Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-17

During the last month he had chafed
and frctted like an animal in leash
for word of Wheaton. This uncertainty,
this impotent waiting with folded
hands, was maddenng 10 one of his
spirit. He could apply himself to no
fixed duty, for the sense of his wrong
prcvcd on him fercely. and he found
himself haunting the vicinity Of the
Midas. gazing at it from afar, grasp
ing hungrily for such scraps of news
as CHANGED to reach him. Mcnamara
allowed access TO none but his min
ions, SO tho partners knew but vague
" Of what happened on their prop
erty, even though. under fiction Of the
law, it was being work cd for their
protection
No steps regarding speedy hearing
OF the case were allowed and the col
fusion between Judge Stillman and the
receiver had become so generally rec
ognized that there were uneasy NUT
terlngs and threats In many quarters.
Yet, although the politician had by
now virtually absorbed all TIE richest
properties in the district and worked
them through his hirelings. the people
Of Nome, as whole. did not grasp the
full turpitude Of the scheme nor the
systems perfect working.
Strange to say Dextry. the fire eater,
had assumed an oriental patience quite
foreign to his peppery disposition and
spent much Of his time in the hills
prospecting
On this day. as the clouds broke
about noon. close down on the angry
horizon drift OF smoke appeared,
shortly resolving itself into q steamer.
she lay to In the of1ing. and through
his glasses Glenister saw that it was
the Roanoke. AS the hours passed and
no boat put off, he tried to hire a crew,
but the longshorcmen spat wisely and
| shook their heats as they watched the
surf.
There's the devil Of an undertow
settin along this beach," they told
him, land the waters too cold to
drownd in comfortable" So he laid
firm hands upon his impotence.
Every day meant many dollars to
the watcher. and vet 1t seemed that
nature was resoute in thwnrting him,
for that night the wind freshened, and
daylight saw the ship hug2ing the lee
of Sledge island, miles to the west
ward, while the surf. white as boiling
milk bocmed and Numbered against
| the shore.
Word had gone through the street
that Bill Wheaton was aboard with a
writ or a subpoena or an alibl or wha t.
ever was necessary to put the "kibosh'
on Mcnamara. SO public excitement
grew. Mcnamara boarded his gold in
the Alaska bank. and 1t was taken for
granted that there would lie the scene
Of the struggle. No one supposed fol
an instant that the usurper would part
with the treasure pcaceably.
On the third morning the ship lay
boat was seen to make off from her
whereupon the idle population stream
ed toward the beach.
Shell make it to the surf all right
but then watch out"
Wed better make ready TO haul EN-
out" said another Its mighty dan
gerous." And, sure enough, as the
skiff came rushing in through thu
breakers she was caught.
She had made 1t past the first line
soaring over the bar on a foamy role
crest like storm driven gull wingin.
in toward the land. The wiry fisur,
OF Bin Wheaton crouched in the stern
while two sailors fought with thei
oars. AS they gathered for their rusl
through the last zone OF froth n srea
comber rose out Of the sea benin,
them, rearing high above their heads
The crowd on the surfs edge shouted
The boat wavered, sucked back int,
the oceans angry nav. and with
crash the deluge engufed them. Their
remained nothing hut Il swlrling tioot
through which the lifeboat emerged
ings and gear.
Men rushed into the water, and tn
next roller pounded them, back upol
the marble hard sand. There came tn
sound OF splitting wood, and then
group swarmed in waist deep and Dor
out dripping figure. 1t was hemp
en- headed seaman, who shook the wa
ter from his name and grlnned whel
his breath had come.
A step farther down the beach tn
bystanders seized limp form whicl
the tide rolled to them. 1t was tn
second sailor, his scalp split from
blow of the gunwale. Nowhere wa
Wheat ton.
Glenister had plunged to the rescu
first. heaving line about his middle
and, although buffeted about, he ha
reached the wreck, only to miss sigh
Of the lawyer utterly. He had tim
for but q glance when he was draw,
outward by the undertow till the lin
at his waist grew taut, then the waite
surged over him and he was hurle
high up on the beach again. He STAG
! gered diZzily back to the struggle
when suddenly wave lifted the car
sized cutter and righted 1t, and GU
from beneath shot the form Of WheH
ton, grimly clutching the life ropes
They brought him in choking an
. breathl~s
IT got It." he said, slapping hi
streaming breast. ITS all right, Gler
lister knew what delay meant, so
took long chance with the surf" Tn
terrific ordeal he had undergone ha
blanched him to the lips, his legs wal
bled uncertainty, and he would hav
fallen but for the young man, VIII
thrust an arm about his waist and lie