Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-03-05

~~N "a & WI was
shocked almost out of recognition of
himself by this unexpected state Of
things, for he felt himself passAely to
blame. He could not lay the odium
on the shoulders of his agent, for he
had never asked him a single question
concerning the mine or the moral or
physical welsare of the men. He had
taken the revenue from it as part Of his
ratrimony. Indifferent as to methods.
lie had been helping to grind women
and children into the dust that he
might Toll in luxury. His conscience
stung him with reproaches 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 know that you are my friend?"
was the reply.
Il 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-
ters the better for your health. If one
OF the bloomis' mine owners sent Won
here, go back an tell him t amt safe
to come spyin' roun'. Tell him. too,
that we'll give him n warmer welcome
hounds that they all are!'
Thcminers, dirty, black ard complain
ing, had gathered around the foreman,
and, although they hated him, they
We're bound to him by acommong rudye.
TEL them to come and get filed With
warm lead-we'll heat it fur the
'easion,' said Il burly miner known as
odd Geordie."
They dassn't come nigh 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' worknlen says" said the
foreman, contemptuously, IAN get a
photygraff OF some Of the hungry chill
Gren 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, shave you ever heard of Morris
Holmes?"
A groan and a series of yells saluted
him.
AYE, and his father afore him. It's
that he might lie soft and eat fine food
h a we gets lost in the choke an damp.
Ii 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.
Il am Morris Holmes"
Now. if there is any quality that the
rough and iawless of creation recognize
and admire, it is courage, and after the
first start of surprise, which in that sod
Gen 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"
continued Morris, in Z voice that sound
~ sIhN a III IN etlifla-
field, "but l demand protection at your
hands. / demand your confidence and
that of your wives and children. /
have the right to ask this. For the
present that is all l have to say"
A few cheered him, others remained
sullen and discontinued, good news be-
ing received with caution and suspicion.
Eleanor Landsberg had no word from
Morris for six months. Then she re-
ceived n paper marked in rec ink, which
had a paragraph that interested her.
1t gave a plain statement of the great
improvement that had taken place in
the Little Summit mine, and went on to
describe the comfortable homes of the
miners, the new machinery which had
been put into the mines to take the place
of child labor. the comfortable stables
above the groun. that he'd been built
for the mules, the improved social con-
ditions of the mems families, and ended
with n glowing tribute to the mobile
energy of the young and athletic mine
owner, Morris Holiness"
AtHietic. EIediOT TepedAtu hiS WoTu
with much satisfaction. 1t was of
moral athletes she was thinking, and it
pleased her nightly TINT this word
could thus be applied to Morris.
In II few moments she received a Sec
ond newspaper, published like the first,
in a town adjoining the mines, and Civ
ing the news Of that section of the coun-
try. It also contained II marked para.
graph, but the marking was irregular
black lines Of jagged pencil, and on the
border wa drawn a rude hand, point
ing to the notice and the badly written
but legible '.old Geordie."
Eleanor read in a few intense words
the news that had been sent to her.
There had been an accident in the mine.
The ROOT Of the entire chamber had fall
en- and buried 90 miners beneath it,
The men were rescued with great diff
ficulty. and ONE of them were badly in
jured. When all were supposed to have
been saved. there was a waiiing cry, and
the wife of 'OId Geordie" struggled
from the hands of friends and tried IL
throw herself into the mine. Morris
IJoin.oe Y,ala md n,1f nf hrnofh aaJ1nI