Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-10-12

burglary was being committed. But
why had it failed? And what had
Chambers been after?
He must have known that there was
no money in the safe. The mems pay
came up monthly by special messen-
ger, and was handed out the same eve
ming. 1t would arrive on the Monday.
Chambers could not have been after
spoil of that kind.
Wilton looked through JOe's papers
again. Everything seemed intact, and
nothing had even been tempered with.
1t must have been that Chambers took
fright after the murder.
Suddenly Andersen came running
across the smoking ground, followed
by some half-dozen of the engineers.
The foreman came painting up to the
door Of the shack.
"The men are crazy drunk, Mr.. Car
ruthers, and they're planning to attack
the office! he gasped. somebody's
been telling them the safes full of
money and that they're going to be
ldlu OIL DeCduSe Ol llle uIe.
Wilton reflected a moment, while
the engineers gathered anxiously about
him.
"They can't open the safe" said
Wilton. AT least, there's only one
man can, and he's been at it already.
No, never mind what | mean! l don't
want bloodshed. I'll open it and show
it to them" He turned to one of the
engineers. take four men with you
and hurry to the store and see that no
harm comes to Miss Mcdonald and
her father" he ordered. "And take
this" he added, picking the revolver
out of the drawer and handing it to
him.
You'd better come too, Mr.. Carruth-
ers," the man suggested.
mo, I'll stay here" said Wilton.
Hurry"
The engineer picked four men and
they hurried down the road. Andersen
and two others remained with Wilton
Hardly had the party left when the
mob came streaming out of the bunk
houses toward the office, shouting and
yelling.
Seeing the four men standing in the
doorway, however, they hesitated to
rush them, probably in the belief that
they were armed, and stood off, ours
ing them.
Speak up" shouted Wilton. "What
! is it you men WantW
The shouts died away to q mutter-
ing. A spokesman stepped forward.
1--WE want the money in the safe,
and We'll have it! !" he shouted. "We
all know you set the fire because the
lines busted, and you've got the safe
chock-full of money. You've worked
US like dogs all summer, and now
you're going to lay US off because the
company's busted. You'd better hand
| 1t over"
Evidently somebody had been telling
| the men that tale.
There's no money in the SAFE" he
answered. "Send deputatiOn of three
men and you can examine it,"
The Hunkies, who for the most part
understood him very well, looked at
one another uncertainty. They were
as docile as lambs without leadership.
But they had a leader; the outlaw
| TOnguay stepped forward out of the
| crowd.
"Come along, boys, he's fooling you ~
| bo .,nllo1 tSp1acb bic hood for him
Give them what's coming to them"
But he skunk back into their midst
as the believing mob rushed forward.
Wilton noticed that he was lingering
ed till the mob was close upon the
shack. He had calculated that an in
stant's hesitation would follow, seized
il and sprang into their midst strik-
ing out right and left and telling a
drunken laborer at every blow. AS
Tonguay fumbled desperately with the
trigger of the weapon in his pocket,
Wilton dealt him a smashing blow
that knocked him senseless. He
stopped, took the revolver and turned
and faced his assailants.
snow, men," he said crisply. "I've
told you that you shall examine the
safe, and I'll keep my word Three of
you enter. The rest will wait out
side"
After pause three of the workmen
came forward uncertainty. Wilton
took them inside the shack, opened the
safe door and took out the contents
package by package.
Satisfied there's no money! he
! asked.
81 guess that's So" admitted the
leader of the men, reluctantly.
Then get out" said Wilton, driving
them toward the door.
The three rejoined their companions
and, with sullen mutterings, the work
men lurched away aimlessly, and to
tally unable to unite on any further
plan for aggression now that their
leader was gone. Andersen and one
Of the engineers picked up Tonguay
and brought him into the shack. The
man was still unconscious. However
he showed signs Of coming to shortly
UTulpc 10 daod ooid xutl.n., .,,io.I,.