Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-16
CHAPTER XIV.

1t was the second morning after the
double funeral. The fishermen gener-
ally were downcast. 1t is true that the
trouble regarding the fisheries had been
settled. but the property rights of the
northside industry had assumed the
form of wilderness OF legal entangle.
ment.
by his deathbed confession Seadog
had placed the ownership Of the fisher
les largely in SankaIa, and the town
site upon which the homes were built
practically belonged to Dan Lapham.
The Seadogs were expected to fight for
a share in these and long drawn out
course of litigations was expected, with
possibly the closing of the cannery and
the suspension OF fishing until the mat
Ter should be settled.
Where men are only adapted to one
calling they become mere children
when thrown out Of the single rut into
which they have drifted.
Barring the legal complications
which had arisen from Seadog's death,
however, the fishermen had cause to
rejoice. The man had always been
tyrant. He had borne down upon
them with a merciless hand. Under
no change of masters could they expect
anything but better conditions.
The men who had been wounded in
the encounter between the two factions
Of fishermen were all recovered, the fish
were increasing daily and the shortage
in the run in other waters had raised
the market. To lift the gloom which
hung over the village, only required
settlement of the legal complications
and permission for the men to return
to their work.
Old Bumbo, the lawyer, was the only
stumbling block in the way. He ad-
yised that Sankaa close down the traps
and turn every Seadog living out into
the world empty-handed. He would
have had Dan Lapham enforce his title
to the townsite and become landlord
as merciless as those painted in fiction.
Bumbo had lived from hand to mouth
by petty litigation for years, had en-
dured the insults of the toilers who
had no respect for the man who made
his scanty living by his wits, and be-
tween him and the Seadogs there was
an antiriathy bitter as Southern fued.
Bumbo would have revolutionized
things in the northside fishing in
dustry.
But Sankala was as broad minded
and magnanimous as she was brave.
She sent for Captain Budlong, She
knew that he would he able to weld an
influence over the Seadogs. She had
first laid hel plans before Dan Lapham,
who approved them in every detail
The two requested conference with
the Seadogs and asked Captain Budlong
to join them.
The meeting took place at Bumbo's
office. The lawyer was gruff and vim
dictive. But the young girl spoke go
kindly and 80 intelligently that all
present felt disposition to come to
terms.
81 do not believe in going to law if
it can be avoided" said Sankala. "Find
ing myself possessed of the right to 30
much property is great surprise to
me. l sometimes feel that ought not
to bother with it, but poor Ringwold
has suffered so much and worked 80
long to obtain it for me that feel that
it would be an injustice to his memory
not to assert my rights in measure.
"While it would appear from the
confess on of the late Mr.. Seadog that
the bulk Of the property could be won
out through the courts, l am opposed
to taking this course. am willing to
division which should be satisfactory
to all persons interested. Dan-Mr
I.apham, expresses himself in the same
spirit with me-"
"That is correct" said the young
fisherman.
cold Bumbo was indignant. He
walked the floor like Gagged animal
lie took sankala aside and remonstrat-
ed, but it was all without avail.
The Seadogs were completely sur.
prlsed. After the terrible confession
Of the elder member OF the family they
felt that all was lost. They expected
no money from the representative of
the outraged Saarela and under San.
kala's charitable views of the matter
they Immediately melted into friend.
illness that was surprising for Seadoe.
Even tie Inundated Hazel looked
kindly upon the girl hero Of the late
conflict between the fishermen.
The fact that Seadog had made good
use OF his ilI-gotten gains and that his
manner OF handling them had resulted
to the hest interests of the rightful
heirs, led Captain Budlong to suggest
that an equal division be made of the
fishing properties and other interests
between the Seadogs and Sankala, and
that like settlement be made with
Dan as to the town SITE property.
Sankala and Dan consented to this
without hesitation, and the Seadogs
considered it settlement much to their
advantage.
1t now only required the formality OF
the courts to transfer titles to property
and legallze the acts of Sankala and
Dan, who were under age, consummat-
ing the agreement and old Bumbo was
ordered to prepare the papers.
The Seadogs had returned to their
home contented. Captain Budlong had
joinel Sankala and Dan in the parlor
of the village hotel where Sankala had
been staying since Ringwold's death.
Dan Lapham rose to his feet and
walked to where Sankala was sittino