Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-11-17
THE
THE
Master OF the IIine.
by PopERT BUCHANAN.

" E' $500
long as he was safe above ground it was
nothing to him that the iives Of the men who
worried below were in daily jeopardy. Nty-
erthelcss, i knew that something must be
done; L resolved to make one last appeal to
him, ana II that failed IN its effect 10 conn
mulicatc with the members of the company,
who. %conjointly with himself, owned the
property. | had fully made up my mind 10
seek him at home, when ! was spared the
pains. He stroiled down 10 the counting
house one morning In company with john
son.
Mr.. Redrat!I," 1 said, approaching him,
II should like to speak a few words to you,
sir"
lie looked Mt me from head TO foot with a
cold sup rclioIs sheer which sent my blood
up TO boiling heat, az he replied:
We'll, you can speak tlen-I am all atten.
ton"
glanced a, Johnson, but as that worthy
made no attempt to 90 ! proceeded:
1T h about the mine," J began, when he
Interrupted me.
"Oh. the miner he said. impatiently; II
think have heard q good deal on this sub
lect from you before?'
"fon have, sir; and Won have taken no
heed; but the time has passed for all that
each day the danger grows, and now, at any
moment the sea may break in and every
SOU b. killcdv'
While lrd been speaking he had been
engaged in lighting a cigar, when ! had lin
isbed he removes the cigar from his mouth,
pulled out q volume OF smoke, which he
watched ascend. and asked quietly:
DO the men know OF the dan,er which
you say is threatening them?'
Most assuredly they do.'
"And do they refuse 10 work?''
mo; where would be the use? If they
left tie mine they would BE- thrown out OF
employ ment, and then their families would
starve. Better for them 10 hold their own
lives in their hands tiian to expose their
wives and children 10 such fate"
every good; then. since by your own
showing you are the only disconnected spirit,
rs time for you 10 GOT
Tho cool way In which he uttered these
words fairly took away my breath.
what do YOU mean?' 1 asked.
Just what | say he returned: that
nom to-day sou may consider yourself dis
missed from the mine. and bad better seek
elsewhere for employment. IL YOU are dis
satisfied, ether people are not. Mr.. johnson
S quite contcuted with the state OF affairs,
and Is willing 10 take your place"
Seeing that resistance would be useless, /
accepted M cong with as good a grace as
possible. but | WAS determined not r. resign
without freely speaking my mind, 50 | faced
George Redruth firmly. and said, placing my
hand upon his arm just as he was turning
AWAY.
az hata haan aNpaafiny ff,ia fnr "a I,tn. ttp.n
and il has come. Well. 50 much the better.
| warn you. however, that | shall do my
duty, and lei the company know the exact
Itate OF affairs"
He turned to Johnson, and | saw the two
exchange a significant smile; then his face
hardened as he replied. contemptuously:
You will Of course, do rs you please: only
ohlige me by getting oat OF my employment
as quickly as possible"
alt will be 4 good riddancer' muttered
Johnson, brea6ing IN for the first time. Tire
iawney has always been q croalser."
The fellows insolcnt leer provoked me far
more than his masters sdnG.fr0id.
I'm croak to some time | cried, facing
Dim, III y0u presume to talk to me!'
presume. indeed!' he repeated, farming
NlllF WIN ltAl WI fINA4Nt. lAll ( HUGH
presumption, | guess, to take down 4 young
o k-o'-the-walk who puts ON airs as Ii he
VAS a gentleman. II Mr.. George had listen
Ell TO my advice. he'd have got rid OF you
long ago!'
Come along, Johnson" said Redruth;
shes not worth talking o."
But | clinched my fists and blocked the
way. suppose there was something in my
:5Te5 Nbe.fs ae me. sssvssra RS 5 ttsse. H Mlh seap II.
by our high words, had now gather
oil, and were looking on IN astonishment.
81 know well an honest man Is not wanted
here" | said. 1--WE known that for many a
day. Like master, like man. You, sir,
want a scounGrel 10 do your dirty work; and
here he is. ready made, to your hand-as
mean II c0wardly a ccouadrel as ever drew
breath p
"0ut of the way, you ruiilan !" cried Red
ruth, lifting bis cane.
But he knew better than to strike me; he
knew that. If lie had done so, | would have
thrashed him within an inch of his life; and
he knew, toe, that not one man there would
have raised a finger to protect him, though
he was the master OF the mine.
Eut the presence of the ~onlookers, / sup
pose, made his companion foolhardy; for
stepping forward, !iyid with passion, he
shook his fist in my face.
who are You calling q scoundrelY' he
cried. DO you know who l am? Fun over
seer Of this here mine, and you, you're a beg
gar, that what you are! Why, darn you!
/ could eat you up and spit you out, and
twenty more like youw
He had proceeded thus far, garnishing his
address with innumerable explctives, which
will not bear transcription, when, without
moi parley, unable 10 resist the provoca-
ton OF his close proximity, ! quietly knock
cd him DOWN.
As he fell, George Redruth sprung toward
me, and struck at me with his cane; but l
tore the cane from his hand, broke it into
pieces, and flung 1t away.
Take care, STRIP ! said, AZ may hurt you
too, If you go too far"
He drew back trembling.
"YOu shall smart for this, frelawney! Be
the day is ont you shall lie in jailv
You know where to find mel answer
ed; and then, without another word, l walk
ed away. ;
Ii was not for hours afterward that l real
lied what | had done; and even then l am
afraid i did not regret my hasty conduct.
Young and nash, | did not fear TO face the
world, though the mine was my bread, and l
had no other means Of maintenance. As Tor
Redruth's tlre I of invoking the law against
me. nothing came OF it. Doubtless, as his
own sacred person had not suffered, he
thought 1t best to hold his tongue.
CHAPTER XIX.