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

and disconnected the hose they had so
effectively employed.
"There, blast you" said Roiiwayl
Charley, jerking the mill man to his
feet. How do you like too much wa
ter, hey?'
The unexpected comedy changed the
party's mood. 1t was no longer ques-
ton of killing. A'number broke into
the store and shortly emerged bearing
pals of kerosene, with which they del
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 singing 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
cuffed hither and thither at the mems
will. Their faces bled, their bodies
achcd as one bruise.
THAT squares us, said the men. IF
we can't cut this year, neither kin you.
It's up to you now!'
Then, like destroying horde of To-
Gusts, they Quilted 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.
81 surmise we took that town apart
somev said Shorty with satisfaction.
81 should rise to remark" replied
Kerlie.
At the boarding house they found
Wallace Carpenter and Hamilton seat
ed on the veranda. 1t was now after
noon. The wind had abated somewhat
and the sun was struggling with the
still flying scuds.
"Hello, boys" said Wallace, Cheer
for little walk in the woods?'
Eyes, sir" replied Hyland, we
I'D rather not hear" interrupted
Wallace. 'There's quite fire ovel
east. / suppose you haven't noticed
IT.
Hyland looked gravely eastward.
"Sure 'nough," said he.
Better get some grub" suggested
Wallace.
After the men had gone in he turned
to the journalist.
Hamilton" he began, write all yol
know about the drive and the breal
| and the rescue, but as to the burnin:
| of the mill'-
The other held out his hand.
"Good," said Wallace, offering hi
own.
And that was as far as the famou
Shingleville raid ever got. DAILY di'
his best to collect even circumstantia
evidence against the participants, bu
/ in vain. He could not even get an
one to say that q single member of til
| village of Carpenter had absented him
self from town that morning. Thi
might have been from loyalty or
might have been from fear of the yenge
ance the Fighting Forty would sure
ly visit on traitor. Probably it wa
combination of both The fact re
mains, however, that DAILY never kney
surely of but one man implicated i
the destruction of his plant. That ma
was Injun Charley; but Injun Charlie
promptly disappeared.
After an interval Tim Shearer, Rae
way and Kerlie came out again.
where's the boss?" asked Shearer
81 don't know, Tim" replied Wallac
seriously. 1--WE looked everywher,
He's gone He must have been all CT
up. think he went out in the wood
to get over it. am not worryin.
Harry has lots of sense. He'll come
about dark"
"Suren said Tim.
slow about the boys stakes?" gu,
pisd Railway. II hear this is ba
smash for the firm"
"We'll see that the men get the
wages all right" replied Carpenter,
little disappointed that such questio
should be asked at such time.
Cali right" rejoined the contracto
"We're all going to need our none
this summer"