Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-27

their only market. All their fish were
Sold for cash TO John Trevena. If he
bought the fish he needed for his GUS
toners elsewhere at lower price,
what was 10 become Of The Polpenny
fishermen?
AS John Trevena drank his coffee
that morning lie regretted that he had
accepted the steam company's offer.
When the steamer hove in sight. a
group Of highly INDIGNANT fishermen
were waiting on the quay OF the little
harbor to welcome it.
Whats TO do. lads" asked one.
viii zee stand quiet and see the bread
taken out o. our children's mouths?"
Remember the winter that's COM
ing" said another. land let's pitch his
fish over the side dreckly he comes
into harbor..'
NAY; lets prevent him landin' at
all" suggested third Lets out WI
the boom. SOS he can't get inv'
The entrance to Polpenny harbor
WAS Il passage between two rocky
cliffs. ut the outside twenty-five feet
wide. and the boom was Il heavy beam
which was placed across this entrance
on stormy nights to serve the double
purpose of breaking the force of the
waves and preventing any of the boats
being washed out to sea.
The village policeman. who had been
listening with interest. entered an Of
fetal protest
Look here mates" he said 81
doan't say as doan't sympathize wi
zee. but the laws the law. and I've got
to do my duty. Any one as Illegally
prevents ship from entering will ha'
to be arrested"
''All right. Ned" exclaimed Bob Pen
gelly Us won't do anything illegal"
illegal or not. us have got TO keep
that chap hanging about outside with
his cargo till it's gone bad" said an
old fisherman surIily.
Hes took up wi Trevena's daugh-
ter" jeered another. $50 O. course he
stands IN for the old Skinfiint.'
It's all off with Trevenas daugh
ter declared Bob holly, "and l be
going TO teach Trevena a legal lesson
all by myself"
He jumped into big. clumsy, leaky
old rowing boat, such as you may see
rotting in any harbor. She was al
ready half full. and he made no at
| tempt to bail her out, but pushed Off
| standing IN water up to his knees. By
| the time he had poled the boat across
| the basin sic was in imminent danger
OF sinking. but lie managed to keep heI
afloat till the fairway was reached
and then let her sink as nearly as
possible in the middle and swan bach
10 his mates on the quay.
/. There" he laughed to the consta
bic. II couldn't help having an acct
dent and getting sunk right in the har
Dor mouth. could I:'
With her deeper draft no steamer
could enter that shallow little harbol
now, however high the tide. but the
light, handy little fisher boats could
go in and out as usual.
Hes done me-" said John Trevens
to his daughter "By shutdown they'll
have TO throw the lot overheard, anC
| shall have to pay just the same"
ut was too bad of you. father, t.
buy them at ALL" Hilda answered
You ought to have thought of the fish
ermen.''
Hold your tongue!" he said angrily
Cant l make a bargain when it's of
fered me-"
He stood there thinking
THAT fish could be landed in tn
steamers boats as sure as my name
john he announced. He took dow,
; his fowling piece and deliberately load
ed it
"Oh. father" Hilda exclaimed. aghas
BE quiet" he snapped and stake
out to the group on the quay.
''Those pilchards are coming ashor
now. my lads he said determindedly
Cowed. each afraid that if John TT,
: vena fred he would be hit, they stay
, ed and watched in sullen silence Il
the last boat load had been carried int
tho factory.
Fearing that the factory would b
broken into in the night and the fis
destroyed. John Trevena insisted upo
| keeping watch there with his fowlin
| piece.
] Hilda. alone in the house, tossed III
I happily in her bed She was utterl
miserable and could not sleep.
r Suddenly she jumped out of bed an
V ran to the window, frightened by Q
unnatural glare in the sky. The fis
9 factory was on fire. Some UNCOVER
I" able spirits among the fishermen ha
chosen that way of revenging Their
>, selves.
# Hastily throwing on some clothe
she rushed out. making her Wa
r. through the crowd of onlookers straigl
to Bob Pengelly. their quarrel forge
r ten. her instinct urging her to turn
% the man she loved
where's my father?" she cried. la
ing trembling hand upon his arm.
|, Isn't he at home in bed?" b
h queried anxiously.
n No" she moaned. HE would speI
the night In the factory ON guard. q
e save him, Bob!" she pleaded. II
IS didn't really mean any harm. Dot
let him be burned to deathr'
e. "I'll save him. dear" Bob answer,
/ shortly. This be none O. my work."
n And without more ado he plung,