The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-08-14

a. start. Two of the Italians who
worked beside him each day, occupied
a bunk heal his own. They were talk
ing in their mother tongue and in low
tones. Tony's ears were Dago in an
instant. The italians were unfolding
& murderous plot to rob the bedrock
race and the sluices. From the drift
! of their conversation it was evident
to Tony that the whole thing had al
ready been arranged, and that every
man OF the day and night shift dig
gings gang, except himself was impli-
Gated in the plot. A large and rich
pocket had been uncovered by Of
the giants and the gold of this was
to be a part of the spoils. The follow
ing night was set for the robbery.
Tony lay quiet. Long after the two
men had ceased talking and fell asleep
he remained awake thinking, planning,
what to do. 1t was the hardest work
he had yet done at the mine, but when
the cooks gong Changed at five o'clock,
sounding the first breakfast call, he
lad his plans complete.
That night the day men retired to
their hunks as usual, and so void was
everything and everyone of the coming
theft that Tony almost concluded it
was a dream. He changed his mind
when later in the night, each man
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 over
looking the diggings. A o 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-
tendent was asleep in his Watts
was likewise asleep at his cabin, and
the night foreman was operating No.
8. 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 moment
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 one side out OF the way. The
men from the bunk-house Joined those
in the diggings and all were soon at
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 chappare}, climbed
the opposite bank, and crept up to the
edge Of the diggings. Just ahead Of
him wa No. 8, 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 defector and
had the stream turned upon the rob-
bling hand before they were aware
hat aught was wrong. With a yell
hat would have done credit to a man
many times his size, Tony commanded
The men to "t'row up" their hands.
There was a general scamper for
One miscreant attempted to
escape but was caught in the giants
stream and shot against the grave!
bank like q pebble from a catapult.
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 the
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 fercely at
the little Dago. Tony laughed q loud.
fiendish laugh as he played the 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
bounced 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 cul-
prits.
The next day the superintendent,
called Tony to his office and while the
little Dago stood trembling, hat II
hand before him, he was told that he
had saved the mine of $4,000 robbery
Hewas once again asked for his letters
of recommendation. Tony dug then
up from the depths of his loose coat
The SUPERINTENDENT read than