Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-05-26

the p. & S. F. Norcross armed his
track-layers, and in the bluffing there
was man killed."
Though it was warm night, as I
have said, the cold chills began to
chase themselves up and down my
back. What Hatch said was perfectly
true. In the right-of-way scrap he
was talking about, there had been
few wild shots fired, and one of them
had found P. & S. F. grade laborer.
I don't believe anybody had eyer real
ly blamed the boss for it. But there
had been man killed.
While l was shivering, Clanahan
said: "Well, what av it?"
"NorcrOss was responsible for that
mans death. If he was having trouble
over his right-of-way, his recourse was
to the law, and he took the law into
his own hands. Nothing was ever
done about it, because nobody took
the trouble to prosecute. A week ago
we sent man to Oregon to look up
the facts. He succeeded in finding
brother of the dead man, and war
rant has now been sworn out for Nor
cross arrest"
'Well?" said Clanahan again. aye
have the stirring in yer own hand;
why don't We pull it?"
'That's where you come in,'' was the
answer. 'The Oregon justice issued
the warrant because it was. demanded,
but he refused to incur, for his county,
the expense Of sending deputy sheriff
to another state, or to take the neces-
sary steps to have Norcross extra
dited. # Norcross could be produced
in court, he would try him and eithe,
discharge him or bind him over, as
the facts might warrant. He took his
stand upon the ground that Norcross
was only technically responsible. and
told the brother that in all probability
nothing would come of an attempt to
prosecute"
"Thin we've got nothing on him,
after ALL" the Irishman grunted.
"Yes," Hatch came back; tive have
the warrant, and, in addition to that,
we have you, Pete. A word from you
to the Portal City police headquarters,
and our man finds himself arrested
and locked up-to wait for requisi-
ton from the governor of Oregon"
"But you said TIL requisition wouldn't
come" Clanahan put in.
Hatch was sitting back now and
stroking his ugly jaw.
ut might come, Pete, If it had to {:
there's no knowing. In the meantime
we get delay. There'll be habeas cor
pus proceedings, Of course, to get him
out of Jail, but there's where you'll
come in again; you've got your own
man for city attorney. And, after all,
the delay is all we need. With Nor
cross in trouble, and in Jail on I, charge
Of murder, the railroad ship'll go on
the rocks in short order. The Nor
cross management is having plenty
Of trouble-wrecks and the like. With
Norcross locked up, New York will be
heard from, and Dismuke win step in
and clean house. That will wind up
the reform spasm."
"'Tis small chance" groNled the
chief of the ward heelers. I'LL talk
it over with the big fellow"
Again Hatch leaned forward and
put his hands on his knees.
"You'n do nothing of the sort, Pete.
You'll act, and act on your own re-
sponsibility. II you don't, somebody
may wire the sheriff Of Silver Bow
county, Montana, that the man he
knew in Butte as Michael Clancy
ts.
The divekeeper put up both hands
as If to ward off blow.
"'Tis enough" he mumbled, speak
ing as If he had bunch of dry cotton
in his mouth. "Slip me IT, warrant"
Hatch went to small safe and
worked the combination. When the
door was opened he passed folded
paper to Clanahan. Through all this
talk, Henckel had said nothing and
l suspected that Hatch had him there
solely for safety's sake, and to provide
a witness. With the paper in his
pocket, Clanahan got up to go. It
was time for me to make move.
It's curious chow an idea will some
times lay hold Of you and knock out
reason and common sense and every
thing else. Clanahan had in his pocket
a piece Of paper that simply meant
ruin to Mr.. Norcross, and the blowing
up Of all the plans that had been made
and all the work that had been done.
II he should be allowed to get up town
with that warrant, the end Of every
thing would be In sight. But how
was I to prevent 1T
The three men were on their feet,
and Hatch was reaching for the wall
switch which controlled the single in
candescent lamp hanging from the
ceiling Of the scale-house. II could
only think Of some way to blow the
place up and snatch the paper in the
confusion.
Up to that minute I had never
thought once Of the pistol I had taken
from Fred Mays drawer, though 1t
was still sagging in my left hip pocket.
When did think Of it I dragged 1t
oy,k xr,(<y> eo,,,, cs11,, rokao,, 20 k,.,,s, :.