Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-04-11

touched their caps
Some did, replied Conaors in sig
nifcant way. YOU were fortunate in
not meeting the bad one, Jim Dolan for
instance
Jim Dolan? I know him we'll. A
big, brutal-looking chap, with hang
dog expression, who is always in the ale
houses melting the men to violence.
He barks, but never bites
Very we'll, be careful but do not give
Jim Dolan a chance to bite you
This ended the talk between the men,
and each proceeded about his work.
The men were becoming more and
more desperate. The strike had length
ened into weeks, and stalking want'had
entered many humble miners hut.
Yet no sign of ending the strike was
in sight. Jim Dolan drank heavier
and heavier, and often spent days in
carousing with his companions. One
night little Jim was detained IN the
village.
A storm, with fierce flashes of light
ming and heavy pe~ls of thunder arose
and he took refuge in an abandoned
limekiln. An unusual flash of light
ming told him he was not alone.
In distant corner crouched four men
Their heads We're close together and
they were talking in low tones.
What's upT thought jim, and moved
by curiosity he drew nearer to the group
Father he muttered He had rec
opnized the elder Jim's voice.
Tonight is the night, lads the eide:
Jim was saying; mo time better. l
know his ways, the devil and
The balance of the sentence was lost
in another peal Of thunder.
But, jim, said one of the others, II
we're caught, it'll mean the halter
Who'll get us. man2 No one will be
out night like this. He'll come one
of two ways-the main road or across
lots. I'll take the main road, and you.
lads, the cross road. If he comes my
way Ill and suddenly stopping, jim
grasped his knotted stick more firmly
in his brawny hands. Come, let's be
off, it's nearly lis time
A minute more and they were gone.
Jim could hear their fast disappear
ing footsteps.
Who could they mean7 he thought.
Mo. not the meester? Yes, be me soul,
if they don't intend to kill Mister Win
ters. Dad s IN it, eh7 /
At that instant jim S arms were seized
from behind and lie was borne to the
ground, and at the same time harsh
voice, which be recognized as his faith
er's, whispered hoarsly in his ear:
so, you're listening, lad? What did
yer hear? Speak, lad, speak, or it'll be
the worse for yel
I'm not listening, dad. only got
10 here out Of the rain
Are ye sure? An ye heard nothing?'
Nothing, dad, nothing
leave the lad alone, jim, he's telling
the truth, said another voice.
Jim Do)an face was AS black as night
He had been drinking more heavily
than usual and between the villainous
town whisky and his violent passion was
nearing on madness.
'If | thought, lad, that ye heard, and
were lying, I'd level ye where ye stand. :.
The others counsel prevailed. and
with parting curse aud an order to &C
home at once, Jim push ed the boy aside
and with his companions strode oft III
the darkness.
The situation was still dim 70 jim
yet through his now thoroughly fright
ened brail came the thought that some
injury was intended Master Winters
as he called him. Winters had beer
kind to the little chap and his only
thought now was to save him. Stealing
from the pit he ran in direction oPpo
site to that taken DO the elder Jim ant
the others.
He, too, knew the habits of the younj
section superintendent, and where h'
would catch him at that hour
Running wildly through the storm
which was now at its height Jim reached
a spot half mile from where the mel
we're to intercept Winters. Here h
sat down ID wait.
'Th. Meester's late,' he though. whel
flash of lightning showed him tai
form approaching.
THAT must be him. No one else pass
es this way at this hour
Walking into the roadway Jim cam
face to face with Winters. who stopped
suddenly, exclaiming:
Who's thatY
Only me, meester. I WANTED to se