Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-02-22

| replied the man whom he had nd
dressed as Sila3 ITS like letting the
spindle run when the yarns broken
only waste II come Of IT,"
AYE, aye that's IT," chorused one
or two.
"Thcn IL must come" said Gorringe.
But it's you are forcing this fight.
not |. And some OF you know me we'll
enough 20 be able TO tell whether I'm
likely 20 give in. II you hold out.
your places will be filled up; and I've
more offers Of hands than I've places
for"
They won't be allowed TO work"
muttcred one man. I'VE don't mean
having scnllywags here"
Then II you win, itll mean the
shutting up OF the mill that's all.
don't know whether you think that's
likely to do you any good. TIN harm
| Mr.. Coode and inc bit, no doubt; but
III 20 back TO the loom again before
III give in. And now, look here. ri
give you all word OF advice" lie
spoke cxcitcdly. "If you mean vio-
lcncc by what you say about scally-
ways, ! tell you this: III meet you
with your own weapons. Two sides
can carry on that sort of play, and
youll find that can be as much in
earnest in protecting those who stick
to me as | can In opposing those who
turn against me-
With that Reuben Gorringe went on
his way; and now no sound followed
him. His will had for the time con
quercd them; and more than one Of
the men were sorry that any dispute
had arisen.
In truth there was not much heart
in the quarrel. The men had obeycd
the call Of the society in coming out;
but they all know that Gorringc had
been fair employer, while many had
received such services Us that he had
twittcd the man Grant with having
forgotten
After Gorringc had left them, there
were u few nuttcriugs aud murmurs.
and some OF the men oven talked about
guing home, when messengers came up
the street saying that the strikers
were to 10 together ia body to the
mill gates before the time for opening
! them.
The group to whom Reuben Cor
ringc had been speaking walked down
the main street to where the other mon
seemed 10 bc collecting, and joined
hem, When they all got together
! hey seemed moro satisfied with the
line they had takcn-thcrc Is always
COMFORT In numbers. And they buoyed
up each others spirits and courage
With much talk about the justice OF
/
| .Acir cause and wisdom of their q"
ton.
Come on, lads" cried Gibcpn
Prawlc, "lct's get up to the mill and
see what sort Of scallyways old Cor
ringc has bought Wen give EN- bit
If WallSdcn Fridge greeting, ch?" and
as he laughed some OF the others
| joined
But the men were neither cuthusias-
tic nor angry-only rather curious to
sec who had been brought over TO the
mill.
they had not been long ut the gates
before little commotion showed that
some Of the workers were approaching.
Two or three women weavcrs and a
couple Of half-time lads and lasses
were the first to come In sight; but
when they saw the crowd and the long
lane of strikers and thcir friends, they
hesitatol, stopped and then turned
back. At this their was great burst
of cheering. II was the first victory.
But 1t was not to last long.
The cheer had not died away before
one OF the heavy gates was swung
back, and Reuben Gorringe stood In
tho way as calm and collected as II II
was an ordinary day and he were
waiting TO greet the workers. At
sight OF him Rroan was raised. lie
took not the slightest notice OF II and
walked forward between the rows OF
men and women to the roadway.
When he reached the road he waited
for the first worlScrs-not those who
had before appeared and retired-and
when they came he spoke quietly To
them, as II no one were present but
themselves; and walked with them
until they were inside the gate.
No attempt had been made TO inter
fere with the women ns they passed
through, and others, seeing this, came
forward at once, and, hurrying
between the rows of men and women,
hostile demonstration was made when
the first strangers-half dozen WON
on and three or four men--came in
sight and were led by Reuben Cor
ringc into the mill.
At first an attempt was made by the
piclSets to intercept and speak to them
This was foiled, however, by Qorringe
Then one or two cries and little boot
ing followed, and q few muttered OK.
clamntious.
"No knobsticSs; down with al
scallywagsl Ugh, blaclslegsl What dc
you want TO come here and take hon
est folks work, for2" and questions OF
that kind, especially from the mems
wives, were heard amid excitement.
The strikers grew more angry as the
number OF new hands increased, til
: talk of violence began to be heart
from men and women alike
The excitement had reached IL
/ height just when Tom Roylance cam,
In sight with Mary and Savannah; anC
his appearance seemed to I'LL tn,
whole crowd with anger.
"KnobsticlSl Scallywagl Blaclsleg!'
rcsounded on all sides and in all key
/ of angry-voiced men and women, will
, boots and yells, and some threats
while fists were clenched and shaken
and the whole crowd surged about ex
) citedly.
5 Tom walked In front with Mary, an,
he passed deliberately through tn
, angry, flushed and gcsticulatinl
\ crowd, casting glance now and thei
over his shoulder as II TO assure him