Gilpin observer., 1917-08-09
BY E. ALEXANDER POWELL
eosTnaNJ q . AlsLAsassl 1ovaA

camps was situated. That the situa-
tion here was fraught with danger no
one attempted to deny, for the sight Of
the strike-breakers had aroused the
men to fury and throughout the camp
were heard ominous whispers and NUT
tered threats. So tense was the situa-
ton that Helen, who was staying ut
Merced Falls in order that she might
be near the scene of action, did not
go to bed. Shortly before midnight
there was rap at her door. 1t was
Tom Dawson.
II think you had better come over to
the camp, Helen," he said. "There's
trouble brewing and you're the only
person who has influence enough with
the men to stop it. The men are in
very ugly mood, but they may listen
to you. Holmes and Behrens arrived
an hour ago and there's no doubt that
they're trying to start a row. That
would put the strikers In wrong, they
figure, and would give them an excuse
for using their weapons. The strike
breakers are oil armed and If they
once start shooting it'll be a mass
acre."
When Helen reached the camp she
saw at glance that the situation was
critical. The strikers had barricaded
themselves in the lOg-walled bunk and
mess houses and were defying Holmes
and his strike-breakers to oust them.
A huge bonfire had been started and the
leaping flames Illuminated the forest
~ H., nl, ~AN
though 1t were day. By it's light Helen
could see that most of the strike-break-
ers were armed. That they intended
to use their weapons there could be
no possible doubt. Moving about, evil
IDENTIFY giving instructions to his men,
she spied the tall, burly figure Of
Holmes. From the fashion in which
he was disposing his men 1t was evil
dent that he intended to attack the en-
trenched strikers. If a pitched battle,
with its resultant loss of life, was to
be prevented, Helen realized that she
must act quickly. There was no time
to spare. The only possible course was
for her to pocket her pride and go to
Holmes and beg him to call off the
men. If he would consent to that the
impending clash would be at least
temporarily averted. And II he re-
fused to listen to her-well, she could
do nothing more.
Pushing her way through the line Of
strike-breakers, who had been drawn
up in rough formation, she started
walking briskly toward Holmes. who,
contemptuous Of danger, was standing
in the full glare Of the fire deep in
consultation with his lieutenants. Tom
Dawson was still at Helen's side and
Morrissey had also Joined them. AS
she emerged into the glare of the fire,
the strikers, instantly recognizing her
slender, short-skirted figure, OWNED
the object Of her mission and COM
menced cheering. "Hurrah for Miss
Helen!" they rOared. "Hurrah for the
lumbermen's friendw Holmes, startled
by the sudden uproar, suddenly swung
about to ascertain its cause. At that
instant, from one of the knots Of
strike-breakers, came the angry bark
Of a revolver. That 1t was deliber-
ate attempt to assassinate Helen or
one Of her companions there could be
no doubt, but the bullet missed her by
the hairs breadth, finding it's billet in
stead in the body Of Rupert Holmes,
whose sudden movement had brought
him within range. He clapped his
hand to his breast, reeled, stumbled,
attempted to recover himself, and, his
strength abruptly failing, crumpled to
the ground. So stunned were the on
lockers by the sudden tragedy that no
one saw man replace in his pocket n
smoking revolver and disappear in the
darkness. 1t was Behrens, who be-
fuddled with drink, had thought to
kill Helen and had killed his employer
instead"
Helen and Tom Dawson were the
first to reach the wounded man. While
she supported his head Tom tore open
his coat, vest and shirt. At sight Of
the wound he shook his head.
Through the lungs" he said. "He
hasn't much chance" After the wound
had been hastily bardnged with strips
of linen which Helen tore from her
skirt, Holmes was placed on an
improvised stretcher to be carried to
Merced Falls, where he could receive
proper medical attention. With the
shooting all danger Of n clash between
the strikers and the strike-breakers
disappeared. The latter were now
without leader and the strikers them
selves were frankly startled ut the
tragedy which had so suddenly over
taken the president Of the Amalga-
mated.
The following afternoon Helen was
ut home In Dawsonvllle when the tele-
phone rang sharply.
'This is Mr.. Fnirchlld, Mr.. Holmes
lawyer, speaking" said n cold clear
voice. II wish to speak to Miss Helen
Dawson"
"You are speaking to her." said