Gilpin observer., 1901-02-07

CNCi thlhs5s IiOlu CtOtueS anu lOOu "
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 (he dill
net even like a cigar. unusually
thoughtful on some questions, with no
particular ambitions and no special EN-
thusiasms. If be 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
cldent of his fathers injury. In con-
nection with it was the strike, which
was specially personal not only be-
cause it involved the Duncan interests
but because the leader Of it was Eric
Nassall, Stuart's old playfeliow and
friend. yhe more he thought Of Eric
the more he felt the strike to be seri-
Gus matter. SO much might be involv-
ed in it for him and Eric.
ANtdily OWN N''it ~ b1''A A'S''S
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 curious feeling of OK
citement whencve" h2 thought of that
scene In the public sqCare and recalled
the prayer and its effect.
At the end of the week father and
son were talking together over the sit
uaton. The miners were still out, ard
the strike was sti,l on. with no pros
pect Of settlement.
81 tell YOU. Stuart" said Toss Dun
can. while his great square chin grew
hard and tense, the companies will
never concede the demands of the men.
| will never go an inch to meet them
while they are in their present atti-
tude"
"Do you think the men ask too much.
father?"
"Too much. With ore at the present
price, 1t is outra ageous. just when we
We're 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 go up with the
rise in ore"
"They are fools.' Ross Duncan
struck the pillow beside him passion
ately. "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 500"
"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 DIR. Saxon said yes
terday. You must not talk any more
on this subject"
II shall. There. l can control my
self"
1t was wonderful to see the change
that came over the man. He stiffened
his muscles. then relaxed them and let
his hand. which had been cllnched.
open easily and lie open on the bed
clothes. Then he spoke without
quiver Of passion. slowly and coldly:
'The companies do not tell the men
so because the men wouldn't believe
word the companies say. Yet there
isn't man in our mines who can say
Ross Duncan ever cheated II man out
of n penny or ever told him an untruth.
| tell you. Stuart. the men are the most
stubborn, Cngrateful. ignorant let of
animals that ever lived. Why. all last
winter kept more than n dozen fami-
lies going with food and fuel because
they had been sick or shiftless. and I'll
warrant you those very families are in
the front row of the paradcs every
morning! The men are cutting their
own throats. The companies will never
give in
Stuart did not say anything for
awhile Then: Don't you think. IA
ther, that the men have been very quiet
and law abiding? There has been no
disturbance thus far"
"Wait till we get the new men in
from Chicago and then see"
"Will the companies try to do that"
"Thcy certainly will If the strike con-
tinues another week. We lose our con-
tracts unless we can deliver the ore as
specified"
Isn't 1t little remarkable. father"
said Stunrt after another pause. "that
the men have opened their meetings In
the square every morning with pray
erT'
Ross Duncan uttered sound that
represented more scorn than hundred
words.
"Whom do they pray to-the dcvil:"
"The prayer l heard the first morn