Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-25

woods. He helped me get my timber.
This spring he killed a mar1--n good
Job, too--and 10 hiding now. I wish I
knew whore he IL. But well see him
some day. He'll come back when the
thing blows over. See! see!'
"What" they oil asked, breathless.
ats gone. Over beyond the hills
there caught glimpse Of Superior"
you are ridiculous, Harry" protest.
ed Helen Thorpe laughingly. II never
saw you 30. You are regular boy"
do you like boys?" he asked gravely
Of Hilda.
adore themw she cried.
"All right; don't care" be answered
his sister in triumph.
The air brakes began to make them
selves felt, and shortly the train came
to a grinding stop.
"What station IS this?" Thorpe asked
the colored porter.
"Shingleville, sah," the latter replied.
II thought so. Wallace, when did
their mill burn, anyway? l haven't
heard about It,"
Last spring, about the time you
went down."
us that 80? How did it happen?"
"Thcy claim incendiarism," parted
Wallace cautiously.
Thorpe pondcrcd moment then
laughed. 81 am in the mixed attitude
of the small boy" he observed. "who
isn't wicked enough to wish nnybody's
property destroyed. but who wishes
that il shere is n fire. to be where he
can see it. ! am sorry those fellows
had to lose their mill. but it was a
good thing for us. The man who set
that fire did us good turn. IF it
hadn't been for the burning Of their
mill they would have made stronger
fight against us in the stock market"
Wallace and Hilda exchanged
glances. The girl was long since aware
of the inside history Of those days.
you'll have to tell them that" she
whispered over tine back Of her seat.
ut will please them"
"Our station is next" cried Thorpe.
land it's only little ways. Come.
get ready"
They all crowded into the narrow
passageway near the door, for the train
barely paused.
( "Al right. sab said the porter,
swinging down his little step
Thorpe ran down to help the ladies.
He was nearly taken from his feet by
wildcat yell, and a moment later that
result was actually accomplished by
rush Of men that tossed him bodily
on to its shoulders. At the same mo
ment the mill and tug whistles began
TO screech and miscellaneous firearms
exploded. Even the locomotive engineer
in the spirit Of the occasion. leaned
down heartily on his whistle rope
The sawdust street was filled with
screaming jostline men. The homes
Of the town were brilliantly draped
with cheesec!oth flags and bunting.
For moment Thorpe could not make
out what had happened. This Turmoil
desertion he had expected that he wa.
unable to gather his faculties AL
about him were familiar faces upturn
I'd to his own. He distinguished the
broad. square shoulders Of Scotty Par
sons. Jack Hyland. Kerlic. Bryan Mo
loney; Ellis grinned at him from tho
press: Billy Camp. the fat and shin!
drive cook; Mason. the foreman Of the
mill: over beyond howled Solly. tho
tug captain; Rollway Charley. Shorty
the chore boy; everywhere were fea
lures that re knew
AS Ills GimminE eyes Travelled her,
and there. one by one the Eighth!
Forty. the best crew of men over gath
cred in the nortlAand impressed them
selves IN his consciousness. On tn,
outskirts saunterod the tail form O
Tim Shearer, a straw peepinc from be
meath his fax white mustache. his eye
glimmering under his fax white eye
hrows.
Big Junko and Anderson deposited
their burden on the raised platform O
the Office steps. Thorpe turned ant
fronted the crowd.
At once pandcmOnium broke loose n.
though the previous performance hat
been nothing but low voiced rehear
: sal
"Oh. aren't you proud Of him?" gasp
ed Hilda. squeezing Helens arm will
little sob.
In n moment Wallace Carpenter. hi
countenance glowing with pride AM
pleasure. mounted the platform ant
stood beside his friend, while Morton
and the two young ladies stopped hal
way up the steps.
At once the racket ceased. Ever,
one stood at attention.
"Mr. Thorpe" Wallace began, "a
the request of your friends here. hav
a most pleasant duty to fulfill. The,
, have asked me to tell you how gla,
they are to see you That is surely I'm
necessary. They have also asked m
to congratulate you on having won tn
fight with our rivals"
You done 'em good"' Cant dow,
the old fellow muttered joyous voices
But" said Wallace, II think that
: first have story to tell on my own &C
count.
AT the time the jam broke thi
spring we owed the men here for
, years work. At that time | considcre
their demand for wages i'll timed an
, grasping | wish to apologize. Afte
: the money was paid them. instead O
) scattering. they set to work under JAG
Railway. They have worked long hour
all summer They have invested ever