Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-08

and as Anton nudged Mahon's elbow, the
latter again began speaking.
Then, monsieur, | must say to the
others that you retuscy"
Me, my good man" cried tho direc.
tor. Il refuse nothing. am paid sal
ary, and have no more will here than
your smallest child They give me or
ders, and my only duty is to see that they
are carried out. | have said to you what
l believed was right, but am not the
O to decide. You have made known
your demands, which | shall send TO the
company, after which their answer Will
be given you.
lie spoke in decided manner ex.
planning himself to be simple instru-
ment in the hands the owners. And
the miners now looked upon him with
suspicion, asking themselves what inter
est they could have in lying-what he
would derive by thus putting himself be-
tween them and their true masters. He
paid workman and living so well.
Anton again spoke out;
"Why can't we plead our own cause in
person? We would explain great
many things which would necessarily
escape your memory, if we only knew
where to address the masters"
Mr.. Hcnnebeau only smiled.
"Ahl so you no longer trustmc. Well,
II would be necessary for you to go down
there"
The delegates had followed his uncer.
tain gesture, his hand being stretched to-
ward one OF the salon windows. Where
was that? Paris, no doubt Still they
did not know whore they would find that
unknown God throned. They would
never see him, and only felt in him u
power which bore down upon the ten
thousand coal men of Montson. And,
when the director was speaking it was
that power which he had behind him:
They were all discouraged. Even
Anton said it was time they left, and, as
Mahon started for the door, Mr.. Henno-
beau touched him on the shoulder, ask
ing after Johnnie.
THAT should have been a lesson to
you, but it was not; and now you are
striking when you know that before
week has passed you will all die of hun
ger. | calculated on your having some
wisdom left, and shall expect you all to
descend by Monday at the latest
All the men started forth, leaving the
parlor without saying . word to that
companied them to the door, still think
ing over the affair. The company on
one side with its new tariff, the workmen
on the other with their demand for an
increase of five centimes per day. Well
he could only promise u prompt answer
from the company; but, in advance, not
to leave them any hope, he informed
them that their conditions were sure to
be refused.
Reflect before doing anything fool
ish, said he, uneasy at their silence.
In the hall Peters bowed very low,
while Levaque started to put on his cap
Mahon was searching for II last word
when Anton again knocked his elbow,
and they all went off in that threatening
silence, the door alone closing behind
them with great noise.
When Mr.. Hennebeau returned to the
the dining-room, he found his guests
still seated motionless at the table. In
a few words he told his uneasiness, which
made u deep gloom settle down upon the
face of Deneulin. While he was drinking
his now cold coffee, they tried to speak
of other things. But even the Gregorvs
returned to the strike, astonished that
there was no law to compel the workmen
to return to their work. Paul reassured
Cecile by saying that they could send for
the gendarmes.
Mr.. Hennebeau called the servant.
"Hippolyte, before we go into the
salon, open all thewindows and let in
some fresh air.
IyrN