The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-06

> szrs~ strHEBE HE IS MEN HE TRIED TO MURDER ME"
 burst out anew: Don't stand there like a lot of fools. Why don't you get him ?''
 of I stabbed him must have had a knife" Emerson said, again checking the forward movement. f'You may search me if you like. Seer" He opened his coat and displayed his belt.
 He's got six shooter" some one said
 .'9es, and II may use it.' said Emer- son quietly.
 eff he hasn't a knife then he must haae had friend with him.
 'EThen tell your men what we were doing in bere and how you came to be alone with US in the dark" Emerson stared at his accuser curiously. but the trusts manager seemed at a loss. .'See here. Marsh. if you will tell US whom you were choking maybe we can get at the truth of this affair.""
 Without answering Marsh rose and, leaning upon the Watchman's arm, said:
 Help me up to the house, Pm hurt. Send the launch to the upper plant for John. He knows something about medicine.'' With no further word he made his way out of the building, fol- lowed by the mystified fishermen.
 No one undertook to detain Elmer son, and he went his way, wondering what lay back of the nights adven- ture He racked his brain for hint as to the identity of the woman and I<r,n n Marsh ir g-lzh a place.
 CHAPTER XIV.
 @AHE main body of salmon struck
 into the KalvK river on the
 first day of July. For a week 0 past the run had been slowly growing while the canneries tested themselves, but on the opening day of the new month the horde issued boldly forth from the depths of the sea, and the battle began in earnest.
 At times they swam with cleaYing Gus exposed. Again they cturned the placid waters until swift combers raced across the shallow bars like tidal waves, while the deeper channels were shot through with shadowy forms or pierced by the lightning glint of sill vered bellies. They streamed in with the flood tide to retreat again with the ebb, but there was neither haste nor caution in their progress. They had come in answer to the breeding call of the sea, and it's Nexultation was upon them, driving them redentF h. ward. They had no voice ,afnst it's oveMmastering spell.
 The time had come for man to take his toll.
 At Emerson's cannery there fell sudden panic, for fifty fishermen quit Returning from the banks on the night before the run started, they stacked their gear and notified Boyd Emerson of their determination. Then, despite his utmost efforts to dissuade them, they took their packs upon their shoul- ders and marched up the beach to Will lis Marsh's plant. Larsen, the day foreman, acted as their spokesman, and Boyd recognized too late the result of that conversation he had interrupt ed on the night of his visit to Cherry.
 This defection diminished his boat crew by more than half, and, while the shoremen stoutly maintained their loy- atty, the chance of putting up a pack seemed lost Boyd swallowed hfs pride and went straightway to his enemy. He found Marsh well recovered from his flesh wound of week or more De- fore, yet extremely cautious for his safety, as he evidenced by conducting the interview before witnesses.
 'sWe are short handed, and gave instructions to secure every available man." he announced at the conclusion of Emerson's story. Ut is not my fauit if your men prefer to work for me"
 ''Then you force me to retaliate," said Boyd '1 shall hire your men out from under you"
 Marsh laughed pEovokingly.
 '@Try it! I am a good organizer. IT nothing else. If you send em1ssar1es to my plants it will cause certain VIo- lence, and I tbink you had better avoid that, for we outnumber you ten to one"
 Emeason left in disgust. Nor had he hit upon any method of relief when Cherry came down to the plant on the following morning. She inquired straightWay:
 'cWhat are you doing about it? You can't afford to lose an hour"
 'sI have sent a man to each Of the other plants to hire fishermen at any price, but I have no hope that they will succeed. Marsh has his crews too well in hand for that
 Cherry nodded. t'They wouldn't dare quit him now. He'd never let them return to this country if they did Meanwhile the rest of your force is on the banks, presume"
 'sYesn
 "How many boats have you%
 s"Ten.''
 To be Continued.1