News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-12-01

y At last Ordes face cleared, and he
slapped down his tin plate violently.
81 have itv he cried aloud.
He instructed half dozen men to
provide themselves with saws, axes.
picks and shovels and march toward
the mill.
When near the structure the river
man saw the lank. black figure of the
mill owner mount Il bony old horse
and catter away into the forest.
Orde rapidly designated ten men of
his crew. You make things hum,
Y Get as much done as you can before
the sheriff comes. and when that sher-
III comes | want you to go peaceably.
Understands
Gave in? Not much" cried Purdy.
See here" and Orde drew them
aside in earnest conversation. When
he had finished he clapped each Of
them on the back, and all moved off,
! laughing, to the dam.
Now, boys" he commanded the
others, mo row without orders. If
| there's going to be a fight I'll give
! The wOrd''
The chopping crew descended to the
| bottom of the sluice. the gate of which
/ had been shut, and began Immediately
to chop away at the apron.
The work had continued nearly an
hour when Orde commanded the fifty
or more oilers back to camp.
quick now"
And leave them to fight alone?
Guess not" grumbled a tall, burly in
dividual.
Am l bossing this driver" demand
ed Orde
The riverman grOWled.
Smack. smack. sounded Ordes fists.
| The man went down in Il heap, but
Immediately rebounded to his feet.
Orde seized a peavy and stood with
the murderous weapon appraised.
- JIG. down, you hound, or I'll brain
you"' he roared at the top of his great
voice.
The man crouched, brcathless.
March, commanded Orde. You're
through"
The man sullenly arose and SLOUGH
ed away.
The other men turned to the trail,
leaving the ten at the sluice. When
within the fringe of the brush Orde
called a halt.
"Now. boys" he commanded, squat
down and lay low. If fight would do
any good you know mighty well I'd
fight And the boys won't be in Jail
any longer than it takes to get a wire
to DAILY to bail them out Smoke up
and don't bother"
They filed their pipes and settled
down to an enjoyment of the situa-
ton.
A half hour elapsed before the stu
alton developed further. Then Tom
NOrth's friend Jim. who had gathered
his long figure on the top of stump,
unclasped his knees and remarked that
old Plug Hat was back.
The men peered cautiously through |
the brush They saw Reed accompa-
MED by the sheriff. approach the dam. |
The working crew stacked their tools, |
resumed their jackets and departed |
with the sheriff.
well, I'll be derned!" calculated one |
of the concealed rivermen. That's the |
first time ever see one lonesome sher- |
if gather in ten river hogs without the |
aid of a Gatlin'."
Orde watched them disappear.
"Jim," said he land you. Ellis. and |
you. and YOU and you. and you, get to
work on that dam And remember
this-if you are arrested, go pcaceably. |
Any resistance will spoil the whole
game" The men broke into mingled |
cheers and laughter as the full sig
nifcance of Orde's plan reached them.
They streamed back to the dam.
Reed came out, eyes blazing.
Reed stormed back and forth for a
moment. then departed at full speed
up the road.
"Now. boys, get as much done as
possible" urged Orde. ave better get
back in the brush or he may try TO
arrest the whole billing of us on some
sort of blanket warrant"
"1ow about the other boys?' in
quired North.
81 gave one of them a telegram TO
send to DAILY" replied Orde. "Daly |
viii be up to bail them out"
Once more they hid in the woods.
and again. after a longer interval. the
mill owner and the sheriff reappeared.
Reed appeared to be expostulating vic
lently and number of times pointed
up river. but the sheriff went ahead
stolidly to the dam. summoned those
working below and departed up the
road as before. Reed stood uncertain
until be saw the rivermen beginning to
lowed the officer at top speed.