Omaha daily bee., 1885-11-04

lONdtl DWN Ing TOT IIDlllllI III bIt uiliiS VI
the mines. The worRimCn, to tortity their
position IN case Of revolt worked Dttccn days
under the new system OF payments and round
that II wasan indirect but effective method OF
reducing their wages. To strike was the only
alternative. MEETINGS We're he'd and q dele
CATION appointed to wait upon the managing
director % the mines and lay before him the
demands OF the mcn-the abolition OF the new
system of pay m,nt and an increase of I'VE
CCHtnncS per car. Anton s ability and saga
city made him at once The leader IN the strike
ihe interview OF the miners with the mana
ger was without result, and the men, with
very little hope of ultimate success, settled
down to Il long and bitter strugglc-the strug-
gle of poverty AGAINST unlimited wealth.
CHAPTER XXXIG.
Since nine O'Clock on that Sunday
J]OuyarinC remained alone in the saloon
of IAvantugc in his usual place with his
head against the wall. More than one
coal man did not know where to lind two
sous for II drink; never had the place had
fewer customers. SO Nine. RaSSencur,
stationed at the counter, was %sullenly
silent, while Rasscneur, standing in front
of the chimney, seemed to DO watching
with an air of reflection the black coal
smoke. Suddenly, in the dull silence OF
the overhcated room, three little sharp
knocks at ore OF the window parcs made
Jouvarine turn his read. lie rose,
recognizing the signal of winch Anton
had several times made use to call him,
when he saw him from the outside smok-
ing his cigarette, seated ut i'm empty
table. But before the machinist reached
the door, RasScncur had opened it; and,
recognizing the MAJ who was there, in
the light from the window, he aid to
him:
Are YOU afraid that | shall bctrav
YOU We can talk better inside than out
| side" Anton entered. But he refused
the drink which Nine. Rasseneur politely
offered him. The tavern-keeper added
"A long time ago | guessed where you
were hid =. If | wa II spy, as your
friends say, ] could have seCt tho gendar-
mes to you eight days ago"
There is no need to defend yourself, "
replied the young man. u know that IS
not in your line. Without sharing the
same ideas, we may esteem each other
nevertheless"
And silence reigned again. Jouvarine
had reseated himself with his back
against the wall, his eyes lost in the
smoke of his cigarette, but his feverish
fingers moved unCasily rs he rubbed
them along his knees seeking the warm
Polish nap OF the trousers which he had
not put OF that evening, and he felt that
something was missing, but knowing eX-
actly what it was.
Seated on the other side of the table,
Anton said ut last:
Tomorrow work Will be resumed at
the Vulture. rhe Belgians have arrived
with little Megrel."
Eyes, | saw them pass" said Rasse-
neur, still standing. provided We don't
kill ourselves YETI"
without II doubt the strike is broken
up. | know it us well as Pluchart " said
he at Lust. But that was anticipated.
We accepted this strike unwillingly. We
did not expect to conquer the company
by it. But that is the way, we intoXicate
ourselves; we begin to hope this and that
and when things go wrong we forget that
we ought to have expected it; we lament
and we dispute us under u misfortune
sent by h%eayen."
"Wcll, then" replied Rasseneur. off
you believe the cause lost, why don't you
make your comrades listen to reason"
The young man looked ut him hxedly.
"Listen-this is enough. You have
| your ideas, | have mine. [ came in here
to show you that | esteem you notwith-
standing. But | still hold that if we die
OF want and suffering our famished bodies
your prudent logic. Ah!if one OF these
hogs of soldiers could only put Il ball in
my heart, how glorious it would be to
end thus"
Suddenly the door was rudeIy opened,
and Cheval appeared; pushing Catherine
before him. For three hours he had
been running through the taverns of
MontSon, soaking himself with beer md
staggering. The idea mad come to him
TO go TO lAyunta@e to show the old peo-
Pile that he was not afraid. He entered,
saying to his mistress:
oh it! say YOU shall drink r.
glass in there; I'll break the jaw of the
first n who scowls at me-"
At the sight of Anton Catherine turned
white. When Chaval perceived him he
said, with n malicious sneer:
Madame RaSsenenr, two glasses! We
will drink in honor of the resumption of
labor"
Like n woman, who refuses beer to no
me-, she poured it out without IA word
All were silent; neither the tavern
keeper nor the two others had stirred
from their places.
81 know some who have said that /
was II spy" resumed Chaval a%rrogantly,
''and ! Am waiting for them to say IL to
my face, so that we may explain our
| selves at last"
No one replied; the men turned their
| heads, staring vacantly at the walls.
There arc oilers, and those who are
not oilers" continued he, louder; las for
me, I've nothing to hide. I've left the
dirty barracks NJ Deneuiin, ind go down
tomorrow to the Vulture with twelve
Bclgians placed under my charge DO.
cause they like me, and il this displcases
any one, let me know, and we will talk
it over"
Then, as his threats were received with
the same contemptuOus silence, he grew
angry with Catherine.
Dbl it, will you drink Drink
with me TO che confusion of all tho hogs
who refuse to work"
She touched her glass 10 his. but with
such a trembling hand that the slight