Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

not enough brains among the lot U ye to
turn a griEdstone. l know ye, beer-sod-
! den gang, with just enough sense TO see
! that your pint mugs fun"
BY this time those in the hall were in a
state of eXasperation bordering on frenzy.
A small door to the right of the stage. con-
Meeting with an alley, had been opened. and
a number Of the more timid, seeing a storm
| impending, had quietly slipped out. The
| meeting was now a seething mob, crying
| for the blood of the man who stood there
defying them and heaping contumely
| upon IT.
Gibbons, his lips pale but firm took
| step forward. I'VE have had enough Of
this" he said. Get off the PLATFORM
I Braunt turned as if on pivot, and rushed
| at the secretary. The latter stepped nimbly
| back, and one of his supporters with a run
| ming jump and hop, planted his boot
squarely in Braunt's stomach. The impetus
was so great and the assault so sudden
and unexpected that Braunt, powerful
he was, doubled up like a two-foOt rule, and
fell backward from the platform to the
| floor.
Instantly a dozen men pounced upon him
and hustled him, in spite of his striking out
right and left through the open door into
the alley The door was closed and bolted in
the twinkling of an eye-Braunt outside and
his aSsailants within. 1t was all neatly
and so quickly done that the police. who had
been on the alert for some time, only reached
the spot when the door was bolted. The
crowd, with but the vaguest general notion
OF what had happened beyond the sudden
backward collapse Of Braunt, raised wild
cheer, for which Gibbons was thankful, He
did not wish them to know that Braunt had
been taken in hand by the police outside
and he had been very anxious, II an arrest
were inevitable, that it should not take
place in the hail. for then even Braunts
violent TRADE would not have prevented uni
yersal sympathy turning toward him. While
the cheer was ringing up to the roof Gibbons
had heard a terrific blow delivered against
the door, blow that nearly burst in the
bolt and made the faces OF those standing
near turn pale. Another crashing hit shat
tered the panel and gave a glimpse for one
moment Of bleeding knucklcS. Then there
was an indication OF a short, sharp struggle
in the alley and all was quiet save the re-
verberating echo of the cheer.
Gibbons Strode to the front of the platform
and held up his hand for silence.
II am very sorry" he said that the last
speaker made some remarks which ought not
to have been made. but let us all remember
that hard words break no bones. However,
there has been enough talk for one night
and it is time to proceed to business.
Gentlemen, you have heard the report of the
committee-what is your pleasure?"
II move" said a man, rising in the middle
of the hall, that we go on strike"
II second that notion" cried several
voices.
Put the notion" whispered Gibbons to
the bewldered chairman.
Scimmins rose to his feet
You have all heard the motion" he said.
"All In favor say aye"
seemingly universal shout of "Aye"
arose. The chairman was on the point of
resuming his seat when Gibbons, in a quick
aside. said: Contrary"
''All to the contrary" called out the chair
man, lowering between sitting and standing.
There was dissent for Marsten had left
to see what had become of his friend and
the timorous men had stolen away when they
detected signs OF disturbance.
Notions carried" said Scimmlns, seat |
ing himself with every indication of relief
Unanimously" added Gibbons loudly un- |
able to conceal his satisfaction with the re-
suit.
CHAPTER TX