News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-03-06

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II bCitcUe they ought to haze the scale
they demand" replied Stuart quictJU
pause; God bless you, Eric. God help
us to solve these questions with his
wisdom, for ours is weakness and fool.
ishness."
Eric's eyes were shut. Then tear
stole out from the closed lids and
rolled over the pale cheek, and Stuart
| left him so.
He hurried down into the town and
| drove first out to Eric's cottage, which
was on a side street three blocks from
the square. Erics father and mother
were dead, and he was not married.
He was living with his grandmother
| and two cousins. young boys who eX-
| pPcted in time to enter the mines.
| Erics home life was strange and had
its influence on his life to shape it as ii
was. Stuart left word with the grand
mother that Eric would be with him
! for awhile and then drove back into
the square and went into the office.
1t was the old office room of his ia
| Their, but since Ross Duncans death it
had become sort of headquarters for
several mine owners who had railroad
interests in Champion and mining
property in the other ranges. Three or
| four of these men greeted Stuart as he
came in and at once began to argue
with him about his course in the strike
and its probable results on the out
come of it.
"Now, Duncan" said one of the men,
a large, ford man, who wore big seal
on a heavy watch chain and looked
important" at is necessary for us all
| to move together in this matter. Things
have got to point now where it is a
| question whether we are running our
own business or having it run for us by
a lot of wild, ignorant fanatics engi-
neered by Salvation Army cranks and
| other fools of the sort"
Stuart had all he could do to keep
| from striking the man in the mouth as
he spoke of the Salvation Army. That
delicate face in the army bonnet, that
! kneeling figure in the midst of the mob,
that prayer, the sweet, clear, refined
vOice-all smote his Imagination and
memory as his eyes looked past the big
man out of the window which opened
on the scenes of the past evening 1t
was good proof perhaps of the genuine
nature of Stuarts new manhood that
he calmly listened until the speaker
was through and then said quietly: 81
| hn al
you do, Mr.. Wyman. My dearest
friend, Eric Vassall, is a member of it.
and | believe we owe our freedom so
| far from lawlessness to the religious
influence eXerted by the army"
Stuarts reply surprised all the other
men. The big man REDEEMED and was
about to say something when one of
the others spoke up:
THAT aside, Mr.. Duncan, we do not
see your reason for refusing to get new
men in and starting up again Your re-
fusal gives the strikers encourage
ment."
Il believe they ought to have the
scale they demand" replied Stuart
quietly.
I'VE don't" exclaimed the first
speaker viciously. 'T'll see every strik-
err starve before I'll grant anything like
the terms they ask. The price of ore at
present wouldn't allow it,"
But" said another of the men,
speaking to Stuart, who remained
standing in the middle of the room,
"the Cleveland men are determined to
set new men at work today. The first
load will come in on the noon train.
Troops are coming with them. The
J two companies that were here last
night have gone on down to the lower
range early this morning. We have the
game in our own hands If we act to-
gether. You are the largest owner
| here. good deal depends on your
action"
Stuart pondered. The men all looked
at him anxiously. At last he looked
straight at them, and his face lighted
up.
Il have given the men my word that
l would take them back at their terms
They have refused to come back unless
III us OlHef OWNERS uldke tue same
terlns. | still think | am right in the
, matter, and the rest of you ought to
grant their demands. do not see how
in honesty to my own convictions can
do otherwise. My present refusal tc
get in new men Is certainly not adding
to the danger of the situation here IN
Champion. Gentlemen paused
for moment then went on firmly
cannot see my way clear to hire the
men at smaller wages than So dav.