Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-23

CHAPTER xVIII.-Continued.)
The docks of the big, lOw-ly1ng
steamer were piled high with gear or
every description. A trio of stout tow
boats were blocked up amidships, long
piles of lumber rose higher than a
mans head, and the roofs of the deck
houses were damned with fishing boats
nestled, one inside the other, like pots
in kitchen. Every available inch was
crowded with cases of gasoline, OF
groceries, ard OF the varied provisions
required on an expedition OF TINS
magnitude. Aft on rows OF hooks, were
suspended the carcasses OF sheep ana
bullocks and hogs; there seemed 10 pc
nowhere another foot of avallabie
room. The red water line Of the ship,
was already submerged, yet notwith-
standing this fact her derricks Changed
noisily, her booms swung back ana
forth, and her gaping matches swai-
lowed momentary loads. Those fisher.
men who had come aboard early had
settled like flies in the rigging, whence
they tainted their enemies, hurting
back insult for insult.
It was much like the departure OF q
gold steamer during the early 1amlhe
stages of the northward stampede
save that now there were no women
while the confusion was immeasuraply
greater, and through it all might De
felt a certain strained and angry
menace. All the long afternoon me
Bedword Castle lay at her moorlngs
subjected to the customary eleventh
hour delays. AS the time dragged on'
and the liquor died in the fishermen,
it became a herculean task to preVent
them from issuing forth into the street,
while the crowds outside seemed pos
sessed of desperate determination tc
force an entrance and bring the issue
to a final settlement. But across tue
shore end of the dock double cordon
was drawn which hurled back the IN
truders at every advance.
The fishermen who renamed lnslde
the barnlike structure, unable 10 colhe
at their enemies, fought among them
selves. bidding fair to wreck the Dullu-
ing in the extravaganza OF tneil
delirium. while outside the rival rae
ton kept up fire Of missiles ana
excavations. AS the hours crept on
ward the tension increased, and at
last Boyd turned to Captain Peasie =,
saying: You'd better be ready 10 pun
out at any minute, for II the moD
breaks in we'll never be able TO nolu
these maniacs." He pointed TO tne
black swarm aloft, whence issued
hoarse waves of sound. II don't ike
the look Of things, little bit"
"They are a trife strained, 10 pe
sure.'. the captain acknowledged. I II
stand by to cast of at your signal, so
you'd better pass the word around.
Boyd left the ship and went to the
dock-offlce, for there still remained one
thing to be done; he could not leave
without sounding final note OF tri.
ilmph for Mildred. How sweet IL woula
he to her ears he knew full well, yet
he could not help wondering II she
would feel the thrill that mastered MIN
at this moment. AS he saw the empty
snaces where had stood those masses
Of freight which he had gathered at
such cost, as he heard his own men
believing defiance at his enemies ana
realized that his first long stride To-
ward success had been taken, MS
heart swelled with gladness ana the
breath caught momentarily in his
throat. After all, he was going to WIN!
Out of the shimmering distance OF MS
desire. the lady of his dreams drew
closer to him; and ere long he could
Law at her feet the burden of his ira
vail and then. Oblivious to the tur'
moii all about, he wrote rapidly, al
most incoherently, to Mildred, trans
cribine the mood Of mingled tender
ness and exultation which possessed
him.
"Outside the building" he concluded
"there is raging mob. They would
ruin me if they could, but they cant
do it, they cant do 1t. We have beaten
them all, my lady. We have won! :
He was sealing his letter. when,
without warning. "Fingerless' Fraser
appeared at his side, his fishlike eyes
agleam, his colorless face drawn with
anxiety. -,
.aThey've come to grab you for kill
ine that striker he began GREATNESS
": there's a couple OF 'squaretoes'
on the dock now Better take 1t on the
m'-quick!"
"God!" So Marsh had withheld this
stroke until the last moment. when the
least delay would be fatal. Boyd knew
that if he were brought into court ne
would have hard shift to clear himself
against the mass of perjured testimony
that his rival had doubtless gathered;
hut even this seemed as nothing IN
comparison with the main issue. Foe
one wild instant he considered sending
George Bait on with the ship. That
would be folly, no doubt; yet plainly ne
could not hold the Bedford Castle aud
keep together that raging army OF fish
ermen while he fought his way through
the tedious vexations of trial. He
saw that he had underestimated his
enemy's cunning, and he realized that,
If Marsh had planned this move, he
would press his advantage to the full.
"There's two plain-clothes men," he
heard Fraser running on. II made 'em
as they were talking to Peasley. You'd
better beat it, quick!"
"How? l couldn't get through that
crowd. They know me. Listen!" Out
side the street broke into roar at
some taunt Of the fishermen high up in
the rigging. Il can't run away, and II
those detectives get me, I'm ruined.
"Well! What's to be done?" de-
manded Fraser, sharply. IF you say
49, 1,ord we'll shoot it out with them