Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-06
CHAPTER XIV.
"a strong Man Armed.

it was rather trancelike rigor OF
concentration, with each and all Of the
newly emergent powers once more
springing alive to answer the battle
call. At the desk-end Starbuck sat
with his hands locked over one knee.
too disheartened to roll cigarette.
normal solace for all woundings less
than mortal. After a minute or two
Smith jerked himself around to face
the news-bringer.
"Does Colonel Baldwin know" he
asked.
..Sure! That's the worst Of 1t. Didn't
tell you? He drove out to the dam,
reaching the works just ahead Of the
trouble. When M'Graw and the posse
outfit showed up, the colonel got it
Into his head that the whole thing was
nerely another trick Of Stanton's-a
fake. Ginty, the quarry boss, brought
the news to town. He says there was
a bloody mix-up, and at the end Of 1t
the colonel and Williams were both
under arrest for resisting the officers"
Smith nodded thoughtfully. "Of
course; that was just what was needed.
With the president and the chief Of
construction locked up. and the wheels
blocked for the next twenty-four hours.
our charter will be gone"
ssThis world and another, and then
the fireworks" Starbuck threw in.
with the property all roped up in q
law tangle, and those stock options Of
yours due to fall In, 1t looks as If q
few prominent citizens Of the Timan-
yoni would have to take to the high
grass and the tall timber. It sure
does, John"
.t.Do you know. Billy, I have been
expecting something Of this kind-and
expecting 1t to be a fake. That's why
sent Stillings to Red Butte; to keep
watch Of Judge Lorching's court. Still
ings was to phone me II Lorching is
sued an order"
a.'And he hasn't 'phoned you7"
..No; but that doesn't prove any
thing. The order may have been Is
sued, and Stillings may have tried to
let us know. There are a good many
ways in which a mans mouth may be
stopped-when there are no scruples
on the other SIDE"
AThen you think there is no doubt
tlat the court order is straight. and
that this man MGraw Is really .
deputy marshal and has the law for
what he II doing7"
I'm the absence Of any proof to the
contrary. we are obliged to believe 1T
OR at least to accept It But we're
not dead yet Billy, it's run
ming In my mind that we've got to 60
out there and clean up Mr.. NGraw
and his crowd"
Starbuck threw up his hands and
made noise like q dry wagon wheel.
! Holy smoke!- 60 up against the
whole United States7" he gasped.
Smiths grin showed his strong, even
teeth.
.'Starbuck, you remember what I
told you one nightAthe night !
dragged you up to my. rooms in the
hotel and gave you a hint Of the rea-
son why I had no business to make
love to- Corona Baldwin,"
sYep."
swell, the time has come when I
may as well Ill out the blanks in the
story for you" And with Billy look
ing straight into his eyes, he did 50.
At the end Starbuck was nodding so
berly. "You sure have been carrying
back-load all these weeks, John,
never knowing what minute was going
to. be the next. Now I know about
this Miss Rich-pastures. She knows
you and she could give you away II
she wanted to. Has she done It. John"
.No !; but her father has. Stanton has
got hold Of the end Of the thread, and.
willie I don't know 1t definitely, It IL
practically certain he sent q wire. II
the Brewster police are not looking for
me at this moment, they WIN be short
". That brings rs back to this High
Line knockout. Az the matter stands,
I'm the one man IN cur outht who has
absolutely nothing to lose. ! am an
onicer Of the company, and no legal
notice has been served upon me. Can
you all out the remainder Of the or
sdor9'
mo, nj IS switched II I cant"
'4Then IN al It for you. SO far as
know-lesally. you understanding
raid has never been authorized by the
courts; at least, that 10 what I'm GO
inE to assume until the proper papers
have been served on me. Therefore ]
am free to strike ono final blow for
the colonel and his friends, and I'm
going to do It, II I can.dodge the police
long enough to get action"
Starbuck's tildng chair righted itself
with 9 crash. 81 Is n 1893 5,55'l
.sYou've thought It. all out?-just
how to 60 ct it7'
ssEvery move; and everyone Of them
astraight bid for q second penitentiary
sentence"
2..All right. said the mine owner
briefly. Count me In" .s
- : o. :isso1 NATION only, vas the
brusque reply. s'You have stake IN
the country and q good name to main-
tain. have nothing. But you can
ten me ! few things. Are our work
men still on the grounds'
Yes. Ginty said there were only a
few stragglers who came to town with
him. Most OF thu two shifts are stay
ing on 70 ret their Day--or until they