Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-07-05


On tie heels Of this came cTamof01s
court petitions from ranch owners be
low the dam site, setting forth the
flood dangers to which they were ex-
posed and praying for an injunction to
stQp the work..
That this was a new move on Stan
toms part, neither Smith nor Stillings
questioned for a moment; but they no
sooner got the nervous ranchmen paci-
fed by giving an indemnity bond for
any damage that might be done, than
other rumOrs sprang up. For one day
and yet another Smith fought mechan-
ically, developing the machinelike dog
gedness Of the soldier who sees the
battle going irresistibly against him
and still smites on in sheer despera-
ton. He saw the carefully built or
ganiEatiOn structure, reared by his own
efforts upon the foundation laid by
Colonel Baldwin and his ranchman as
sOciates, falling to pieces. In spite Of
all he could do, there was a panic of
by the persistent story of the unsafety
of the dam, was threatening to cancel
the lighting contract with TimanyOni
High Line; and KfnZie, tho Ugh he was
doing nothing openly, had caused the
word to be passed far and wide among
the Timanyoni stockholders, disaster
could be averted now only by prompt
action and the swift effacement Of their
rule-Or-ruin secretary and treasurer.
They're after you, John" was The
way the colonel put it at the close Of
the second day of back-slippings. "They
say you're fddlin' while Rome's a.
burnin. Maybe you know what they
mean by that; I don't"
Smith did know. Durir g the two
days of stress Miss Verda had been
very exacting There had been another
night at the theater and much time
killing after meals in the parlOrs of the
HOphra house. Worse still, there had
been a daylight auto trip about town
and up to the dam. The victim was
writing miserably under the price
paying, but there seemed to be no help
for it. Since the night Of Verda Rich
lander's arrival in Brewster, he had not
seen Corona; he was telling himself
that he had forfeited the right to see
her. Out of the chaotic wreck Of
things but one driving motive had sur
viyed, and it had grown to the stature
of an ObsessiOn: the determination to
wiring victory out Of defeat for Timan-
yoni High Line; to fall, if he must fall,
fighting to the last gasp and with his
face to the enemy.
81 know" he said, replying, after the
| reflective pause, to the charge passed
on by Colonel Dexter. 'There is a
friend of mine here from the East, and
have been obliged to show her some
attention, so they say am negIecting
my job. They are also talking it
around that am your Jonah, and say
ing that your only hops is to pitch me
overheard"
That's Dave Kinzie," growled the
Missourian. "He seems to have it in
for you, some way"
Nevertheless, he was right" Smith
returned gloomily. Then: 81 am about
at the end of my rope, coloneI-the
rope I warned you about when you
brought me here and put me into the
saddle; and I'm trying desperately to
hang on until my jobs done. When it
is done, when TimanyOni High Line
can stand fairly on it's own feet and
fight it's own battles, I'm gone"
"Oh, no, you're not" denied the
ranchman-presiden in generous pro.
test. "You come on out home With me
tonight and get away from this middle
for q few minutes. It'll do you heap
OF good; you know it always does"
Smith shook his head reluctantly but
firmly.
"Never again, colonel. It can only be
a matter of a few days now, and I'm
not going to pull you and your wife
and daughter into the limeIight if I can
help it."
{ Colonel Dexter got out of his chair
and walked to the office window. When
he came back it was to say: Are they
.sure-enOugh chasing you, John?-fol
something that you have done? Is that
what you're trying to tell me?'
"That is it-and they are nearly here
Now you know at least one of the rea.
sons why can't go with you tonight
| III be shot if dol" stormed the
generous one. II promised the missus
I'd bring you"
"YOu must make my excuses to her;
and to Corona you may say that [ am
once more carrying a gun. She will IN.
Sderstand."
(Which means, take it, that you've
been telling CORY more than you've
told the rest Of us. That brings on
more talk, John. I haven't said a word
before, have II"
NO"
"WeI, I'm going to say it now: I've
got only just one daughter in the wide,
wide world, John"
Smith stood up and put his hands
behind him, facing the older man
sQuarely.
Colonel, I'd give ten years Of my
life, this minute, if I might go with you
to Hillcrest this evening and tell Co.
roma what have been wanting to tell