The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-01-25

hihSSii ny tnlS unexpected SCdUe Oh
things, for he felt himself passively to
blame. He could not lay the odium
on the shoulders of his agent, for he
had never asked him single question
concerning the mine or the moral or
physical welfare of the men. He had
taken the revenue from it as part of his
patrimony, Indifferent as to methods.
lie had been helping to grind women
and children into the dust that he
might loll in luxury. His conscience
stung him with reproachcs which were
inadequate to make him suffer as he de-
served.
"Your hand, FRIEND" he had said to
the foreman, and noted the ugly scowl
and determined air of refusal with
which the man drew back.
1T amt as white as yours, and how
do 1 know that you are my friend ?"
was the reply.
II am here to see what you need, and
will help you if you will let me-" an
swered Morris, gently.
"A spy or an overseer, like enough.
The sooner you get out of these quar-
tiers the better for your health. If one
of the bloomin' mine owners sent you
here, go back an tell him + amt safe
to come spyin' roun'. Tell him, too,
that Wen give him warmer welcome
hounds that they all are!"
The miners, dirty, black and complain
ing, had gathered around the foreman.
and, although they hated him, they
were bound to him by a common grudge.
Tell them to come and get filled with
warm lead-we'll heat it fur the
'casion," said burly miner known as
"Old Geordie."
"They dassn't come Tigh their own
property" said another; they're white
livered towards and not worth the pow
der to blow 'em to thunder"
go back to your master and tell him
| what his lovin' workmen says" said the
foreman, CONTEMPORARY, IAN get a
photygraff of some Of the hungry chill
dren and dyin' mothers for the family
album. My missus will give you hers"
men," said the stranger, unbutton-
ing his heavy ulster and throwing it
open, "have you ever heard of Morris
Holmes?"
A groan and scales of yells saluted
him.
"Aye, and his father afore him. It's
! that he might lie soft and eat fine food
| that we gets lost in the choke an damp.
If he sent you, go back and tell him
TO come out here himself. We hev a
long account to settle, and the figgers
is waitin'.''
1t was "Old Geordie" who spoke.
81 am Morris Holmes"
Now, if there is any quality that the
rough and lawless of creation recognize
md admire, it is courage, and after the
first start of surprise, which in that sod
den crowd was genuine and dramatic,
the men felt an instant respect for this
weakling of wealth, who was not afraid
of them, and something like a cheer
broke from their hoarse threats.
Il am here to right your wrongs, y
continued Morris, in voice that sound
ed like a commander on the battle
field, "but demand protection at your
hands. l demand your confidence and
that of your wives and children.
have the right to ask this. For the
present that il all have to say"
A few cheered him, others remained
sullen and disconnected, good news be-
ing received with caution and suspicion
Eleanor Landsberg had no word from
Norris for six mouths. Then she re
ceived a paper marked in red ink, which
had paragraph that interested her
1t gave plain statement of the grea'
improvement that had taken place il
the Little Summit mine, and went on tt
describe the comfortable homes of the
miners, the new machinery which hae
been put into the mines to take the place
of child labor, the comfortable stables
above the ground that had been bull
for the mules, the improved social con
ditions of the mems families, and ended
with glowing tribute to the "nobl'
energy of the young and athletic min
owner, Morris Holmes"
Athletic? Eleanor repeated the wore
with much satisfaction. 1t was o
moral athletes she was thinking, andi
pleased her nightly that this wor'
could thus be applied to Morris.
In few moments she received sec
ond newspaper, published like the first
in town adjoining the mines, and Civ
ing the news of that section of the coun
try. It also contained a marked para
1 graph, but the marking was irregula
black lines of jagged pencil, and on tn
border was drawn a rude hand, point
ing to the notice and the badly writer
but legible "Old Geordie."
Eleanor read in few intense word
the news that had been sent to hel
There had been an accident in the mine
The roof of the entire chamber had fall
en- and buried 20 miners beneath j
The men were rescued with great dbl
ficulty, and some of them were badly II
iured. When all were supposed to hav
been saved, there was wailing cry, an
the wife of "Old Geordie" struggle
: from the hands of friends and tried
throw herself into the mine. Morri
: Holmes, pale and out of breath, calle
for men to go down with him and re.
cue "Old Geordie." No one responds
The men owed their lives to their fam
lies, and they knew the danger OF fal
ing roof. So Morris, with one look
the blue sky above, swung into the Gag
- ~res 1oxuared alone amid an aW,