The daily Alaskan., 1912-03-23

shoot any man who gave the scheme away. The prpOser agreed to get himself posted as to the route, and the time of arrival of the women in the neighborhood. and volunteers were forthcoming to watch the territory be tween the Flat and the Gulch to make sure that the secret was not trans mitted.
 Deadhend station-so called from the fact that no man who boarded a train there would pay his fare-was the point of junction between Quartz Gulch and the railroad. Tbe station was fifteen miles from the Gulch and ten miles from the Fiat. The school master rode over and learned from the telegraph operator the day and hour the women would arrive Their train would reach the station at 6 o'clock in the morning.
 At 8 o'clock the same morning a company marched from the Flat escort ing several empty wagons to a station on the railroad six miles farther east than Deadhead When the train drew up at the platform committee pur- porting 10 be Gulghers went aboard the train and politely invited the Ia- dies Co alight. statinc tha they had decided Co take them of there h. stead of Deadhead The women i'm uedIntely gathered their belongings and left the train There werr twen- ty of them, and they filled the wagons that had been brought Co carry them to Pine Flat. whither they were escort ed by the citizens of that place.
 When the train arrived at Deadhead without its precious freight and the Butchers learned how they had been tricked their fury was like that of a raging prairie fire. They held con ference, st whirb-for half an hour all talked at once. thus losing half an hour. By the time they were ready Co listen 10 reason it was evident that their property would arrive In the enemy's camp long before the Butchers could get there and the FIatters would have abundant time to plan defense. VII kins. wbo saw that they had been out wittcd beyond hope of recovery. coun- seled return Co tbeir shanties and sending for another rarload of the same kind of freight He contrived to bring enough of thc ruCn to his way of thinking Co render it impossible for the taw FnrFo The disappointed men returned to the Gulch, some curslns thC misnanage mcnt Of those in charge Of the affair, some swearing vengeance on the Flat ters. while one crusty old fellow who had been married, but had gone west 10 escape from termagaut wife. saId they didn't know when they were well otT.
 wilkins set himself euergeticaliy about getting new shipment. but the eastern parties wbo had made the con signmcut would do aothing further till they had heard from the women who had already been sent The reports they made were at first not reassuring At Icast the consignurs looked upon the carrying off Of the women by those for whom tbey were not intended as in. di.aHve of a very wild social condi- ton and wrote Wilkins that they would take no further steps as to future con signments
 When this communication was re ceived the men of Quartz Gulch. who were called together Co hear 1t read, re- solved. every one. to march against their enemies and either get the wom- pu or die. Six weeks had elapsed, and. though the distribution Of twenty wo. men as partners for more than a hun Tred men came very near breaking up the settlement. it was finally left Co the former to choose their mates. which they did. and soon the women were all married. They did not know tin the last wedding had taken place that they were captured property. But this made no difference to them. In- deed they rather admired their bus bands for their enterprise.
 But one day a citizen of the Flat came Vanoping into town shouting. "The Butchers are comlngr Every ablebodied man. some with rifles. the rest with revoIvers. were marching on The town The Flatters had at first looked for th.s invasion and prepared themselves for it. but after so long an interval was unexpected. The long roll was beaten. or, rather. a biz dinner bell was rung iu the center of the town. tbe signal that had been agreed on six weeks before when the robbery had been perpctrated. On the arrival of the enemy the defenders of Pine Flat. or, rather. Of the twenty wives within it were drawn up ln battle array. and as soon as the former were within shoot ing distance the light began
 But few had fallen. and they only wounded. when the wives ran out and, l rushing in between the hostile lipes, ! forced the contestants Co cease firing ! Then they told the men who had come ! for them that they were married. were already engaged In beautlfylng their homes and that nothing would induce | them to leave their husbands. The Butchers. they said. might as we'll go back home, for even If they conquered ] fho vtornon tvouId nof ro with them