Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-17
CHAPTER K.
'opYeight. leO1. by Charles King.
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Lapse of the great railway strike at FBrentwood It was but natural that the officials of the Big. Horn should vaunt themselves over a victory that not only broke up a mob, but quite as effectuaIIy downed the Seattle. The chagrin of Messrs. Barclay and others representing that powerful and wealthy corporation could not be concealed de- spite all their brave show of satisfac- tion. The Big Horn had all trains running and it's live stock in Chicago before the Seattle could succeed in fir ing a freight engine. The Big, Horn behaved magnanimously to its mis- guided employees. for Charming was a man ever in touch with the great ar my of operatives and knew how best to win their sympathies and willing service. Every engineer, fireman and trainhand who had not taken active part in the destruction of property was back at his post inside of 24 hours, whereas the anger, envy and disgust ranking in MT. Barclays bosom against the Big Horn could only find vent in malicious newspaper items at the expense of the rival management and heroic measures at that of his men It was a day of disaster to the Seattle and of triumph for the Big Horn, and the breach, already broader than the gorge of the Red Water, now swidened between the roads. Charming couldn't help bragging and exulting, and it was bad policy. The Seattle was much the richer company of the two. Its stock was mainly held in England and the eastern states, where as the Big Horn was western in own ership and management. Barclay gave big dinner at the Brentwood House three days after the break of the strike, to which all local journalists and magnates were bidden, the cigars and champagne for which were ex- pressed from Chicago, and in the post prandial eloquence on that fowery co casion much stress was laid on the fact that the Seattle would rather suf- fer double its loss than that it should go. down to history as having won its victory by means of shotted guns in the hands of hireling soldiery leveled at the breast of Brentwood's manhood. Captain Nathan made an effective speech in response to the toast to the army. Ut would have been an easy .matter,n said he, flor my brave men to shoot their speedier way to the scene Of action, but that from his great and merciful heart the general manager of the Seattle declared that he would rather the earnings of thousand years went up in smoke than that the blood of one honest toiler should lie at their doors" Tremendous and long contin- ued applause ensued, through which Santley. and Woodrow sat in. grim si- 2enee and, in Bhlch even Torrance only half hearteczy joined, for well they re- membered Barclays almost frenzied appeaIs to Nathan to get ahead. for Gods sake, and do something, if he had to dam the Red Water with the dead. Melville, his eyes covered, his head stin bandaged, lay upon low couch in an upper room, attended by his. de voted wife and niece. The sound of revelry by night came from below with explosive puffs, and the manager of the Brentwood twice tapped at the door to express his regret and anxiety and the hope that the major wasn't be- ing disturbed fIts the Seattle blow out, he explained, "and the roads set ting lem up for all corners apparently"
 When, does the Big Horn set 'em upg asked Melville, with a smile of amusement.
 The B. H. doesn't have to-" answered Boniface. By the way, sir, MT. Chan ming goes east again tomorrow, and he hopes that you will feel able to see him. Of course he isn't at the ban quetsn 2 be added, with grin. We've had a queer time with the. rival fac tions in the house."
 It had indeed been a queer time Barclay, as became the managing head of a great road, had taken a suit of rooms on the parlor floor, with his sec retary, ftypewriters and assistants, while Claiming and his one aid-de- camp, Mir. Langdon, occupied modest rooms on the floor above and attended to business over at the station. Bar clay nodded patronizingly when he met or passed Charming and once so far unbent as to take one hand out of his trousers pocket and extend finger to his rival But he never seemed to see Langdon, and Langdon had an aggra- vating way of looking straight into the others face in calmly speculative manner, as though he considered him some curious specimen of the freak" family. subject for leisureIy contem- plation, but in nowise thing to be ac- costed
 The regular officers and many of those of the state troops took their ra- fions at the Brentwood the few days they were there on duty, and it was cu- rious to. note the effect on the two oc- casions that Langdon entered the din- ing room while the military was there. The guardsmen to a man either arose to shake his hand or else whirled. around in their seats and waved him joyous greeting. Woodrow, of the ar- tillery. too. sprang to his feet and os- tentatiously went half across the din ing room to clap him on the shoulders or slap him between them on the broad of the back. Once, finding vacant seat by Langdon's side, the rash sub alteFn quit the table of his command ing officer and finished his dinner at Channing's, and Nathan and Torrance, who never saw Langdon at all, took prompt note of the desertion and held it up against the youngster as an af- front to be expatiated through many 9 o1f1f,f and cn11h and sonf0fficiaI an-