The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-19
dContIns,ad.l

'sWaft ninuter' O'Neil siIenceo the two who were glaring at each other angrilys Don't let's have any fighting. There will be enough of that later"
 q spoke first" Dan repeated stub bornly.
 T had my mouth puckered to gpit, that's why,' the fat man explained. "A fellow has to spit
 -'T'd rather you wouldn't volunteer, Dan>" said O'Nel.
 .'Why?'s
 'sYou might get hurt
 Happy Tom nodded his agreement. -'CertRinlyi Never send q boy on a mans errand 2
 And don't want you to do it, either, Tom, for the same reason
 Slater numbled some sort of sour acQuiesrence. but Dan would not be denied
 You made the offer, and I took it up. he told O'Neil Somebody has to make the first move. and I have par ticular need fer exactly a thousand dollars. If they start . rumpus it will give us the excuse we're looking for. Ire been studying that sgo-devn through 6eldE1asses for two days nows and I'll guara ntee to put it out of com mission before Gordon's men know what I'm about Just forget the re- ward if you like, and give me a chance
 What's your plan 7'' Slater inquired eagerly, but Appleton shook his head.
 No, you don't Tommy!'' he said. I'm wise to ybu.D
 Murray hesitated briefly, then gHve his permission sTd rather you'd let pne of the roughnecks take the chance, sut if you insistT-
 sT do.s
 Then get your sisters consent
 Slater swore m0urnfulIy, as if from . heart filled with black despair.
 sAin't that my luck2 One cud of gum cost me $1O0o. Bosh. It would take millionaire to afford q habit like thatv lie expelled the gum vio- 1ently and went grumhllng on up the track
 ~sis won't object.Y said Dan lightly. She'd offer to do the trick herself, for she's getting the spirit of the work
 When O,Neil had managed to regain the escamp he began preparations for an attack that very night, using the tele- phone busf1v. News of the coming affray quickly spread. and both the day and night shifts discussed 1t ex- citedly at supper time
 After supper the camp settled itself to wait for darkness. Night was slow in coming, and long before Appleton signihed bis readiness speculation was rife. With the approach of twilight the torches along GordOn's grade be gan to glow brightly. Then Dan set bis watch with Happy Tom's. kissed EIfza and made Off across the tundra He left the S. R. and Y. at right angles, and continued in that direction for mile or more before swinging about in wide circle wbich brought him well to the rear of Gorden,s encampment
 Curtis Gordon was not in charge of his Geld forces, having left the com Hnand to his favorite jackaa, Denny. Beneath his apparent contempt for the law there 1urked certain caution He knew his rivals necessity. He ap- preciated his cunning, but, wishing to guard against the possibility of a per sonu humiliation, he retired to Kyak, where he was prepared to admit or deny as much responsibility as suited him. Denny had not forgotten O,NefPs exposure of his dishonesty, and his zeal could be relied upon He per sona1ly knew all the men under him, he had coached them carefully, and he assured Gordon of his ability to hold his ground
 Dan Appleton from his cover meas ured the preparations for resistance with some uneasiness, refecting that if Denny had the nerve to use fire arms he would undoubted-y rout OsNefI's men, who had not been per 1nitted to carry guns By the bright torchlight he could see figures coming and going along the grade like senti- nels, and from within the barricades of ties he heard others talking. The camp itself, which lay farther to the left, was lighted, and black siIhou- cites were painted against the canvas walls and roofs. Some one was play ing an accordion, and it's wai1ing notes came to him intermfttentIy He saw that steam was up in the boiler which operated the .go-devil,7 although the centrfvaace itself was stationary It was upon this that he eentered his at tentions consulting his watch nerv- ously.
 At lastE1O o'clock came, brin ging with 1t a sound which startled the nearby camp into activity. It was a shrill blast from an s. R. and N. locomotive and the grinding of car wheels. The accordion celsed it's complaint, men poured out of the lighted tents. Apple ton moved cautiously out from cover.
 He stumbled forward through the knee deep mud and moss, bearing slightly to his right, counting upon the confusion to mask his approach. He timed it to that of the gravel train, which came slowly cFealing nearer. rocking over the uneven tracks, then down upon the half. submerged rails