Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-11-25

1cNNSA
Il was up az Rollins. the pump man
who was hurt you remember. when
the boy. the same one who came to the
office the other day. came in and said
the engine house was on fire. and after
what seemed like a years time we
managed TO pry out of him that be had
seen you and Eric &C down the ladders
a little while before. | rushed over to
the shaft. and here is the mystery of it
to me. Not q soul was in sight. The
engineer. firemen n pump men were
all gone. The ladders were blazing. SO
that there was no hope of descent by
them. Some of the other men ran up
from down town. Then we thought Of
the Beury tunnel and made a run for
that. You know. Stuart. it's over a
quarter of q mile from the shaft. but
we made it in a few minutes. | fell
over on a rock and smashed a lot Of
valuable bottles in my case. You've
cost me q good sum-. Stuart. counting
all tho days since you were bOrn-yOu
and Eric. | don't know that | believe in
%stubbing my toe very much for that
hot headed young socialist and aglta-
tor. He will make a peck of trouble in
the world. and | don't know but in the
interest of humanity | ought to give
him a little dose Of something to finish
hin up
Just then Eric. in the across the
hall. stirred and groaned. The doctor
heard him. and. dropping his napkin
absentmindedIy into his soup, be bur-
ried in to. see his socialist patient.
DcN,1 - 49, Ia.I- ~ on6
Burke discussed the fact of the engine
house FIRE. There was something to be
cleared up about that. 1t seemed also
to Stuart that the mass of iron ore
which fell Upon Eric was something
more than a ioOsened fragment of the
mine. The doctor vas right about it.
The absence of the men from the spot
when the fire broke out also needed
explanation.
The doctor had come back. and the
meal was progressing while the three
men were trying to solve the facts of
the burning and the injury to Eric
when a tramp of marching men was
heard coming up the avenue.
The three men rose from the table to-
gether. There was a menace in the
sound that was not easily mistaken.
Stuart went directly into the hall and
opened the great front door. By the
light of the porch lamp could be seen
a crowd. at least 200 men. each one car
rying his stick. which in most cases ap-
preached more nearly the dimensions
of a club. They were a formidable ap-
pearing mot OF men. their sullen. heavy
faces brought into distinct relief in the
light Of the electric lamp.
"WeIl. men" called out Stuart clear
". what is this?"
The men meanwhile crowded up close
about the veranda. me of them. act
ing as spokesman. came up on the
steps and said in a loud voice, I'VE
want to see Eric"
You can't see him. He's hurt. He
isn't fit to see any one"" shouted the
doctor, who stood just behind Stuart
in the doorway.
What do you want to see him for?"
asked Stuart calmly.
The spokesman appeared CONFUSED
and did not answer at once Then
here and there through the crowd rose
cries from the men.
There's been foul play"
"Nell string up the men that did it!'
eyes, hang 'em!
"Show us Eric. We want him with
US tonight"
Men" Stuart raised his voice. "Gor-
don here can come in and see for you
that Eric is not able to move. Come in,
Gordon, and see." continued Stuart,
speaking to the miner who was stand
ing upon the steps.
The miner. after a moments hesita-
ton, went into the house and the doc
went with him into the room at the
of the hall where Eric lay.
While they were gone Stuart told h
how Eric vas hurt. There was
breathIess attention while Stuart was
speaking. Just as he finished Gordon
out.
Boys" be said as he appeared On the
veranda, "Eric's u of it tonight. Well
make it hot for the towards that's done
this"
AYE, thai we willr' cried a dozen
voices.
"Three cheers for Mr.. Duncan" sud
denly cried a voice. The men could not
help knowing from their experiences
in the mines that Stuart had staid by
Eric during the danger, although he
had said very little of himself in his
narrative.
The cheers were given heartily, and
Stuart felt for the first time in his life
that perhaps the day would come when
these men would understand him. He
out of the doorway, however,
and, pointing in to where Andrew
Burke was standing, said: Thank you.
men. But if it hadn't been for Mr..
Burke here Eric would not be safe.
We owe our lives to him"
who's he?" rudely asked some one.
'"The new minister at st. Johns. |