Evening star., 1897-01-02

over London startling accounts Of the
riot. as they called It, and the news had
attracted idlers from all parts Of the me-
tropolis. The widest rumors were afloat;
the men were going to wreck the works;
they were going to loot the bread shops
in Light street; they had armed them
falsar square. With a resolute and des-
perate leader. there Is no saying what
they might have attempted. but Gibbons.
who had put another coat on his back.
an,,1 ana much chs sticking plaster on his face,
respect for the law. They would forfeit
public sympathy. he said. by resortinG to
violence. although some Of his hearers
growled that "a bleedin' lot O. good" pub
lie sympathy had done for them. What
we want and what we mean to have,'
said Gibbons. us a word with the owners.
They are bound to come out soon.''
They did come out ultimately together,
and two more frightened men than Monk
ton and Hope 1t would have been hard to
find in all the land that day. They were sur
rounded by dozen policemen. whose reso-
lutte demeanor showed they were not to be
trifed with. The gates Immediately closed
behind this formidable procession, and it
quickly made its way up the street, the
through.
We've got nothing against them," shout
ed one. Bring out sartwell, and wen
show you wot for"
Hatred for the managers rather than the
owners was plainly the dominant senti-
ment of the gathering. They cheered the
remark, and gave three groans for the un-
popular manager
When the protected men disappeared,
the vigilance Of the force relaxed, and the
crowd surged into the gap the police had
cleared. With the masters safe and out of
reach. the critical moment of the day
seemed to have passed The police could
not be expected to know that the real
resentment OF the mob was not directed
against the man whose cab had been over
turned that morning.
II hope Sartwell won't venture out to-
night" said Marsten to Braunt. 1T will
take more than twelve policemen to guard
him IL he does"
He has some sense" replied Braunt.
land will stay where he is.''
Neither Braunt nor Marsten had been
present during the mornings battle, but
they, Ike many others with nothing to
do, lad come In the afternoon.
AS Braunt spoke the small door In the
gate opened. and Sartwell, entirely alone,
stepped out. He had no more formidable
weapon in his hand than his customary
slim and trim umbrella. His silk hat was
as glossy and his clothes were as spick and
span as If he were a tailor's model. He
seemed to have aged a trif1e since the
strike began, but his wiry, well-knit body
was as erect as ever, and in his eye was
that stern look Of command before which,
at one time or another every man in his
employ had quailed.
An instantaneous hush fell upon the
crowd. The cry of a hawker in a distant
street was heard. Every man knew that
the fiirging of a missile, or the upraising
of an arm even, would be as spark in
powder mill.
Let but the stroke fall, and all the police
in London could not have saved the life
OF the man walking across the cleared
space from the gates toward the crowd.
The mass of silent humanity had but to
move forward, and Sartwells life would be
crushed out on the paving stones
SartWell. without pause and without hur-
ry, walked across the intervening space
with evident confidence that the men would
make way for him. There was no sign of
rear IN his manner nor on the other hand
was there any trace of staggering au-
thority about him, but there was in the
glance of his steely eye and the poise of
his head that indefrab something which
stamps man mas ter-which commands
obedience, instant ard unquestioned.
The crowd parted before him, and he
cast no look over his shoulder Habit be-
ing strong, one or two raised hand to fore
lock as he passed, getting in return the
same curt nod that had always acknowl-
edged such salutatien. The human ocean
parted before him as did the Red sea be-
fore the Hebrew leader. and the manager
passed through as unscathed
Cod cried Braunt, towering above his
fellows and shaking his fist at the unof-
Tending sky. L have seen in my life one
brave man.
Chapter NV.
Come with me. Marsten," said Braunt
Let us get out of this crowd. l want a
word with your
The two made their way to a quieter
street and walked together toward Rose
Garden court, talking as they went.
This foolish strike must STOP began
the 9orkshireman, and now is the time to
stop it. The men tired of it, and the
masters are sick of it, but neither will give
in, a way must be found out of the
tangle, and you are the man to find the
way.
How? The men won't throw over Glib
bons, and Sartwell will resign before he
viii confer with him. Remember how Glib
bons swayed the men last night, in spite
of the grumbling there had been against
him before the meeting opened"
Yes, 1 know. But, my lad, there is dis
sension in the other camp well as in
OURS. Sartwells coming out as he did just
now was as much defiance of his masters
both Monkton and Hope wanted him to
come with them and their bodyguard. He
refused From what 1 hear, Mr.. Hope was
so frightened this morning that he could
not have spoken if his life had depended
upon 1t. There must have been some hot
talk between the three today. Sartwell un-
derestimates the danger, and the two own
: II! i
r. m /N&