Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-17

noStrilS, that lent to his appearance
panther-like pride and stealthiness. No
one saw him. Suddenly he broke
through the group and mounted the
steps beside Collins.
1.-THE enemy Of my brother is gone"
said he simply in his native tongue,
and with sudden gesture held out be-
fore them-a scalp.
The medieval barbarity Of the thing
appalled, them for moment. The days
of scalping were long since past, had
been closed away between the pages
of forgotten histories, and yet here
again before them was the thing in all
its living horror. Then growl arose.
The human animal had tasted 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 mile straight
through thick tamarack swamp, then
over nearly treeless cranberry plain.
The tamarack was a screen between
the two towns. When half way
through the swamp Red Jacket stop
ped, removed his coat, ripped the lining
from it and began to fashion a rude
mask.
Just as well they don't recognize
u.s. said he.
Somebody in town will give us
away" suggested Shorty, the chore boy.
mo, they won't; they're all here"
assured INerlie.
1t was true. Except for the women
and children, who were not yet about,
the entire village had assembled. Even
old Vanderhoof, the fire catcher of the
yard. hobbled along breathlessly on his
rheumatic legs. In moment the
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 boarding house,
the Office, the stable, a store, two sa.
looms and dozen dwellings. The par.
ty at once fixed its eyes on this collec-
ton of buildings and trudged on down
the right Of way with unhastening
grimness.
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 mill
yard it found the boss and the fore
man 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
big man and the little faced a mob
Days river men were still on drive. HI
knew the mill men too well to depend
on them. Truth to tell, the possibilit!
of ouch raid as this had not occurred
to him for the simple reason that h,
did not anticipate the discovery Of hi
completely with the forces of nature
Skillfully carried out, the plan was ;
good one. No one need know of tn
weakened link, and it was the mos
natural thing in the world that Sadie
& Smiths drive should go out with tn
increase of water.
The men grouped swiftly and silent.
on the other side of the sawdust line
The pause did not mean that Days de
Tense was good.
do you know what's going to hap
pen to you?" said a voice from TIN
group. The speaker was Railway, bu
the contractor kept himself well in tn
back aground Were going to burr
your mill; we're going to burn you
yards; we're going to burn your Who'll
Il shooting match, you low lived whelp!
Oyer" said Injun Charley simply
shaking the wet scalp arms length tt
ward the lumbermen.
AT this grim interruption sllenc
fell. The owner paled slightly; hi
foreman chewed a nonchalant straw
Down the still deserted street crosse
and recrossed the subtle occult inf,
ences Of a half hundred conceale
watchers. DAILY and his subordinat
were very much alone and very muc
in danger. Their last hour had COM
and they knew it,
With the recognition of the fact the
Immediately raised their weapons
the resolve to do as much damage 8
possible before being overpowered.
Then suddenly, full in the back.
heavy stream of water knocked the
completely off their feet, rolled the
, over on the wet sawdust and final
. jammed them both against the trestl
where it held them, kicking and gas
,, ing for breath, in a choking cataract I
water The pistols flew harmlessly i
to the air. For an instant the Eighth
9 Forty stared in paralyzed astonis
ment Then tremendous roar
; laughter saluted this easy vanquis
ment Of formidable enemy.
y DAILY md Raker were bounced up(