Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-01-03


frst day OF July. For weel
~ past the run had been slowI!
growing while the canneries teste,
themselves. but on the opening day 0
the new month the horde issued bold.
forth from the depths Of the sea. ant
the battle began in earnest.
At times they swan With cleavinl
fms exposed Again they churned tn
placid waters until swift comber'
raced across the shallow bars Iik,
tidal waves. while the deeper channel!
were shot through with shadowy form!
or pierced Ly the lightning CLINT of sil
vered bellies. They streamed In will
the food tide to retreat again with tn.
ebb. but there was neither haste mol
caution in their progress. They haG
come in answer to the breeding coll Of
the sea. and its exultation was upor
them. driving them relentlessly on
ward. They had no voice against its
overmastering spell.
The time had come for man to taks
his toll.
At Emerson's cannery there fell g
sudden panic. for 6fty 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 shout.
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 detection diminished his boat
crew by more than half. and. while the
shoremen stoutly maintained their 10y
atty. the chance Of putting up pack
seemed lost. Boyd swallowed bis pride
and went straightway to bis enemy.
He found Marsh we'll recovered from
his flesh wound Of n week or more be-
fore, yet extremely cautious for his
safety. as he evidenced by conducting
the interview before witnesses.
1--WE are short handed. and I gave
instructions to secure every available
man." he announced at the conclusion
of Emerson's story. 1T is not my fault
II your men prefer to work for me-"
"Then you force me to retaliate."
said Boyd. Il shall hire your men out
from under you"
Marsh laughed provokingly.
"Try 1t! I am good organizer. II
nothing else. If you send emissaries
to my plants 1t will cause certain vio-
lence. and l think you had better
avoid that, for we outnumber you ten
to one"
Emerson 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:
What are you doing about It? You
can't afford to lose an hour"
II have sent man to each Of the
other plants to hire fishermen ut any
price. but l have no hope that they
will succeed. Marsh has his crews too
we'll in hand for that
Cherry nodded. ''They wouldn't
dare quit him now. He'd never let
them return to this country II they
did. Meanwhile the rest Of your force
Is on the banks. I presume"
Eyes"
"How many boats have your
"Ten"
"Heavens! And this Is the first cay
Of the run! 1t looks bad. doesn't It?
Has the trap begun to fill?"
mo. George Is down there now.
guess Marsh succeeded In corking 1t.
Meanwhile all the other plants are
working while my Chinks are playing
fantan. seem to bring misfortune
upon every one connected with me.
don't ?" he added. 'T'm afraid In a
poor Sort"
How boyish he was. the girl thought
tenderly. yet how splendidly brave he
had been throughout the fight! There
was voiceless. maternal yearning In
her heart as she asked him gravely:
IF you fail now It will mean-the
end Of everything. will 1t not?"
"Yes." He squared his tired shout.
ders. "Rut am not beaten yet. You
taught me never to give up. Cherry.
II ! have to &c back home without Il
catch and see billiard take this plant
over. why-Tll begin once more ut
something new. and some day will
succeed. But shant give up. III
can what salmon we catch and then
begin all over again next season.
"And-suppose you don't succeed?
Suppose billiard won't carry you?"
"Then l shall try something else.
Maybe shall go to mining again. I
don't know. Anyhow. she would not
let me grow disheartened II she were
here. She wouldn't let me quit. She
isn't that sort"
Cherry Malotte stirred and shifted
her gaze uncertainty to the cleaning
bay. Abreast Of them the feet of !
fishing boats were drifting with the
tide. In the distance others were dot
ted clear away to where the opal
ocean lay. tug was passing. and
she saw the sun flash from the cargo
In its tow. while the faint echo Of
song came waiting to her ears. She
stood so for long moment, fighting
with herself. then wheeled
upon him suddenly. There was a new
tone in her voice as she said:
III you will let me have one Of your
l may be able to help you"
''How?" he demanded quickly.
"Never mind how. It's q long chance
md hardly worth trying. but-may !
axe the boat?"
tsNorta }ulv c0}d no asThoro's ono