Gilpin observer., 1917-05-24
Fourth Episode.

Lie urdInalC coup Dy WnlCn Helen
acquired title to the boom rights on
the Oregonia and thereby frustrated
the schemes of the Amalgamated,
made her popular heroine in the
camps Of the Independent lumbermen,
who came to regard her as their cham
pion in the unequal struggle they were
waging with the great monopoly.
With the boom rights in undisputed
possession of one so avowedly friendly
to their cause, the independents now
felt that they were reasonably secure
from the Vaccinations Of the trust.
But in this conclusion she failed to
make allowance for the whims Of ma
ture, which, in the newer, wider
regions, frequently proved more dan
gerous and vindictive than in settled
country.
The summer and autumn which fol-
lowed the filing of Helen's claim was
the driest that the lumberlands had
known within memory Of the oldest in
habitant. In five months there had
been little or no rain. The cultivated
lands, ordinarily vivid green, were
now brown from drouth. Forest rang
ers watched night and day for fires in
the tinder-like woods. Where, in
normal years, leaping torrents ran,
there were now stony, dried-up water
the Calapooia and the Oregonia having
dwindled into Insignificant streams.
The question that confronted the
lumbermen was as to how they were to
get their logs from the forest to the
river at Ell Captain. And to this ques-
ton there was but one answer possi-
BILE. They must pocket their pride and
ship over the railway owned by the
Amalgamated.
This they might have been permit
ted to do without interference until the
rains permitted them to resume river
booming, had not Rupert Holmes, re-
turning from New York, learned by
the merest chance what his competit-
Ors were doing. Then he got busy.
"Send Carruthers here" ordered the
magnate.
'What's happened, CarruthersY de-
manded Holmes, as the manager ap-
peared. II see the railway has actual
ly been making money.
Account of the independents"
grunted Carruthers, they've been
forced to ship over our line, and Gee
how 1t does hurt 'em to do it. This is
only temporary business, though. As
soon as there's enough water In the
river they'll begin booming again."
For some moments Holmes sat
silent, drumming on his desk with
pencil.
"Carruthers," he said at last, ''we're
not going to carry any more logs for
those fellows. Its only playing their
game. They're not going to boycott
this railway when things are going
smoothly with them and then fall back
on 1t when they're in trouble. Send
a wire to Clancy at Dawsonville that
he's not to accept any more shipments
Of logs from the Independents"
'Think that's safer protested Car
ruthers. ut would be Just like that
scrappy bunch to drag US into court on
a conspiracy charge or something of
that kind 49,. Besides, II you send q
wire. She's still on the job. you know"
"That's right" agreed Holmes, 1T
wouldn't be safe. If she got hold of
message It would make things very
uncomfortable indeed. Mark my words,
Carruthers, there's a D. clever
girl -. think I'll run down to Daw-
sonville tonight. You'd better come
along and, while / think Of It, wire
Behrens to meet us there"
"A wire from Mrs. Holmes, sir" an.
nounced the private secretary, enter
ing as Carruthers left.
The message informed Holmes that
his wife would leave San Francisco by
night train and arrive in Seattle In the
morning.
"H'm," grunted the lumberman.
"Wire Mrs. Holmes to leave the train
at Dawsonville and join me there"
When Holmes and Carruthers
reached Jacksonville the following
morning, the former found Behrens
waiting on the station platform.
Holmes briefly explained to him and
to Clancy, the local agent, how mat.
ters stood with regard to lumber ship
ments.
mot another foot Of lumber owned
by the independents is to go 6ver our
rails" he concluded, emphatically.
docs the order go into effect nowr'
demanded Clancy.
"1nstanter," was the response.
Tom Dawson was about to climb into
his engine cab on the start for Ell
Captain when he heard his name
shouted and turned to see the agent
running toward him across the tracks,
whats up?" inquired Tom, curl
ously.
"Uncouple. Tom." ordered Clancy,
You're not going out today"
'There1l be h to pay II these logs
don't get down to El Captain tonight" I"
commented the young man.
"Yes, and there'll be Fitch hot To nav