The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1905-04-21

1
The railroads lay for mile straight
through a thick tamarack swamp, then
over a nearly treeless cranberry plain.
The tamarack was a screen between
the two towns. When half way
through the swamp Red Jacket stop
ped, removed his coat, ripped the lining
from 1t and began to fashion a rude
mask.
"Just as we'll they don't recognize
u.s." said he.
Somebody In town will give us
away" suggested Shorty, the chore boy.
mo, they won't; they're all here"
| assured Kerlie.
1t was true. Except for the women
and children, who were not yet about,
the entire village had assembled. Even
old Vanderhoof, the fire catcher of the
yard, hobbled along breathlessly on his
| rheumatic legs. In moment the
masks were fitted; in moment more
the little band had emerged from the
shelter Of the swamp and so came into
! full view of its objective point.
Shingleville consisted of big mill,
the yards, now nearly empty of lum-
Der, the large frame boarding house,
the Office the stable, store, two sa-
looms and dozen dwellings. The par
ty at once fixed its eyes on this collec-
ton of buildings and trudged on down
the right of way with unhastening
grimness.
Their approach was not unobserved.
DAILY saw them, and Baker, his fore
man, saw them. The two at once went
forth to organize opposition. When
the attacking party reached the mill
yard 1t found the boss and the fore
man standing alone on the sawdust, re-
volvers drawn.
DAILY traced line with his toe.
'The first man that crosses that line
gets It," said he
They knew he meant what he said.
An instant's pause ensued, while the
big man and the little faced a mob.
Days river men were still on drive. He
knew the mill men too we'll to depend
ON them. Truth to tell, the possibility
Of such a raid as this had not occurred
to him for the simple reason that he
did not anticipate the discovery of his
completely with the forces of nature.
Skillfully carried out, the plan was Il
good one. No one need know of the
weakened link, and it was the most
natural thing in the world that Sadler
& Smiths drive should so out with the
increase Of water.
The men grouped swiftly and silently
10 .iI nf I,n
The pause did not mean that Days de-
Tense was good.
do you know what's going to hap
pen to you?' said voice from the
group. The speaker was Railway, but
he contractor kept himself well in the
background. "Were going to burn
your mill; we're going to burn your
yards; we're going to burn your whole
shooting match, you low lived whelp!
Dyer" said InJun Charley simply,
shaking the wet scalp arms length to-
ward the lumbermen.
At this grim interruption silence
fell The owner paled slightly; his
foreman chewed a nonchalant straw.
Down the still deserted street crossed
and recrossed the subtle occult intiu-
ences of a half hundred concealed
watchers. DAILY and his subordinate
were very much alone and very much
i'm danger. Their last hour had come,
and they knew it,
With the recognition of the fact they
Immediately raised their weapons in
the resolve to do as much Manage as
possible before being overpowered.
Then suddenly, full in the back, a
heavy stream of water knocked them
completely off their feet, rolled them
over on the wet sawdust and finally
jammed them both against the trestle,
where 1t held them, kicking and gasp
ing for breath, in choking cataract of
water. The pistols flew harmlessly in
to the air. For an instant the Fighting
Forty stared In paralyzed astonish-
ment. Then q tremendous roar of
laughter saluted this easy vanquish-
ment of formidable enemy.
DAILY and Baker were pounced upon
and captured. There was no resistance.
They were too nearly strangled for
that. Little Solly and old Vanderhoof
turned off the water in the fire hydrant
and disconnected the hose they had so
effectively employed.
"There, blast your said Rollway
Charley, jerking the mill man to his
feet. How do you like too much wa
ter, heyT
The unexpected comedy changed the
party's mood. 1t was no longer a ques-
ton of killing. a number broke into
the store and shortly emerged bearing |
pals of kerosene, with which they del |
uged the slabs on the windward side |
of the mill. The flames caught the |
structure instantly. A thousand sparks, |
borne by the offshore breeze, fastened |
like so many singing insects on the
lumber in the yard.
1t burned as dried balsam thrown on |
a camp fire. The heat of it drove the |
onlookers far back in the village, where |
in silence they watched the destruction.
(To BE CONTINUED