The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-12-21

make out dozen figures standing near
the end of the wharf When, with pro-
peller reversed, the Pole Star bore
slowly down toward her mornings
Thorpe recognized Dyer at the head Of
eight or ten woodsmen. Tt looked sus-
picious.
'Catch this liner sung out the mate.
hurting the coil of hand line on the
wharf.
No one moved and the little rope aft
er a moment slid overheard with
| splash.
The captain, with a curse, signaled
full speed astern.
Captain Morse cried Dyer. step
ping forward, my orders are that you
are to land here nothing but NJ. s. D.
merchandise"
81 have a right to land" answered
Thorpe. 1.-The shore belongs to me-"
'This dock doesn't" retorted the 9TH
err sharply, land you can't set foot o
her"
"You have no legal status. You had
no business building in the first place
began Thorpe. and then stopped with
choke of anger at the futility of argu-
ing legality in such case.
The men had gathered interestedly in
the waist of the ship, cool, impartial,
severely critical The vessel swung her
bow in toward the dock. Thorpe ran
swiftly forward and during the instant
of rubbing contact leaped.
He alighted squarely upon his feet.
Without an instants hesitation he
rushed on Dyer and with one full, clean
INFLOW stretched him stunned on the
dock. For moment there was pause
of astonishment. Then the woodsmen
closed upon him.
During that instant Thorpe had be
come possessed of a weapon. 1t came
hurting through the air from above to
fall at his feet. Shearer. with the cool
calculation of the pioneer, had seen
that it would be impossible to follow
his chief and so had done the next best
thing, thrown him heavy iron Delay
ing pin.
Thorpe hit with all his strength and
quickness. He was conscious once Of
being on the point of defeat. Then he
had cleared little space for himself.
Then the men were on him again more
savagely than ever. One fellow even
succeeded in hitting him glancing
blow on the shoulder.
Then came a sudden crash Thorpe
was nearly thrown from his feet. The
next instant score of yelling men
leaped behind and all around him.
There ensued a moments scuffie, the
sound Of dull blows, and the dock was
clear of all but Dyer and three others
who were, like himself, unconscious
The captain, yielding to the excitement.
had run his PROV plump against the
wharf.
Some ot me crew received the moor
ing lines. All was ready for disem-
barkation.
Bryan Moloney, strapping Irish
American of the big boned, red cheek
ed type, threw some water over the
four stunned combatants Slowly they
: came to life. They were promptly
yanked to their feet by the irate river
men, who commenced at once to be
stow sundry vigorous kicks and shak-
ings by way of punishment. Thorpe
!, interposed.
"Quit it," he commanded. Let them
CO."
The men grumbled. One or two were
inclined to be openly rebellious.
eff | hear another peep out of you,
said Thorpe to these latter, you ear
, climb right aboard and take the re
) turn trip" He looked them in the eye
until they muttered and then went on
'Now, we've got to get unloaded an6
our goods ashore before those fellows
report to camp. Get right moving ant
hustle"
SO Dyer and his men picked them
selves out of the trouble sullenly an(
departed. The ex-scaler had nothing
to say as long as he was within reach
but when he had gained the shore b,
turned
"You won't think this is SO funn!
when you get in the law courts" h.
shouted.
Thorpe made no reply.
With thirty men at the job it doe
not take a great while to move small
cargo thirty or forty feet. By 3 o'clocl
the Pole Star was ready to continue
her journey. Thorpe climbed aboard
leaving Shearer in charge.
keep the men at it, Tim" said he
"Put up the walls of the warehous
good and strong and move the stuff in
If you get through before | return yol
might take scout up the river and Fl.
on a camp site. I'll bring back tn
lumber for roofs, floors and trimming
with me and will try to pick up few
axmen for swapping. Those fellow
won't bother us any more for the pres
ent, think But it pays to be on deck
So long"
When Thorpe returned to the bay b
found the warehouse complete. Sheare
and Andrews, the surveyor, wer
scouting up the river.
s "No trouble from above, boys?" ask