Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-18

The latter listened in silence
and stolidity, then turned and without
word departed swiftly in the dark
ness. The two white men stood min
utc attentive. Nothing was 10 he heard
but the steady beat of rain and the
roaring Of the wind.
Near the bank of the river they en-
countered a man visible only as an I'M
certain black outline against the glow
of the lanterns beyond. Thorpe. stop
ping him. found Big Junko.
This is no time to quit" said Thorpe
sharply.
81 amt quittin'," replied Big Junko.
"Whcre are you going. then"
Junko was partially and stammcrlng-
ly unrcsponsivc.
Looks bad" commented Thorpe.
"You'd better get back to your job"
YES" agreed Junko helplessly. In
the mOmentary slack tide of work the
giant had conceived the idea of search
ing out the driver crew for purposes of
pugillstic vengeance. Thorpe's suspi-
cions stung him. but his simple miAl
could see no direct way to explanations
Al night idng in the chill of spring
rain and wind storm the Fighting Forty
and certain Of the mill crew gave them
selves TO the labor Of connecting the
slanting stone cribs so strongly by
means of heavy timbors chained end 10
end that the pressure Of 4 break in the
jam might not sweep aside the de
lenses. Wallace Carpenter, Shorty. the
chore boy. and Anderson, the barn boss.
picked dangerous passage back and
North carrying pals of redhot coffee
which Mrs hathaway constantly pre-
pared. The cold water numbcd the
mems hands. With difficulty could
they manipulate the heavy chains
through the augcr holes; with pain they
! twisted knots, bored holes. They did
not complain Behind them the jam
quiyered perilously near the bursting
point. From II shrieked aloud the de
mons Of pressure. Steadily the river
rose an inch an hour. The key might
snap at any given moment, they could
not tell, and with the rush they knew
very well that themselves, the tug and
from existence. The worst of it was
that the blackn sss shrouded their ex-
perience into uSelessneSs. They were
utterly unable to tell by the ordinary
visual symptoms how near the jam
might be to collapse
However they persisted, as the old
time river man always does. so that
when dawn appeared the barrier was
continuous and assured. Although the
pressure of the river had already forced
the logs against the defcnSes, the latter
held the strain we'll.
The storm had settled into its gait
Overhead the sky was filed with gray
beneath which darker scuds flew across
the zenith before a bowling southwest
wind. out in the clear river one could
hardly stand upright against the gusts
In the fan of many directions furlou,
squalls swept over the open water be
low the booms, and an eager boiling
current rushed to the lake.
Thorpe now gave orders that the tuC
and driver should take shelter. \ few
moments later he cy pressed himself rs
satisfied. The dripping crew, theiI
harsh faces gray in the half light
picked their way to the shore
In the darkness Of that long nights
work no man knew his neighbor, Mer
from the river, men from the mill. mer
from the yard, all worked side by side
Thus no one noticed especially a tall
slender, but well knit individual dress
ed in n faded mackinaw and limI
SLOUGH hat which he wore pulled over
his eyes. This young fellow occupied
himself with the chains. Against til,
racing current the crew held the ends
of the heavy booms while he fastened
them together He worked well. bu
seemed slow. Three times Shearer hus
tied him on after the others had finish
ed. examining closely the work thai
sion he shrugged his shoulder some
what impatiently.
The men struggled to shore, thu
young fellow Just described bringing
up the rear. He walked as though
tired out. hanging his head and drag
ging his feet. When, however, thu
boarding house door had closed OF
the last Of those who preceded him ant
the town lay deserted in the dawn III
suddenly became transformed Cast
ing keen glance right and left 10 b'
sure of his opportunity he turned ant
hurried rscklessly back over the ios'