Part 7 (1/2)

”We've been told to go ahead here,” said the ”boss.”

”I don't care what yeh've been told. You all know me, don't you?” Ward slapped his breast. ”You know me? Well, I say stop that chopping on my--understand?--on _my_ land.”

Parker, who was in advance of the choppers with his instruments, heard, and came plowing through the snow. He found Colonel Ward roaring oaths and abuse, brandis.h.i.+ng his fists, and backing the crew of a dozen men fairly off the right of way. Ward's own band of ”Gideonites” stood at a little distance, grinning admiringly.

Parker set himself squarely in front of the old man, elbowing aside a woodsman to whom the colonel was addressing himself. The young engineer's gaze was level and determined.

”Colonel Ward,” he said, ”you are interfering with my men.”

The answer was a wordless snarl of ire and contempt.

”There's no mistaking your disposition,” continued Parker. ”You have set yourself to balk this enterprise. But I haven't any time to spend in a quarrel with you.”

”Then get off my land.”

”Now, see here, Colonel Ward, you know as well as I that my princ.i.p.als have complied with all the provisions of law in taking this location.

This road is going through. I am going to put it through.”

”Talk back to me, will you? Talk to me! ni--I'll--” Ward's rage choked his utterance.

”Certainly I'll talk to you, sir, and I am perfectly qualified to boss my men. Go ahead there, boys!” he called.

”A moment, Mr. Parker,” broke in the suave voice of the lawyer. ”I see you don't understand the entire situation. Briefly, then, Mr. Ward has a telephone-line across this carry. You may see the wires from where you stand. I find that your right of way trespa.s.ses on Colonel Ward's telephone location. In this confusion of locations, you will see the advisability of suspending operations until the matter can be referred to the courts.”

”There is room for Colonel Ward's telephone and for our railroad, too,”

he retorted. ”If we are compelled to remove any poles, we'll replace them.”

Of course Parker did not know that the telephone-line was, in fact, only Colonel Ward's private line, and after the taking by the railroad was on the location wholly without right. But that was a matter for his superiors, and not for him.

”Another point that I fear you have not noted. Colonel Ward's telephone wires are affixed to trees, and your men are preparing to cut down these same trees in clearing your right of way. You see it can't be done, Mr.

Parker.”

There was an unmistakable sneer in the lawyer's tones. Parker's anger mounted to his cheeks.

”I'm no lawyer,” he cried, ”but I have been a.s.sured by our counsel that I have the right to build a railroad here, and I reckon he knows! I've been told to build this railroad and, Mr. Attorney, I'm going to build it. I've been told to have it completed by a certain time, and I haven't days and weeks to spend splitting hairs in court.”

”No, I see you're not much of a lawyer!” jeered the other. ”Mr. Parker, you may as well take your plaything,” pointing to the engine, ”and trundle it along home.”

”We'll see about that!” Parker s.n.a.t.c.hed an ax from the nearest man. ”Mr.

Lawyer, you may _go_ back to the city and fight your legal points with the man my princ.i.p.als hire for that purpose, and enjoy yourself as much as you can. In the meantime I'll be building a railroad. Men, those trees are to come down at once.” He began to hack at a tree with great vigor.

The choppers, encouraged by his firm att.i.tude, promptly moved forward and began to use their axes.

”The club you must use, Colonel, is an injunction,” advised the crestfallen lawyer after he had watched operations a few moments. Ward was swearing violently. ”I'll have one here in twenty-four hours.”

The irate lumberman whirled on his counsel.

”Get out of here!” he snarled. ”Your injunction would prob'ly be like the law you've handed out here to-day. You said you'd stop him, but you haven't.”