The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-21

Ludlow was as good as his word. On
the night following the day Of sus-
pense an attempt was made to wreck
the Inclined railway running from the
mines on Lebanon to the coke yard.
1t was happily frustrated; but when
Tom and his handful OF guards got
back to the foot of the hill they found
fire started In pile of wooden TASKS
heaped against the end of the foundry
building.
The fire was easily extinguishable
by a willing hand or two. but Tom
tried an experiment. Steam had been
kept up in a single battery of boilers
against emergencies. and he directed
Helgerson to throw open the great
gates while he ran to the boiler room
and sent the firecall Of the huge siren
whistle shrieking out on the night. The
experiment was only meagerly success
full. Less than a score of the strikers
answered the call, but these worked
with a will, and the fire was quickly
put out.
Tom was under the arc-light at the
gates when the volunteers struggled
out. He had a word for each mana
word of appreciation and a plea for
suspended Judgment. Most of the men
shook their heads despondently. but
side of law and order. Tom took the
names of the few, and went back to his
guard duty with the burden a little
lightened. But the succeeding night
there were more attempts at violence.
three Of them so determined as 70
leave no doubt that the crisis was 1T
hand. This was Toms discouraged
admission when his father came to re-
lieve him in the morning.
We're about at the end Of the rope"
he said, YEARLY, when Caleb had closed
the door of the Lighthouse yard office
behind him. THE two Helgersons are
played out. and neither of US can stand
this strain for another twenty-four
hours. I'm just about dead on my
feet for sleep. and know you are.
know what I'm going to do. had =
phone wire from Bradley, the sheriff.
last night after you went home. He
funked like boy: said he couldn't
raise q posse in South Tredegar that
would serve against striking workmen.
Then wired the governor. and his an
swer came an hour ago. We can have
the soldiers II we make q formal de-
mand for them"
But, Tom. son; you wouldn't do
that" protested Caleb, TREMENDOUSLY.
Lets try to hold out a little spell lon
ger. Buddy. It'l be like fire to tow;
there'll be men killed-men that I've
known since they were boys: men
killed. and women made widders. Tom,
I've seen enough Of war to last me-"
Il know" said Tom. None the less.
he found telegraph blank and began
to write the message. There had been
shots fired In the night, in q sally on
the inclined railway. and one Of them
had scored his arm. II the rioters
needed the strong hand to curb them.
they should have It.
Tom signed the call for help, read II
over methodically. and placed It be-
tween dampened sheets In the letter.
press. He had pushed the electric but
ton which summoned Stub Helgerson.
when the door opened silently and Jefr
Ludlow's boy thrust face and hand
through the aperture.
We'll: what is it," demanded Tom.
more sharply than he meant to. The
strain was beginning to tell on his
nerves
Hits letter for you-all from Mr..
Stamford at the dee-po." said the boy.
He allowed maybe you'alpd gimme a
nickel for bringin' hit"
The coin was found and passed, and
the small boy was whooping and yell
ing for Helgerson to come and let him
through the gates when Tom tore the
envelope across and read the telegram
1t was from the Indiana city. and 1t
was signed 10y the chairman OF the
Board OF Public Works.
Proposals for water-pipe have been
reopened. and your bid is accepted
Wire how soon you can begin to shin
eighteen inch MAINS" was what It said
Tom handed 1t to his father and step
per quickly to the telephone There
was a little delay in getting the ear ef
the president Of the Iron City Nation
al at South Tredegar, and the bound
ing. pulsing blood OF impatience made
It seem interminable.
rs that you. Mr.. Henniker? This Is
| Gordon at the Chiawassee plant Cor
donna. We have secured that Indiana
contract / was telling you about, and
I'll be IN to see you on the 10 o'clock
train. VIII you save five minutes for
| mel? Thank you. Good by"
Tom hung the ear-piece on Its hook
and turned to face his farther.
Have you surrounded lit" he laugh
ed, with q little Quaver Of excitement
in his voice. which he had been careful
| to master In the announcement to the
| bank PRECEDENT I'VE live, pappy: we
live and win! Get word to the men to
como up here at 8 o'clock for their pay.
Tell them we blow In again to-mor-
row. and they can all come back to
work and no questions asked"
In gladstone easing Of the strain were
the wheels Of Chiawassee Consolidat-
ed oiled to their new whiflings on tho
road to fortune. II Caleb Gordon re-
membered how the miracle had been
wrought. he said no word 70 clench his
disapproval; and - for Tom ah. we'll:
It was not the flrst time in the history
Of the race that the end hAs served 10
Justify the rneanD q make them
clean and white and spctless. e need
were.
Il CHAPTER XVII
How TOM Gordon had informed him
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