Evening star., 1897-02-06
Written for The Evening Star.
CONTINUED from last Saturday,
Chapter XXI.

Continued from last Saturday,
Chapter XXI.
Gibbons knew tfat Monkton and Hope
had gone to the continent before Marsten
shouted out this bit of information on the
street in the presence of the men. He saw
that the game was up. and all he wanted
was time in which to beat a retreat, posing,
II possible. the man who had brought
about a settlement. AS soon as Gibbons
learned that the two nominal masters had
gone, he tried to open communication with
Sartwell and sent private letter to him.
saying that, taking into consideration the
privations OF the men and the large money
loss to the frm he was willing to sink all
personal feelings ard waive the oroviso
heretofore insisted upon regarding a meet
Ing between the manager and himself. Glib
bons expressed his willingness to withdraw
from the conflict. and have a committe of
the men appointed to wait upon Sartwell
to arrange for the termination of the strike
but asked that his letter be regarded as
confidential.
Sartwell, with perhaps unnecessary con-
tempt. returned the letter 10 Gibbons, say
ing curtly to the bearer that there was no
answer.
1t is usually unwise to humiliate unduly
a beaten adversary; but Sartwell was not
versed in the finer arts of courtesy, and
when he hated a man he hated him thor
oughly, caring little for any reprisal his
enemy might attempt.
Gibbons had ground his teeth in HELPLESS
rage when his letter was returned to him.
He saw that no concession he could make
would placate Sartwell; so as the strike
was doomed, he resolved to make the best
OF the inevitable retreat. The committee
agreed that ii was no longer possible to
hold out, although they had refused Mar
stems request that meeting be called and
a vote taken. 1t was resolved that they
convene meeting at once, not waiting for
nightfall (hoping in this way to deprive
Marsten of any credit that might accrue
from the surrender), and march the men
in body from the hall to the works where
the committee, with the exception of Glib
bons, would pIecede them, to induce the
manager to open the gates. Gibbons would
then be able to say that he, not Mars,en,
had ended the strike, and he might even
enact the role of benefactor. who had
sacrificed his own feelings in the interests
of the men.
But luck was against Gibbons that Cay.
When he reached the works he found Mar
stem there naranguing his felloww orkmen,
imploring them to give in before 1t was tco
late. assuring them the two buildings would
be full of workers on Monday, md then all
efforts to enter would be fruitless- 1t was
very apparent that the young man was al
ready angered at the slight effect his ap-
peal was making on the seeming irdiffer-
ence of the men, and, If Gibbons had been
less angry from the rebuff he had received
from the manager. he might have taken ad-
vantage of the position and scored. As II
was, he had little time for planning sny
new line of procedure The moment he ap
peared Marsten demanded that meeting
should be instantly called and a vote taken.
Gibbons asked him to mind his own bust
Tess. saying he had appointment with
the owners of the works, and there -Tould
be meeting to consider their reply. Then
Gibbons learned that his falsehood was use
less. and that Marsten knew the owners
had fed.
At this point the unexpected advent of
Braunt, and the results that followed. tum-
bled all schemes to the ground like house
of cards.
Braunt. if he had thought about the mat
ter (which he had noD was revenged at the
end of the strike for his ignominious ejec-
tion from the hall at the beginning.
Gibbons retired with the committee to
consult over the new situation 1t a
gloomy consultation. As the men came out
of the small gate one by one, each with a
packet of tobacco in his hand. Scimmins
and another member of the committee
stood outside, proclaiming that meeting
was called for that night, to discuss the
events OF the day in a friendly manner.
No man answered. each hurried away to
get something to eat or drink nor did any
appear that night at Salvation Hall. Next
morning Scimmns and his fellow commit
teemen applied to SartweN for reinstate-
ment and were given their old places.
Gibbons resigned the secretaryship of the
union. and his resignation was accepted,
some what to his surprise. as he, knowing
the men had been practically unanimous in
bringing on the strike. expected to be asked
to keep the Office. with perhaps vote Of
formal thanks. However, all blame for the
failure was promptly placed his should
ers. and he found himself suddenly called