The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1904-05-21

Ing out the driver crew for purposes OF
pugllstic vengeance Thorpe's suspl-
cIons stung him. but his simple mind
could see no direct way TO explanation.
All night long In the chill OF n spring
rain and wind storm the Fighting Forty
and certain OF the mill crew gave them
selves 20 the labor OF connecting the
sianting stone cribs so strongly by
means OF heavy tlmbers chained end TO
end that the pressure OF break In the
jam might not sweep aside the de.
lenses. Wallace Carpenter. Shorty. the
chore boy. and Anderson. the barn boss.
picked a dangerous passage back and
forth carrying pals or redhot coffee
which Mrs. Hathaway constantly pre-
pared. The cold water numhed the
mems hands. With difficulty could
they manipulate the heavy chains
through the anger holes: with pain they
twisted knots. bored holes They did
not complain. Behind them the Jam
qulvered perllously near the bursting
point From IL shrieked aloud the de
mons OF pressure. SteHdlly the river
rose nm inch nm hour. The key might
snap ~ any given moment thew could
not tell, and with the rush they knew
very well that themselves. the tug and
che disabled pile driver would be swept
from existence. The worst OF Ii was
that the blackness shroudcd their ex-
pcrience into uselessncss. They were
utterly unable 10 tell by the ordinary
visual symptoms how near the jam
mlght 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 tho
pressure OF the river had already forced
the logs against the defenses, the latter
Held the strain well
The storm had settled into It's gait
Overhead the sky was tilled with gray
beneath which darker scuds flew across
the zenith before bowling southwest
wind Out i'm the clear river one could
hardly stand upright against the gusts
Ia the fan OF many directions furious
squalls swept over the open water be-
low the booms. and an eager boiling
current rushed 10 the lake
Thorpe now gave orders that the tug
and driver should take shelter A few
moments later he expressed himself ms
satisfied The dripping crew. their
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 Men
from the river. men from the mill, men
from the yard. all worked side by side.
Thus no one noticed especially n tall.
shoulder. but well knit individual dress.
Ell IN faded mackinaw and u limp
SLOUGH bat which he wore pulled over
his eyes This young fellow occupied
himself with the chains. Against the
racing current the crew held the ends
OF the heavy booms while he fastened
them together lie worked well, but
seemed slow Three times Shearer hus.
tied him on after the others had finish,
"a. examining closely the work that
had been done On the third occa.
sion he shrugged his shoulder some.
what impatiently.
The men struggled 10 shore. the
young fellow just described bringing
up the rear. lie walked as though
tired out, hanging his head and drag
glng his feet When, however. the
boarding house door had closed on
the last OF those who preceded him and
the town lay deserted I'm the dawn he
suddenly became transformed. Cast
ing keen glance right and left 10 be
sure OF his opportunity he turned and
hurried recklessly back over the logs
to the center booms There he knelt
and busted himself with the chains.
In his zigzag progression over the
Jam he so blended with the morning
shadows as 10 seem one OF them. and
he would have escaped quite unnotlced
had not a sudden shifting OF the logs
under his feet compelled him 20 rise for
moment 70 his full height SO Wal.
lace Carpenter. passing from his bed
room along the porch TO the dining
room. became aware Of the man on the
logs.
His FIRST thought was that something
demanding instant attention had hap
pened 10 the boom. He therefore ran
at once 20 the mans assistance. ready
10 help him personally or 20 call other
aid as the cxlgency demanded Owing
60 the prccarious nature OF the passage
he could not see beyond his feet until
very close TO the workman. Then he
looked up 20 find the man, squatted on
the boom, contemplating him sardonic-
ally
"Dyer" he exclaimed.
Right. my son." said the other
coolly.
what are you doingT
III you want 20 know. ] am filing
this chain"
Wallace made one step forward ana
30 became aware that az last firearms
were taking a part in this desperate
game.
lyon stand stlllw commanded Dyer
from behind the revolver. Its unfor-
tunate FOR. You that you happened
along. because now you'll have TO come
with me tin this little row is over You
won't have 60 stay long. Your logs III
10 out in an hour. I'll just trouble
you 10 go into the brush with me for
.~.nff.