Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-10-14

ty away from the office, while the
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 ottice!" he gasped Somebody's
been telling them the safes full of
money and that they're going to be
laid off because of the fire.
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! | don't
want bloodshed. III 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 of, ours
ing them.
Speak up" shouted Wilton. "What
is it you men want?"
The shouts died away to n mutter-
ing. A spokesman stepped forward.
I'VE want the money in the safe,
and Wen have it" he shouted. Owe
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, aud now
you're going to lay us off because the
! company's busted. You'd better hand
! it over"
Evidently somebody had been telling
/ the men that tale.
There's no money ia the safe" be
| answered. ~SenG a deputation Of three
men and you can examine it,"
The iunkies. who for the most part
understood him very We'll. 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 footing you"
| he yelled smash his head 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
a revolver in his coat pocket. He wait
/ ed till the mob was close upon the
/ shack. He had calculated that an in
stants hesitation would follow. seized
/ it and sprang into their midst strik-
/ ing out right and left and telling a
| drunken laborer at every blow. As
/ Tonguay fumbed desperately with the
/ trigger Of the weapon in his pocket.
/ Wilton dealt him a smashing blow
/ that knocked him seuseless. He
/ stopped, took the revolver and turned
and faced his assailants
Nov, men, he said crispiy.~ "Tye
{ I0iU ON titul SDA NAA"'A 'fetAtiiit4C tiF
safe. and III keep nay word. Three Of
you enter. The rest will wait out
side"
After a pause three Of the workmen
came forward uncertainty. Wilton
took them inside the shack, opened the
safe aoor and took out the contents
package by package.
Satisfied there's no money! be
asked.
81 guess that's So" admitted the
| leader Of the men, reluctantly.
Then get out" said Wilton, driving
them toward the door
Tae three rejoined their companions
and. with sullen mutterings. the work
men lurched away aimlessIy. and 90
tally unable 10 unite on any further
| plan for aggression now that their
| header was gone. Andersen and one
Of tie engineers picked up Tonguay
and brought him into the shack. The
| man was still unconscious. However,
| be showed signs Of coming to shortly.
Jules is dead" salS wilton quietly.