The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-01-14
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 a wilderness of legal entangle-
ment.
BY his deathbed confession Seadog
had placed the ownership Of the fisher
les largely in Sankala, 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 a
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 a
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-
vised that Sankala close down the traps
and turn every Seadog living out into
the world empty-handed. He would
have had Dan La pham 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 antipiathy 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 be able to weld an
influence over the Seadogs. She had
first laid hei 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 so
kindly and so intelligently that all
present felt disposition to come to
terms.
''I do not believe in going to law if
it can be avoided" said Sankala. "Find
ing myself possessed of the right to so
much property is a great surprise to
me. l sometimes feel that l ought not
to bother with it, but poor Ringwold
has suffered so much and worked 80
long to obtain it for me that I feel that
it would be an injustice to his memory
not to assert my rights in measure.
"While it would appear from the
confession of the late Mr.. Seadog that
the bulk of the property could be won
out through the courts, am opposed
to taking this course. am willing to
division which should be satisfactory
to all persons interested. Dan-Mr
Lapham, 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.
He 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 ard under San
kala's charitable views of the matter
they Immediately melted into friend
illness that was surprising for Seadog
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 ill-gotten gains and that his
manner of handling them had resulted
to the best interests of the righ,ful
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 Seadops
considered it a settlement much to their
advantage.
1t now only required the formality Of
the courts to transfer titles to property
and lexallze 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 tn tbo;r