Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-04-20

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composed, H., blows drawn sternly to-
gcthcr and his lips compressed. Be-
hind him lowered Joyce. his ruddy cheek
bianched to dirty ash color, num-
bling sugared professions OF peace and
( good will, mingled with dire menaces
Of the law.
CHAPTER XIV.
YOU LOVE HIM."
At this junctuie there was cOmmo-
ton on the outskirts Of the gathering,
and North pushed his way roughly 10
the front and faced Monckton. In the
open air and bright sunlight his ap-
pearance was SO disheveled and bag
gard that the mine owner was inspired
with an involuntary feeling of pity and
addressed him in far milder tone than
the situation might have warranted.
Why have you done this thing,
North" he said. What do you ex-
pect to gain by it,"
Blinded by his enmity. the miner
mistook his temperate mood for intim-
idation. What are you doing here!"
he growled. Go home. if you value
your fine clothes and your giil's COM
plexion, for there arc those here anx-
ious to spoil both for you"
Your cause must be indeed weak
one if vulgar threat is its only de-
fense," was Monckton's answer.
[ Il am making no defense to you,"
retorted North; don't think it. But l
don t want your blood on my conscience,
20 warn you to get away from here"
Il shall not 60 until my errand is &C.
complished," replied the mine owner.
Il know that part of the mines is I'M
safe, and l shall send the carpenters
down to put up bulkhead in order
that the men who wish to return to
their work may do SO in safety"
II will allow no bulkhead put up
until you have agreed to my demands,
said North. IF the men are fools
enough to risk their lives down there,
they may"
A spot Of red appeared in the pro-
prietor's pale cheek. He stepped up to
the refractory miner and gazed steadily
into his contracting eye.
You will not allow it," he repeated.
And who do you take yourself to be?"
Your master!" retorted North, los
ing all control of himself-"your mas
ter, do you hear? Your master, who
will grind you in the dirt, as you and
your kind have done mo and mine for
centuries!"
Whether North in his frenzy Or
Monckton, enraged beyond endurance,
made the first attack. it was impossible
to say, but in an instant the two men
were locked in desperate struggle,
while North's friends rushed forward
with excavations and Joyce skipped
about the combatants, waving his arms
in complete imbecility of terror.
North was naturally by far the
stronger, but his recent mode Of life
had shattered his vast muscular power,
while, on the other hand, Monckton, a
trained fencer and boxer. possessed re-
sources of skill and agility, for which.
with his slight figure and habitually
languid air, he would never have been
given credit. Howbeit, there was but q
seconds space of fierce painting and
straining, when North was flung heav-
lily upon the earth. and Monckton drew
back, erect. gloomy and with dilating
nostrils.
For a moment there was dead. mo-
tionless, amazed silence; then large
stone, thrown from the midst of the
crowd. struck the proprietor upon the
chest. He staggered, put his hand to the
spot, but did not fall. Then followed
mad confusion. The more respectable
among the men did their best to restrain
their lawless companions, but they were
the minority, and in the ferocious tenn
per Of the mob the mine owners fate
seemed certain. Joyce, in a state Of
semiparalysis and shrieking like an In
dian with sheer rage and terror. at
tempted to force q revolver into his
masters hand, but the young man
pushed it aside and continued to ward
off the bludgeons aimed at his head as
best he might with the light cane he
carried. He was already wounded in
several places, and the blood was flow.
ing ove< his forehead and face. In an
other instant he must have gone down
and been battered to death by the fren-
zied miners, when there was CHATTER
Of hoofs, a shrill cry in a woman
voice, and Imogene Duke spurred he,
horse recklessly through the crowd and
flung herself off the saddle and tc
Monckton's side at bound.
With one of those involuntary i'm.
pulses of respect for womanhood OF
which the lowest and toughest Amer.
lean is susceptible, the strikers at once
drew back, leaving Monckton, Miss
Duke and North, who had recovered his
feet, in the midst of a clear space.
The girls low, thrilling tones reached
to the outermost listener in the throng
II have seen it all, I" she said, fixing
her burning eyes on North's ghastly
face. "Shame. shame on you, Mat
thew North"
North recovered himself with an ef
fort. This is no place for you," hi
calculated hoarsely.
mo, "she retorted; 1.-The place whert
cowardly murder is about to be com
mitted is indeed no place for woman
Matthew North, what name do you give
the man who leads so against /, and h
unarmed and defenseless?''
The miner ragged like maniac. go
go!" he exclaimed. "or will not an
swer for myself"
"And leave you to complete the crime
You and your companions have begun
No, l will stay. and you shall kill m,
too"
North gazed at her as If lost to al
sense of his surroundings. II knew
It," his voice sounded as if torn up from
the depths Of his chest. You Low,
him."
1t is doubtful If in her agitation sh,
understood his words. But Monckton
Ag d a8A@
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