Mower County transcript., 1904-07-13

'"The first man that crosses that line
gets it," said he. ,%r st2.-
4 They knew he meant what he said.
An instant's pause ensued, while the.
big man and the. little faced a mob.
Daly's river men were still on drive. He
knew the mill men too we'll to depend
ON them. Truth to tell, the possibility
of such raid as this had not occurred
to him for the simple reason that he
did not anticipate the discovery of his
completely with the forces of nature.
Skillfully carried out, the plan was
good one. No one need know Of the
weakened link, and it was the most
natural thing in the world that Sadler
& Smiths drive should go out with the
increase Of water.
The men grouped swiftly and silently
on the other side of the sawdust line
The pause did not mean that Daly's de-
Tense was good.
pen to you? said voice from the
group. The speaker was Radway, but
the contractor kept himself we'll in the
background. "We're going to burn
your mill; we're going to burn your
yards; we're going to burn your whole
shooting match, you low lived whelp!'
Oyer" said 1njun Charley. simply,
sha king the wet scalp arms length to-
ward the lumbermen.
At this grim interruption a silence
fen. . The owner paled slightly; his
foreman chewed nonchalant straw.
Down. the still deserted street crossed
and recrossed the subtle occult tntlu:
ences of 4 half hundred concealed
watchers: DAILY and. his subordinate
we're very much alone and very much
In danger. Their last hour had come,
and they knew, it.. ..-..... .-.>..
With the recognition Of the fact they
Immediately raised their weapons in
the resolve to do as much damage as
possible before being overpowered.
Then suddenly, full in the back, a
heavy stream of water Knocked them
so1npletely ohf their feet, rolled5 them
over on the wet saWdust and, finally
jaipmed them both :against the ttrestle,
where It heM them, Kicking and gasp
Ing tor breath, Id a=choking cataract OF
vater.E? The pistols hew harsmlesslyi IN
to ne ait:: For an instant The Fighting
BSi,r,ttyS stirred fl sparaIy y1ed tastonish-
nlent. Then : tremendous roar 81
laughter satuted this easy vanquish-
nnent of fosmida blE iahemy.
.DaB aud Baker were pounced upon
tahd taptursd. There xas i ho resistance.
They were too nearly d ts,itrangled for
that. Little lgolly and old Vanderhoof
issssEt.sd ~ the water in he;tire hydrant
ARA MA a 4atssqpneeted The lAoae they had 10
S6neaslys enptoyed. ,:.:= J:
II 'T1,ere, blastS: your" said Rollway
Chariey,3 9 jerking the mill man IS hid
feet. How do you like too much ~
ter, hey p T. - .::.s.; l.. =. X: -
The unexpected comedy changed the
party's mood. 1t was no longer ques.
uon of killing. A number broke into
the store and shortly emerged bearing
pals of kerosene, with which they dell
uged the slabs on the windward side
Of the mill. The flames caught the
structure instantly. A thousand sparks,
borne by the offshore breeze, fastened
like so many stinging insects on the
lumber in the yard.
1t burned as dried balsam thrown on
a camp fire. The heat of it drove the
onlookers far back in the village. where
in silence they watched the destruction
DAILY and his man were slapped and
euffed hither and thither at the mems
will. Their faces bled, their bodies
ached as one bruise.
THAT squares u.s." said the men. III
we can't cut this year, neither kin you.
It's up to you now"
Then, like destroying horde of To-
Gusts, they gutted the. Office and the
store, smashing what they could. not
carry to the fire. The dwellings and
saloons they did not disturb, Finally,
about noon, they kicked their two pris-
oners into the river and struggled back
along the right Of way. ':'2%&;: a:..L,
II surmise we took that town apart
sonnet" said Shorty with satisfaction.
II should rise to remark" replied
Kerlie. '' '-i> -
At the boarding house they found
Wallace Carpenter and Hamilton seat
ed on the yeranda. 1t was. now after
noon. The wind had abated somewhat.
and the sun was struggling with the
still flying scuds.
""Hello, boys" said Wallace, 'been
for little walk in the woods? p y
"Yes, SIR" replied Hyland, "we"-
"I'd rather not hear" interrupted
Wallace. There's quite a fire over
east. 1 suppose you haven't noticed
It." '''
Hyland looked gravely eastward. -,
''Sure 'nough," said he.
"Better get some grub" suggested
Wallace. 49, d. ...'@.
After, the men had gone in he turned
to the journalist. 49,. =. s:a
II Il ho~o-