The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-10-06
CHAPTER XVII.
Tia Neo.yom,nJso.

Sixty-odd hours before the expiration
Of the time limit, BARLEY Williams,
lean and somber-eyed from the strain
he had been under for many days and
nights, saw the presidents gray road-
ster blowing its way through the mesa
sand on the approach to the construc-
ton camp, and was glad.
"Tve been trying all the morning to
squeeze out time to get into town." he
told Baldwin, when the roadster came
to stand in front Of the shack COM
missary. "Where is Smith,"
The colonel threw up his hand in a
gesture expressive Of complete detach-
ment.
"Don't ask me. John has gone plumb
loco In these last two or three days.
It's as much as your life's worth to
ask him where he has been or where
he is going or what he means to do
next"
"He hasn't stopped fighting" said
the engineer, half aghast at the bare
possibility.
"Oh, no; he is at II harder than
ever-going 1t just shaving too
strong, Is what I'd tell him, IL he'd let
me get near enough to shout at him.
Last night, after the theater, he went
around to the Herald Office, and the
way they're talking 1t on the street,
he was aiming to shoot up the whole
newspaper joint If Mark Allen, the edi-
tor, wouldn't take back bunch Of the
lies he's been publishing about the
High Line. 1t wound up in scrap
Of some sort. don't know who got
the worst of 1t, but John isn't crippled
up any, to speak of, this morning-only
In his temper"
Williams shook his read. IT guess
well have to stand for the crouch, II
he'll only keep busy. He has the hot
end Of 1t. We couldn't very well get
along without him. right now, colonel.
With all due respect to you and the
members of the board, he is the fight
ing backbone Of the whole outfit"
"He is that" was Baldwin's ready
admission. HE is just what we've
been calling him from the first, Bart
ley-a three-ply. dyed-in-the-wool won
der in his speciality. He Is fighting
now like man In the last ditch, and
1 believe he thinks he is In the last
ditch"
1T will be only two days more
said the engineer, saying 1t as one who
has been counting the days in keen
anxiety. And then: "Stillings told me
yesterday that we're not going to get
an extension Of the time limit from the
state authorities"
mo; that little fire went out, blink
lust as Smith said 1t would. Stanton's
hackers have the political pull-in the
state as we'll as In Washington. They're
going to hold Ne 70 the letter Of the
law"
"Let 'em do 1t. Well win out yet-
IL we don't run up against one or hotf
| of the only two things I'm afraid OF
now: high water, or the railroad call
| down."
"The railroad grab2 Have you heard
anything more about that?"
'aThat is what I was trying to get t.
town for; to talk the railroad business
over with you and Stillings and Smith
They've had gang here this morn
ing-a bunch of engineers, with {
stranger, who gave his name as Hal
lowell, in charge. They claimed to b
verifying the old survey, and Hallowel
notified me formally that our dam STOOD
squarely in their right Of way for
bridge crossing of the river"
"They didn't serve any papers OF
you, did theyf" inquired the colone
anxiously,
~No; the notice was verbal. Blu
Hallowell wound up with threat. HI
said, You've had due warning, legally
and otherwise, Mr.. williams. This Il
our right Of way. bought and paid for
as we can prove when the matter get
into the courts. You mustn't be sur
prised II we take whatever steps maj
be necessary to recover what belong
to u.s."
"Forcef" queried the Missourian
with a CLINT Of the border fighters firs
In his eyes,"
Maybe. But we're ready foI hat