Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-01

you know about the girl herself? Who
is she. What Is her history"
Now, sir, I'm an awful poor detec-
tive confessed "Fingerless" Fraser.
i've often noticed that about myself.
If was the kind that goes shopping
around into other peopde's business,
listening to all the gossip I'm told, I'd
make a good witness. But amt. No,
sir! I'm a rotten witness"
Despite this indirect rebuke, Boyd
might have continued his question
ing had not George Balt's heavy step
sounded outside. A moment later the
big fellow entered.
What did you find at the traps?"
asked Emerson, eagerly.
Nothing" George spoke shortly.
The fish struck in this morning, but
our trap Is corked." He wrenched off
his rubber boots and flung them saw
agely under bench.
What luck with the boats?"
! "Not much. Marsh's men are trying
to surround our gill-netters, and we
amt got enough boats to protect our
selves" He looked up meaningly from
under his heavy brows, and inquired:
How much longer are we going to
stand for this?"
What do you mean? I've got men
out hunting for new hands"
You know what mean the giant
rumbled, his red eyes flaming. "You
and | can get Willis Marsh"
Emerson shot quick glance at
Fraser, who was staring fixedly at Big
George.
He's got us right enough, and it's
bound to come to killing some day,
SO the sooner the BETTER" the fisher
man ran on. Eve can get him tonight
II you say so. Are you in on it?'
Boyd faced the window slowly,
While the others followed him with
anxious eyes Inside the room death
like silence settled. In the distance
! they heard the sound of the canning
machinery, a sound that was now a
mockery. To Bait this last disaster
was the elimination of a persecution
SO pitiless and unf1agging that it's very
memory filled his simple mind with
the fury of a goaded animal. To his
companion it meant, almost certainly,
the loss of Mildred Wayland--the girl
who stood for his pride in himself and
all that he held most desirable. He
thought bitterly of all the suffering
and hardship, the hunger of body and
soul. that he had endured for her sake.
Again he saw his hopes crumbling and
his dreams about to fade; once more
he felt his foothold giving way be.
meath him, as it had done so often In
the past, and he was filled with sullen
hate. Something told him that he
would never have the heart to try
again, and the thought left him cold
with rage.
Ever since those fishermen had
walked out on the evening before, he
had chung to the feeble hope that once
the run began in earnest, Georges
trap would fill and save the situation;
but now that the salmon had struck in
and the trap was useless, his discour-
agement was complete; for there were
no idle men in Kalvik, and there was
no way Of getting help Moreover,
Mildred Wayland was soon to arrive
the yacht was expected daily-and she
would find him a failure What was
worse, she would find that Marsh had
lvanquished him. She had kept her
faith in, him. he reflected. but a
woman's faith could hardly survive
humiliation, and it was not in human
nature to lean forever upon broken
reed She would turn elsewhere-per-
haps to the very man who had con-
trived his undoing. At thought If
this, a sort of desperation seemed to
master him. he began to mutter
aloud
What did you say?" queried Bait.
IL said that you were right. The
time is close at hand for some sort
of reckoning" answered Boyd, in a
harsh, strained voice.
"Good!"
Emerson was upon the point Of turn
ing when his eyes fell upon picture
that made him start, then gaze more
intently. Out upon the placid waters,
abreast of the plant, the launch in
which Cherry had departed was ap-
preaching, and it was loaded down
with men. Not only were they
crowded upon the craft itself, but trail
| ing behind it. like the tail of a kite,
was long line of canoes, and these
also were peopled.
Look yonder!" cried Boyd
Cherry has got-a crew." His voice
broke, and he bolted toward the door
as Big George leaped to the window
"Injuns, by Cod" shouted the giant,
and without stopping to stamp his
feet into his boots, he rushed out bare
foot after Boyd and Fraser; together,
the three men reached the dock in
time to help Cherry up the ladder.
what does this mean?" Boyd asked
her, breathlessly will these fellows
work?"
That's what they're here for" said
the girl. After her swarmed crowd
of slant-eyed, copper-hued Aleuts:
those in the kyaks astern cast off and
padded toward the beach.
"I'v got fifty men, the best on the
river; tried to get more, but-there
aren't any more"
"Fingerless" Fraser slapped himself
resoundinglv upon the thigh and ex-
ploded profanely. Boyd seized the
girls hands in his and wrung them.
Cherry, you're a treasured" The
memory of his desperate resolution Of
moment before swept over him sud-
denly, and his voice trembled with a
great thankfulness.
"Don't thank mel" Cherry ex-