The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-12

Z nlllng the street, the Durthen Of the popu-
LACE being.
EssssfRe strikers hare fred the shops"
CHAPTER "
Although the first glimpse of the fire start
led Rueben not little, and conveyed the
impression To his mind that the fire was
likely to consume the entire shops Of
Messrs. CRANKY a Lathrop; a closer in
spection convinced him that a little quick
action would avert the catastrophe gener
ally apprehended With unusual CELEBRITY
he started forward being followed hy
litle coterie of friends, and, as the alarm
bell rang out the location Of the fire, he
and his. comrades had gained, the burning
building.
1t was the office only which was on fire,
which, being connected with the shops,
would soon involve them also IN the gen
eral blaze. The office was quite large
building and being built 81 wood burned
rapidly
suddenly shout went up from the
crowd A half dozen men, Reuben Dal-
ton among them, were on the shop roof,
and were fmging water on the office build
ing. This did not diminish the flames, but
II kept them IN check until the engines
arrived.
Five minutes later the ncipient blaze
hal been entirely eXtlngushed, with but a
comparative loss to MessTs. CRANKY a
Lathrop.
v OF course the origin Of the fire was in a
manner traced To the rioters, as the
firm now termed the strikers. A placard
was exhibited on the shop door, Offering
advanced rates for one month to non-union
men Who would labor for that length "
time IN the firm employ, and, much to
the dissatisfaction Of the union men, a few
we're obtained w Messrs CRANKY a La
throp No violence was manifested. how
ever, but fixed determination pervaded
the ranks II the eight hour advocates
We will bring them tn terms, said
Reuben Dalton with compressed lips, the
evening of the day after the fire z / can
not believe that any Of our members fired
the building
Whoever did it stands a fair chance uf
getting found out said bystander
Aye, and they won't have To g far,
remarked another, with a peculiar look az
Reuben, if what | hear Is 50.
What de- you mean to Inslnuate man
demanded the young mechanic, sharply.
AS he dlscerned some hidden taunt IN these
words
~ mean that the detectives are working
up the iob. You know as well as | do
that some of the union men did the work.
know that none Of the men IN my
department had hand m it, rephed
Reuben sternly
wei, It viii be a safe find for the man
who discovers the incendlary, said James
FORESTER
HOW ~ NJ quered half a dozen voices.
In reply, Forester pointed to a new pla
card upon the moldIng shop door, and as
the crowd wended their way to the spot,
they read
sIoO.ou i,sU ,Rp
a W r,ii information vhioh may lena to the d-
epyrt li the party parties who hrei the office ot
GR.>Hy & L,u.sor.
D. II may have been ali accident after
AN. suggested Reuben. turning from the
spot 4 What do you think, friend e. he
asked of stranger who had Joined the
crowd.
- think not' was the decisive reply.
as ne lald his hand on Reuben's arm.
Young man, You are my prisoner
Reuben started aghast while the crowd
tell back III sheer amazement.
shops T. calculated a man near by, why,
there Il not an houester man III the world.
+ 1t amt my business to know whether
he's honest or dishonest curtly retorted
the detective for such he was. I've
warrant for his arrest, and he's got to
come.
Not till you show your authority,
spoke up a hot blooded young fellow, who
al uta,.l1rt.r hr- M.
harm come to you, Reuben.
The officer unbuttoned his coal and dis
played his insignia Of office.
"Don't intcrfeer with him, boys said
Reuben. They cant prove anything
against me. and | amt afraid IF few
hours imprisonment Come sIr, he con
tinued To- the officer, " am ready to ac-
company you.
AZ tie officer led him away, past the
wondering teamster, and few new men
working IN the yard, and As they passed
the new office mprovised III part Of the
machine shop one glance from the sneer-
ing contemptous features of Lionel Darrell
the book keeper, flashed new revelation
over the mind Of our hero
"Who suspected me r asked Reuben If
the officer.
Darrel, the book-keeper, was the
reply
~ thought 50"
:" He says" continued the detective,
that he saw You near the foundry last
night. hurrying humewards, and AYERS
that the fire broke out q few moments
later.
Reuben reflected deeply Indeed, 90
rngrnssed in thought did he become that,
reached, Ne started, as if awakened from a
deep reverle.
! Here ne was held III heavy bonds to all
appearance the following morning and was
then removed to the common jail
I He heard the harsh crash q tho pom
deruus iron door, fel5 the cold dampness Of
the stone wall, and then he seated himself
| on the rude pine bench.
Y For over an hour he had been seated
thus Immersed III deep painful meditation,
when Key grated III the lock.
Reuben Dalton T. spoke the jailor
Reuben walked into the corridor.
Reuben ~
He turned with wild cry Of JOY and
surprise upon his lips, and with outstretch
ed arms, exclaimed, 50 Bella you here N
Ave. Reuben, where should | be but
by your side, when you are IN trouble &
was pretty Bella Lathrops reply, as she
looked tearfully up into the manly fea-
lures Of her lover.
~ But your father =
When | heard Of your arrest went to
him. This is Colonel barrels doings,
Reuben, for, and her lips quivered, " he
has sought me as his wife.
Reuben started
And my father has encouraged him.
My father forbid me to speak to you,
Reuben forbade Inc coming here. But |
felt It my duty to come to you. ! have
brought a friend with me to become your
bendsman-l could not see you lie here on
a false accusation. 1t must be | say,
she said, seriously, g for | should be less
l thnr, a rrnrnnn did l not artand tn N,n1 all