slowly toward the wharf of log cribs filled with stone.
 Thorpe knew very well that the structure had been erected by and be- longed to Morrison & Daly, but the ! young man had had the foresight to 1 purchase the land lying on the deep water side of the bay. He therefore ] anticipated no trouble in unloading, for, while Morrison X Daily owned the pier itself, the land on which it abutted be- longed to him.
 From the arms of the bay he could make out a dozen figures standing near the end of the wharf When, with pro l peller reversed, the Pole Star bore 1 slowly down toward her moorings, Thorpe recognized Dyer at the head of eight or ten woodsmen. It looked sus- l picious
 Catch this linev' sung out the mate,
 hurling the coil of hand line on the wharf.
 No one moved, and the little rope aft CT a moment slid overheard with splash.
 The captain, with a curse, signaled full speed astern.
 Captain Morse" cried Dyer, step | ping forward, '.my orders are that you are to land here nothing but M. x D. merchandise
 tI have right to land," answered l Thorpe. "The shore belongs to me-"
 'This dock doesn't" retorted the oth- CT sharply, "and you can't set foot on l her''
 You have no legal status. You had no business building in the first place. began Thorpe, and then stopped with choke of anger at the futflity of argu- ing legality in such case.
 The men had gathered interestedly in
 the waist of the ship, cool, impartial, severely critical The vessel swung her
 bow in toward the dock. Thorpe ran swiftly forward and during the instant of rubbing contact leaped. He alighted squarely upon his feet. Without an instant's hesitation he rushed on Dyer and with one full, clean
 in-blow stretched him stunned on the dock. For moment there was pause ! of astonishment Then the woodsmen closed upon him. l During that instant Thorpe had be-
 come possessed of weapon. It came
 hurling through the air from above to l fall at his feet Shearer, with the cool calculation of the pioneer had seen l that it would be impossible to follow | his chief and so had done the next best | thing, thrown him heavy iron belay- | ing pin.
 l Thorpe hit with all his strength and l quickness. He was conscious once of
 being on the point of defeat. Then he l had cleared little space for himself. i Then the men were on him again more
 savagely than ever. One fellow even
 succeeded in hitting him glancing
 blow on the shoulder. | Then came a sudden crash. Thorpe was nearly thrown from his feet. The | next instant a score of yelling men l leaped behind and all around him. l There ensued moments scuffie, the
 sound of dull blows, and the dock was l clear of all but Dyer and three others 1 who were. like himself. unconscious. 1 The captain, yielding to the excitement. had run his prov plump agalnsL the ] wharf.
 Some of the crew received the moor ing lines. All was ready for disem- barkation.
 Bryan Moloney, a strapping Irish American of the big boned, red cheek ed type, threw some water over the four stunned combatants. Slowly they came to life. They were promptly yanked to their feet by the frate river 1 men, who commenced at once to be stow sundry vigorous kicks and shak- ings by way of punishment. Thorpe interposed
 Quit it." he commanded. 'iIet them go.''
 The men grumbled. One or two were inclined to be openly rebellious.
 If I hear another peep out of you," 1 said Thorpe to these latter, lyon can 1 climb right aboard and take the re- l turn trip" He looked them in the eye until they muttered and then went on: | Now, we've got to get unloaded and 1 our goods ashore before those fellows report to camp. Get right moving and 1 hustler
 1 So Dyer and his men picked them selves out of the trouble sullenly and | departed. The ex-scaler had nothing to say as long as he was within reach, but when he had gained the shore he | turned.
 1 '<You won't think this Is so funny when you get in the law courts" he shouted. &
 Thorpe made no reply. /! With thirty men at the job it does not take great while to move small cargo thirty or forty feet 2y o'clock the Pole Star was ready to continue her journey. Thorpe climbed aboard, leaving Shearer in charge.
 Keep the men at it, Tim,'' said he.