The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-12-01
CHAPTER IN.
Trouble Brewing.

either directly or indirectly. mos
employed by Seadog had to trade witt
him and the others had to trade witt
him also, because he had plated the
town and placed proviso in the deed
to all the lots which be sold to the
effect that the grantee should not dea
in certain merchandise. This item
covered about everything. Ever
spurious, yenous and malt liquors were
prohibited. Still there were nearly
half dozen saloons in the place, but
Seadog had contracts by which he re-
ceived, directly or indirectly, the larger
per cent OF the profits. He also owned
The local cannery. Cinnamon were
worked in the place. They lived at a
mess house where existence on rice
and spoiled fish was easy, and they
worked for Seadog for q few cents a
day. He had struggled them overland
across the Canadian boundary and they
believed they were compelled to re-
main in his employ; and they were in
a measure, for Seadog was not known
in the unlawful transaction and could
have handed them ever to the authori-
ties without risk to himself. He
might have sent some oil his hirelines to
the government prison. but he did not
mind this. Men were cheap and
money valuable.
Old Seadog also owned miles OF fish
traps. The ragged lines Of piling
forming wings and hearts extended up
and down the bay and to the middle of
the river from Disappointment to Nc
Gowan's, about dozen miles.
1t is true that few men had taken
advantage oil their rights under the
law and had secured locations and had
constr ucted traps, but it was necessary
to guard these like treasures. Ii they
we're left alone the "stoi ms" tore up
the piling and Sesdog's traps were con-
structed in trent and on the side OF
them go that even the luckless fish
found their way to the fshermens'
traps by the sbeerest accident.
One by one they had succumbed and
sold to Sesdog at his own price, except
the few who preferred to work and
barely live than become the slaves OF
any man.
1t was on the fatal morning upon
which Sankala and Ringwold dared
the storm Old Seadog Was up
early, as was his custom. He superin-
tended all of his own business. He
left nothing Of importance to others.
1t was to this fact that he attributed
his success, and he admonished his
sons to follow in his footsteps.
The storm was raging and the man
Of wealth did not care to stir abroad
90 early. He grew confidential With
Mrs. Seadog. He did this occasional
ly, but it was only when matters arose
that closely affected his business in
He was by no means . faith
full husband to her, as many OF the
fishermen knew, but he had great con-
6dence in her good judgment, and
sought her advice in the matters that
weighed upon him heavily.
He was still seated at the table. :
Daylight bad not yet begun to dawn. I
The storm was raging. The mist and o
-ain fell upon the roof with a rasping :
,ound. The other members of the r
amily had left the dining room. Mrs. a
,eadog did her own dishes. She did 9
his from choice because she had been
,rought up to work. b
"Let the work go foi awhile, wife, :,
nd set down." said the husband. 4
Mrs. Seadog obeyed the request r
eadily. She knew something was q
oming. She had already seen it in !,
Ter husbands eyes and in bis actions. q
'ut what woman does not like to be n
AIKEN into the confidence Of her hus- :,
and?
"Do you know, wife, ana in more :,
rouble than q trap full OF fish, said ,c
Id Seadog when his wife was seated. -
81 thought the foolish prejudice IN
grinst old Ringwold and Sankala ia
ss something to worry about, but !,
ow the troubles are multiplying like 60
IN fish.
'Ths title to the townsite is threat m
ned. The gill netters are preparing hi
n devilment and even the government M
ad secret service man here q few -,
sys ago trying to associate me with he
le unlawful importation of the pig =.
ills who work in my caDnery." an
81 do not understand all Of this, or q,
en- part OF IT, 5dlu tHe duxlOue or
ife. 81 thought you had deed to the m,
wnsite property. The g llnetters I
ought had recognized your measure I'm,
emit of the river, and a. to the impor- lie
ton of the Cinnamon, supposed the ev,
and bis son-in-law were re- cir
onsible for that" an
"But you can't count on anything ve
ese days" continued the fisherman
ny. "When old Lapham made the an
ed to his homestead that night just orr
fore he died in drunken fit, there ha,
ire several present. But all of them Oh
e dead from drowning or otherwise, ito
cept one OF the witnesses that signed IN,
g instrument. He has got foolish tn
Iigious ideas in his head and is try IA,
z to make trouble. had my book a;o
eper give him 800 and send him to
e Sound, and that may quiet him. roo
It the transaction is beginning to chs
It me something. Bumbo, the law wo
who drew up the deed, was stand ann
I in with the other fellow in a way 20,
had to employ him yesterday by he,
year. He doesn't cost much, it