The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-02-14

and daughter should have the best OF
everything. from clothes and food 70
education and travel. And Stuart had
gone through college and through Eu.
rope with about the same easy feeling
Of having comfortable time. He was
perfectly healthy. had no vices Che did
not even like q cigar. unusually
thoughtful on some questions. with no
particular ambitions and no special en-.
thusiasms. II he gave his future any
thought while abroad, It was simply to
picture life of business in connection
with his fathers mining interests. That
was his fathers desire, and Stuart did
not have any other.
He had come home from the picture
galleries and cathedrals Of the old
world to face first of all this rough in.
cident Of his fathers injury. In con.
nection with 1t was the strike, which
was specially personal not only be,
cause 1t involved the Duncan Interests,
but because the leader Of II was Erie
vassall, Stuart's old playfellow and
friend. The more he thought of Erie
the more he felt the strike to be serl.
GUS matter. So much might be invOlv.
ed In 1t for him and Eric.
Nearly a week went by before Ross
Duncan was able to sit up and talk
much. During that time Stuart faith,
fully remained at home. He had not
seen Eric, and Eric, as he supposed,
had not been to see him. His father
and Louise needed his constant care.
But he anticipated meeting his old :
playfellow with a curious feeling of ex.
element whenever he thought Of that
scene in the public square and recalled
the prayer and its effect.
At the end of the week father and
son were talking together over the sit.
uation. The miners were still out, and I
the strike was still on, with no pros.
pect of settlement.
81 tell you. Stuart" said Ross Dun.
can. while his great square chin grew
hard and tense, "the companies will
never concede the demands of the men.
I will never go an inch to meet them
while they are In their present att.
tude."
"Do you think the men ask too much,
fatherY"
"Too much! With ore at the present
price! 1t is outrageous, just when We
were beginning to get on our feet
again. 1t has been very dull winter,
and things were just beginning to turn
our way again"
"But thought ore had gone up. Isn't
that what the men claim as the reason
for their demand for an increase? They
say the wages ought to 60 up with the
rise In ore."
"They are foolsw Ross Duncan
struck the pillow beside him passion
ately. 1.-THE companies were under
contract for large quantities Of ore at
the old price before this rise came. The
rise will not benefit us any until We
have disposed Of our old contracts"
"Why don't the companies tell the
men soY'
"Pshaw! Stuart, you are Ross
Duncan controlled himself violently.
Stuart was alarmed for him. He rose
and went over nearer the bed.
"Father, you must not get excited.
Remember what DR.. Saxon said yes.
terday. You must not talk any more
on this subject"
II shall, There, I can control my.
self"
It was wonderful to see the change
that came over the man. He stiffenef
his muscles, then relaxed them and let
his hand. which had been clinched,
open easily and lie open on the bed
clothes. Then he spoke without
quiver Of passion, slowly and coldly:
1.-THE companies do not tell the men
80 because the men wouldn't believe a
word the companies say. Yet there
isn't man in our mines who can say
Ross Duncan ever cheated a man ou1
Of penny or ever told him an untruth'
tell you, Stuart, the men are the most
stubborn, ungrateful, ignorant lot OF
animals that ever lived. Why. all last
winter l kept more than a dozen faml'
lies going with food and fuel because
they had been sick or shiftless. and III
warrant you those very families are ID
the front row Of the parades every
morning! The men are cutting theiF
own throats. The companies will never
give in"
Stuart did not say anything ioT
awhile. Then: Don't you think. IA
ther, that the men have been very quie'
and law abiding? There has been 10
disturbance thus far"
"Wait till we get the new men ID
from Chicago and then see."
"Will the companies try to do that'
"They certainly will II the strike con-
tinues another week. We lose our con-
tracts unless we can deliver the ore as
specified"
"lsn't 1t a little remarkable, father
said Stuart after another pause. 'tha'
the men have opened their meetings ID
the square every morning with pray
erY'
Ross Duncan uttered sound Una.
represented more scorn than hundre'
words.