The Hartford herald., 1910-03-16

'The sheriff win be here pretty
quick now"
"And leave them to fight alonc7
Guess not" grumbled tall, burly In
dividual.
"Am bossing this driver demand
ed Orde.
The riverman growled.
Smack, smack. sounded Orde's fists.
The man went down in a heap, but
Immediately rebounded to his feet.
Orde seized a peavy and stood with
the murderous weapon upraised.
"Lie down, you hound, or I'll brain
your he roared at the top of his great
voice.
The man crouched, breathless.
"Marchw commanded Orde. You're
through"
The man sullenly arose and slouch-
ed away.
The other men turned to the trail,
leaving the ten at the sluice. When
within the fringe Of the brush orde
called 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 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 a 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 dernedv calculated one
Of the concealed rivermen, "rhat's the
first time ever see one lonesome sher-
iff 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 peaceably.
Any resistance will spoil the whole
game" The men broke into mingled
cheers and laughter as the full sig
nificance 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. eve better get
back in the brush or he may try to
arrest the whole billing Of us on some
sort Of a blanket warrant"
"How about the other boys?" in
quired North.
81 gave one Of them telegram to
send to DAILY" replied Orde. "Daly
will be up to ball them out"
Once more they hid in the woods,
and again. after longer interval, the
mill owner and the sheriff reappeared.
lently and a 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 he saw the rivermen beginning to
re-emerge from the brush, then fol-
lowed the officer at top speed.
Without the necessity of command a
half dozen men leaped down on the
apron. The previous crews had made
considerable progress In weakening
the heavy supports. AS soon as these
should be cut out and the backing re-
moved the mere saving through Of
the massive sill should carry away the
whole obstruction.
At 4 o'clock the sheriff made his
third appearance, this time In a side
bar buggy.
II wish ! dared join that confab,"
said Orde. but he'd jug me sure"
HE wouldn't jug me-" spoke up
Newmark. III go down" The young
man departed In his precise, method
ical manner. About sunset he re-
turned.
"Well?" the crew demanded.
"Reed wanted the sheriff to stay and
protect the DAM" reported Newmark.
SHERIFF refused. Said his duty was
simply to arrest on warrant and as
often as Reed got out warrants he'd
serve them. Reed said then he
should get a posse and hunt up Orde
and the rest of them. Sheriff replied
that as far as he could see the terms
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