Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-03

COIUh W lItlI tlu.
How much have you in the fund.-" ro-
Scarcely three thousand francs" re-
plicd Anton. "You know the directors
spoke to me of it the day before yester-
day. Oh, they were very polite, they
told me they would not prevent the work,
men from starting n saving fund; but
saw they wanted the control of il them
selves. From the look of things | think
well have to fight against them
The tavcrn-kcoper walked up and
down the room, with an air of contempt.
Three thousand francs What good
would thaU be2 IL would not last six
days, and if they counted on strangers,
the people of England, they might as
well lie down and die al. once No, that
strike would be too stupid
Then for the first time angry
words were exchanged between the
three men, who generally understood
each other.
"What do you think of it?" said Anton
turning again to Jouvarine.
He, without taking his cigarette from
his mouth answered in his usual disdain-
ful manner:
Strikes, they're foolish" Then amid
the angry silence which fell, he added
slowly:
After all don't say no, if that amuses
you, it ruins one and kills the other, so
that is always that much made. Only in
that way it would take Il thousand years
to renew the world. Commence, there
fore, by blowing up with II barrel of
powder that prison in which you are
dying"
With his little hand, he designated the
Vulturc, the buildings of which could be
seen from the open door. But an un-
forseen occurrence interrupted him.
Pologne, the large rabbit who had ven
turcd out of the door, was driven back
by stones hurled by n number of boys;
and in her fright, with dropping ears,
and tail uprased, she took refuge be-
tween his legs, scratching him TO be taken
up. When he had lain her across his
knees, Sheltcring her with both hands,
he fell into that sort of dream which the
carcss of that soft skin always plunged
him.
just then Mahon entered. He did not
wish drink; in spite OF tho polite invit-
alton of Madame RaSsencur, who sold
her beer as though she was giving it
away. Anton rose, and both men went
oil toward Montson.
The fifteenth, on which the miners were
paid seemed like Il fete day. a crowd of
men were constantly leaving tho alley.
The cashiers room being very small,
they preferred TO wait outs de, and stood
in groups on the pavement, blocking up
the doorway from the line OF men which
was constantly increasing. Street ven
ders, thinking to pront by the occasion,
placed along the road the + baZaars, con
tanning every conceivable thing from
frOckery to meat But the saloons reaped
the richest harvest, for the m ners stood
mt the counters while wa ting for their
turn to be paid, and, after receiving
their money, returned to settle Tor those
drinks and always ended by having
some others. They were wise men who
did not spend greater part of their
earnings before reaching home.
Meanwhile. when Mahon and Anton
reached that crowd OF men, they saw
each one filled with Il suilen eXaspera-
ton, while hands were doubled up and
violent words ran from mouth to mouth
lis this true?' asked MahOn OF Chaval,
whom he met before the saloon Piquette
Have they really done tins d rty thing2n
Chaval only replied with II low growl,
casting II sidelong glance upon Anton.
For some time herce Jealousy OF that
comrade had been growing on him, he
began to hate thatnewcomer who placed
himself at their head and VINO
had become so popular in the alley. He
had also quarreled with Catherine on his
account, fur Gus at the thought of her
living in the house with that man.
Mahon asked him another question:
Had the Vulture done what taey had
threatened"
And when he turned away, after hay-
ing nodded his head the two men de-
cided to 90 to the mne.
The cashiers room was II little square
Office, separated by Il grating. pom
benches along the walls, I'VE or SIX M IL
ers were waiting; while the cashier, as
sisted by I'm cmploye, were paying
another man, who stood before the door,
cap in hand. Above the benches, on the
lett, IL yellow placard was pasted, still
clean on tnat dusty wall. Since cary
morning constant ille OF men had
passed before it, Entering the room IN
groups OF twoS or threes tney stood there
mOtiOnleSS for u second, then went away,
Struggling tueir shoulders with detected
air.
Now, before the bill stood two men;
one young with ~ square, brute-lkG
head the other old, with II tnln, aged
face. Neither one COUiu read, and WnIlG
the boy slowly spelled out the words, his
companion stood stup.dly looN,mg on.
Many entered this TO look without com
pretending.
Read that, will your" said Mahon to
his friend. Even he was only able 10
spell it out letter by letter
Then Anton began reading IL was
notice from the company TO the coal men
in all the mines 1T notified them that
owing to the fear OF being compelled to
niict heavy fines Tor their poor prop
ping, it had resolved to begin u new man
ner of payment to the coal diggerS.
Henceforth it would pay in part Tor tao
timbcring. so much for every cubic OF
wood sent down and used The price Of
the coal cars would naturally be cut
down from nifty centimes to iorty. Aud
an obscure calculation was given 10
prove that the ten confines lost on t o
cars would be made up in tine price paid
for timbering. The company added that,
wishing to give every one time to become
convinced OF the advantages presented
by this new method, it had concluded
not to put the plan into operation until
Monday, the iIrst of December
"Read lower thereH' or ed the cashier.
| We cant hear our own ears"
| Anton finished reading without noticing
| this observation, His voice tremblcd,
and when he had concluded they all still
tixedly regarded the card. Then the old
miner and young man left the room with
bent shoulders.
"My God" murmured Mahon.
He and his companion seated them
selves, Thinking with heads bent, while
the dciile st II continued before that yell
| low paper, they were calculating. Was
| thn cnnIunny maxim game of Them =