Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-09-14

why had 1t failed? And what ha
Chambers been after?
He must have known that there wa
no money In the safe. The mems pa.
came up monthly by special messen
ger. and was handed out the same eve
ming. II would arrive on the Monday
Chambers could not have been afte
spoil OF that kind.
Wilton looked through Joe's paper,
again. Everything seemed intact. an,
nothing had ever been tempered with
II must have been that Chambers tool
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 p he gasped. somebody's
been telling them the safes full OF
money and that they're going 10 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
Wiltaai. eat least. there's oaly one
Enuan COMMUNICATIONS already.
no, never mind wiITt ] mean 4 don't
want blOodshed. I'll open II and show
1t TO them" lie turned to one of the
engineers. Take four men with you
and hurry to the store. and see that no
harm comes 10 Miss Mcdonald and
her father he ordered. And take
this he added. picking the revolver
out Of the drawer and handing II TO
You'd better come too, Mr.. Carruth-
ers." the man suggested.
NO. 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 thai
they were armed, and stood off. ours
ing them.
Speak up r'eshouted Wilton. "What
Is 1t you men want?"
The shouts died away TO n muifer
ing. A spokesman stepped forward.
we want the money in the safe,
and wen have i'll" 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
Ii over"
Evidently somebody had beer telling
the men that tale.
There's no money In the safe" he
answered. "Send O deputation Of three
men and you can examine IT,"
The Hunkies, who for the most part
understood him very well. looked at
n 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 youl"
he yelled. .Smash his head for him,
Give them what's coming to them y.
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.
stant's hesitation would follow, seized
II 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.
dealt him a smashing blow
that knocked him senseless. He
took the revolver and turned
and faced his assaIlants.
'Now, 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 walt out.
After a pause three of the workmen
Wilton +
took them inside the shack, opened the
safe door and took out the contents
by package.
Satisfied there's no money!" he
asked.
Il guess that's So" admitted the
leader OF the men, reluctantly
Then get out" said Wilton, driving
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
Ieader was gone. Andersen and one
Df the engineers picked up Tonguay
and brought him into the shack. Thee
man was still unconscious. However 4
ne showed signs of coming to shortly. I
Jules is dead" said Wilton quietly 1
Jules deadf" shouted Andersen.
Murdered. IL was Lee Chambers :
he must have been hanging round the !
He got into the safe. too, but
was scared away before be took any