The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-03-07
Mr.. Duncan's bit II. He's a bright

Now. then. men. II I'm right abont
II the men are In hiding with the Davis
crew. They can't be- far on "
well find EN-" yelled more than
one voice.
Hold. Wait q minute!' cried Stuart
as the men began to move again II
want you to give-me your word that II
the men are found you will not at
tempt TO punish them yourselves. They
have been guilty of breaking the law.
Let the law deal with them. You have
commended your cause to the world so
far by your conduct. The minute you
resort to violence OF any kind public
sympathy will vanish. Give me yOnr
| wcrd cow that you will hand these
men over to the authorities II they art
found"
There was pause, and then from
different ones came the response: I'VE
promise. Aye, we's give the word"
Stuart felt satisfied. although there
were several lawless men under the IN.
| fucncc of drink who had not respond
ed. The men moved off the lawn. and
Stuart and the doctor and Mr.. Burke
| saw the larger part of them 20 directly
, up the hill toward the smoldering ruins
Of the engine house. The rest struggled
off down into town.
"There will be trouble in this town
tonight" said the doctor. He went In
to see Eric again, and Stuart and the
minister remained in the hall. They
talked together little while, and Stu
art was expressing his fears of the out
come when his telephone rang.
He went to it and convcrsed mo-
ment. Then turning to Mr. Burke he
said. ado you feel able to go out this
evening"
"Ycs, am lame little and do not
look very prcsentable, but | feel able
as far as that goes"
Stuart went to the hall closet and
brought out an overcoat for Mr.. Burke.
lie then put on his own, saying as he
did so, "I've just had a message from
the Iron Cliffs company that the min
crs are gathering in Il great mob down
in the square, and they think | had bet
ter come down and use my influence
| to prevent an outbreak"
"Do you feel able
"Ycs. | guess so. I'm sore and lame.
! that's a fact. but no bones broken, and
! it seems a case of duty. The doctor will
stay with Eric"
"IIe will, ch." said the doctor, who
lust then came out of the room behind
! Stuart. "You'rc as much in need of
watching as Eric. Take off that over
coat and 20 up stairs to bed
"Now, Doctor" replied Stuart with
sad smile, Il don't like to say | won't,
but shall say it this time. feel as If
ought to 90 down to the square. There
is going to be bad nights work, I'm
afraid, but not without protest from
Mr.. Burke and myself
"All right. go your ways. And if you
get your heads broken don't send for
me to glue the pieces together again
The doctor went back TO Eric, and
Stuart. after sending word that he and
Mr.. Burke would be right down and,
after ordering the servants to bring
around hsrse and buggy, drove hur-
riedly away.
AS they sped down the hill they pass
ed several groups of miners swinging
along the road at n smar: foot pace.
But when they reached the square
there was so large n crowd gathered.
overiiowing into the streets. that Stu
art drove around into one of the al.
lcys and hitchcd his horse near the
church at the rear. He and Burke then
came out into the space bounded by
tie church and Tie railroad depot plat
form.
The miners had not been in the habit
of assembling at night. All their meet.
ingS up To this time had been at noon.
Their present gathering was n new
Development of the strike. and as Stu
art and the minister crowded in N the
corner by the church they both said to
themselves that there were elements of
n very dangerous character compressed
into that spot. the commercial and so.
cial center of the town.
In the first place. there was an un.
usually large number Of drunken men
in the mob. 1t was growing noisier
every minute. The band stand was
crowded with miners. Two of them
were trying to speak at the same time
on opposite sides of the stand. and
the confusion was doubled by their at
tempt. The mob of men swayed rest
lCSSly about the stand. which was
lighted by an electric hanging lamp.
The square was almost as light rs in
the daytime. out on a side track of
tthc railroad which skirtcd one side of
the square the troops that had come In
ithat afternoon were quartcred in the
coaches which brought them. There
Iwcrc two companies, and they had
been ordered for some reason TO re-
lmain over mt Champion that night
Every alluSion to the troops seemed
to excite the miners to anger. The
speakers in the stand mentioned them
often and pointed toward their quar-.
ters. \ good deal had happened that
day to rouse even the sluggish, stolid