Homepage
Login
Profile
BookClubs
dmBox
Read Ebook: Puella mea by Klee Paul Artist Modigliani Amedeo Artist Picasso Pablo Artist Roesch Kurt Artist Cummings E E Edward Estlin
Font size:
Background color:
Text color:
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page Prev Page
Ebook has 167 lines and 14690 words, and 4 pages
"You can't go any further!" he growled. "Turn back an' git off this land! You're trespassin'!"
"Oh, I think not," said Mr. Ford, pleasantly.
"Now I advise you to go slow, my big friend," put in the constable. "I'm from the court, and I have authority in this matter that goes above even Jallow's."
"All I know is that my orders is not to let any one on here exceptin' Mr. Jallow's men," growled Hank.
"Where is Mr. Jallow?" asked Mr. Ford.
"Over there," and Hank pointed.
"Then we'll settle with him. Drive on, Ted."
"I don't see how I kin let ye!" whined Hank. He had lost much of his bluster now.
"You don't have to let us. We'll do it without, Hank!" spoke Paddy, suddenly. At the sound of his voice--for up to now Hank had not seen the lumberman--the burly guard started slightly.
"Paddy Malone!" he gasped. "You back!"
"Yes, and I guess Jallow won't be any more glad to see me than you are," was the grim comment.
There was no further hindrance to their progress. The sound of chopping grew louder, and a little later the sled turned into a clearing, about which were strewn many big, fallen trees. Mr. Ford's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"They haven't hauled out much of my timber," he said. "We are just in time!"
A man came running from a group. He held up a warning hand.
"You'll have to get out of here!" he cried.
"Who says so?" asked Mr. Ford.
"Mr. Jallow sent me to tell you."
"Well, you tell Mr. Jallow to come here himself. We want to see him."
The man hesitated a minute and then set off on the run.
"Here comes Jallow now," observed Will.
"Oh, I hope there won't be any trouble," murmured Amy.
"Don't worry," said Mr. Blackford, who sat beside her.
"Here, what do you want?" blustered Mr. Jallow, as he came up. "Oh, it's you; is it, Ford? Well, you haven't any more right here than any one else. Get off. This is my land--the courts have awarded it to me."
"Under a misapprehension--yes. Because of false boundary lines--yes, Jim Jallow!"
"Who says the boundary lines are false?"
"I do!" cried Paddy Malone, standing up in the sled, and leaning on his crutch. "I say the lines were changed, Jim Jallow, and you know it! I saw the right marks put, but they were shifted, and I'm ready to testify that you paid me to keep out of the country while you changed 'em."
"That isn't so!" stormed Jallow. "Who would believe you?" but he paled, and was obviously ill at ease.
"I guess they'll believe me when Mr. Ford and Dick Norbury testify to the same thing," said Paddy, coolly.
"Dick Norbury--why, he's--dead!" gasped Jallow.
"Not much!" cried Paddy. "He's very much alive, and I've got a letter from him in my pocket now, saying he'll come on any time he's wanted and testify as to the right boundaries."
Mr. Jallow stood with open mouth. As the saying goes, all the wind had been taken out of his sails.
"I guess you had better give up, Mr. Jallow," said the court officer. "I'm here to take charge of this land until the matter is officially settled. In the meanwhile no more trees must be cut. That is a court order, and here is a copy of it. I serve it on you, and violation of it means contempt, with heavy penalties."
"The jig is up, Jim!" cried Paddy. "I told you I'd get even with you!"
Mr. Jallow said not another word. He was beaten at every point, and he knew it. His men crowded up around him.
"Shall we go on cutting?" asked the foreman.
Mr. Jallow hesitated a moment.
"No," he said, in a low voice. "Better stop--I guess."
"I may want you men to work for me," put in Mr. Ford. "I intend to go on cutting this tract, as soon as the court formalities are over. If you like you may remain in camp until it is time to go to work again. I'll hire you."
A cheer greeted this announcement. The men had looked rather blank at losing their work in the middle of winter.
"Well, it's all over," said Grace, as the sled turned homeward. "And it wasn't so terrible; was it, Amy?"
"No, indeed. Oh, I'm so glad your father has won, dear."
"I guess we all are," spoke Betty. "Now we can enjoy the rest of our stay in camp without having to worry, and we can go where we please. Can you stay, Mr. Blackford?"
"Yes, for a few days more."
The court formalities did not take long, and soon the title of Mr. Ford to the disputed land was confirmed. The change in boundary lines was shown, and, had he so desired, Mr. Ford could have proceeded against Mr. Jallow. But he preferred not to, since he had not really lost any of the valuable timber.
"Besides, there is no use making Alice feel any worse than she does," said Grace. The Jallow camp had been broken up, since it was on Mr. Ford's land, and Alice, her mother and guests had gone back to Deepdale. Our friends held undisputed sway in the woods.
Christmas was approaching. There was but about a week more in the woods, when, one fine warm day--that is, warm for that time of year--the party of young people set off for a tramp in the forest.
"I guess we had better be getting back," he observed with a smile. "They may be anxious about us."
"Yes," agreed Amy. "But it is so wonderful here--in the winter woods. I feel I could stay--forever!"
They walked along a narrow path. There was a movement in the trees over their heads.
"What is that?" asked Amy, suddenly.
"A bird, I guess. Did you think it was a bear?"
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page Prev Page