The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-08
PROLOGUE.

With wildly shrieking horn disturb
ing the very solitudes OF the distant
hills. and with pale and terror
stricken chauffeur bending over the
wheel. the limousine OF David row
ers millionaire lumber king, tore
through the granite gateway OF MS
beautiful residence and dashed madly
along the shrub bOrdered driveway
toward the marble porch.
Powers himself-tyrant boss OF
thousand underfed workmen-Was
on the steps. Anxiety was betrayed
by every line OF his working features.
Perry Travis. his legal adviser. was
with him. and as the machine came
to a sudden stop before them, us
grinding wheels sending up shower
OF fine stone and gravel. Powers was
seen to pause and turn an instant
toward the younger man as II tor
support.
He had heard the piercing. clank-
ing notes Of the horn long before the
machine was in sight. He knew the
temper of his men. He realized that
his affairs we're approaching a crisis.
And he was afraid-afraid with the
pitiful fear which comes over strong
men when they realize that the con-
fronting danger is OF their own crea-
ton.
With trembling limbs the chauffeur
climbed from his seat and averted his
fear distended eyes. as with unsteady
hand he pointed to the broken window
pane in the door OF the handsome ma
chine. The small round hole, with its
pattern OF radiating cracks, like a
serried and shattered mirror. told Its
own story. Nothing but bullet could
have made a break like that.
Mastering his own emotion with su'
preme effort, Powers stepped toward
the machine, and with firm hand-for
his was a will OF iron-he opened the
door. From out OF the luxurious in
terror he lifted the inert body OF his
beautiful daughter and pressed her to
his bosom-a bosom that was racked
and torn with partly stifed sobs.
Gently-gently as when she had
been an infant some twenty years
ago-he carried her into the house
and tenderly-oh. 30 tenderly ne
placed her on a divan.
David Powers sank on one knee be
side the cot, and then slowly his body
seemed to shrivel and sag, much like
q half.filled bag OF meal. as with q
complete surrender to grief he threw
himself prone upon the floor and utter
cd the single word.
Dead"
Travis stood silently beside thu
stricken father, unable to think Of
move. The young woman who la!
there a victim to the wickedness tina
the tyranny OF her father had stirred
In the breasts Of his workmen, hat
been his fancee. and his sorrow wa
but little less than that Of the age
nized parent.
David Powers was known as tn
man who never smiled during bus
ness hours He was known as tn
man whose employees all feared hin
He was known. too, as one OF the mos
successful lumbermen in the bushes
on the Pacific coast and all VIII
neering. and with a genius for organ
xation, he could get more work o,
Of less men for smaller wages tina
any man In the state Of California
u that is. more than any man excel
one. And the man who excelled hi
a. Q driver Of men, the man WI
could extract one more ounce OF labt
for one 1.-THE less Of wages was jail
Snyder. the chief foreman. pugnaciou
hard as nails. finty-hearted and e
tirely without sentiment
Jake made an ideal driver for
sxacting a boss as Powers. Wat'
him now on this morning sever
weeks before the shooting Of Lau
Powers. Watch him as he tai
among the men there on the do
and on the boat Note the feveri
anxiety with which the men bend
their tasks when he glowers in the
direction.
Powers had Just driven up to b
ONCE In his high-powered six and b
sent to Jake.
The millionaire was looking over G
market column OF the morning pap
when his foreman entered and
never lifted his eyes from the absor
ing sheet until the field command
had drawn his chair up close to b
employers desk.
There was no word OF greeting
tween the men.
Pointing . pudgy finger first at {
newspaper and then at the nose OF
foreman. the millionaire spoke terse
and harshly:
"Lumbers high In the East. jail
Drive your men to the limit and q
that shipment east while prices he
up."
There was . grim cruelty In Jak
eyes and just tinge OF smile on !
arm. thin lips A. be ansvere
They're pretty near the limit no
but ! guess Ne can speed EN- up
BIT
BEFORE HIS RISE TO FAN
Noted Avthsr Has Graphically
ss~<a4 n Sun~fs - vs,y<h "a Claf