Gilpin observer., 1901-02-28

There was pause, and then from
different ones came the response: 1--WE
promise. Aye, we's give the word"
Stuart felt satisfied, although there
were several lawless men under the in
fluence 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 go 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 conversed mo-
ment Then turning to Mr.. Burke he
said, "Do you feel able to go out this
evening"
"Yes, am lame little and do not
look very presentable, but l feel able
as far as that goes"
Stuart went TO the hall closet and
brought out an ovcrcoat for Mr.. Burke.
He then put on his own, saying as he
did so, "I've just had message from
the Iron Gifts company that the min
ers are gathering in n great mob down
in the square, and they think had bet
ter come down and use my influence
to prevent IN outbreak"
")o you feel able:'
"Ycs, guess so. I'm sore and lame
that's 4 fact, but no bones broken, and
! it seems a case OF duty. The doctor will
stay with Erie
Gle will, chr said the doctor, who
just .hen came out of the room behind
Stuart. You're as much in need Of
watching as Eric. Take OF that over
coat and go up stairs to bed!'
"Now, DOCTOR replied Stuart with
sad smile, 81 don't like to say l won't,
but shall say it this time. feel as If
1 ought to go down 10 the square. There
is going to be q bad nights work, In
afraid, but not without 4 protest from
Mr.. Burke and myself"
"AH right, 20 your ways. And IL 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 w'ord that he and
Mr.. Burke would be right down and
after ordering the servants to bring
around n horse and buggy, drove hur-
riedly away.
As they sped down the hill they pass
ed several groups of miners swinging
along the road ct n smart foot pace.
But when they reached the square
there was so large crowd gathered,
overtlowing into the streets, that Stu
art drove around into one of the al
leys and hitched his horse near the
church at the rear. He and Burke then
came out into the space bounded by
the church and the 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 new
development of the strike. and as Stu
art and the minister crowded in Mt the
corner by the church they both said to
themselves that there were elements Of
very dangerous character compressed
into that spot. the commercial and So
clal 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 as in
the daytime. Out on side track of
the railroad which skirted one side of
the square the troops that had come in
that afternoon We're quartered In the
coaches which brought them. There
were two companies, and they had
been ordered for some reason TO re-
main over at Champion that night
Every alluslon to the troops seemed
TO excite the miners to anger. The
speakers in the stand mentioned them
often and pointed toward their quar-
ters. 4 good deal had happened that
day TO rouse even the sluggish, stolid
men of the north. Eric's injury, while
lamented by very many, was really
cause for rejoicing by another large
and rough element who were glad to
have his leadership displaced by that
of more radical but less capable men.
Stuart could not help saying, "lf Eric
were only here!" For the first time he
realized what great power Eric had
possessed. 1t was no small general
ship to hold this rough. turbulent mass
of uneducated men in check. There
was no one to take Eric's place.
Stuart had no definite plan to pursue
In coming down to the square. The
miners as they saw him spoke respect
fully and asked after Erie. He and
Burke were finally In the progress Of