The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-04-25

panies.
1t was packed tonight with the min.
ers. The union was In session. and
every man who could find q foothOid
inside was there. The rest were wait.
ing outside to hear q final decision.
Not a man Of them but believed the
result had already been determined
and that before morning every pump
on the range would be pulled out and
the companies would lose millions Of
dollars worth Of property In a few
hours. 1t would be q grim revenge
Of labor over capital. 1t would strike
capital at its most sensitive spot. II
would be a real satisfaction for the
great suffering and want Of the win.
ter. And many and many hollow
faced miner In the crowd around the
hall was thinking Of little child lying
dead under the snow in the great
burial place on the slope Of the range.
and he grasped his stick tighter and
cursed the rich in his palace Of COM
fort that bitter night.
Stuart never felt more helpless. He
looked at the faces around him, and
his heart sank as he realized how great
| was the force Of mob bent on doing
its own pleasure. He felt as II any in.
fluence he might possess in Champion
was an empty breath in De Mott. Sure
ly Andrew had been mistaken when
he said Stuart could influence such men
as these at such time as this.
He was reused from all this by the
doctor, who spoke short and sharp.
Now, then. let's make a break for
the hall! Wen leave Ajax right here"
Stuart was astonished.
"They won't let US in the hall"
"We'n see about that" replied the
doctor.
He drove Ajax up in front Of one Of
the drug stores where he was in the
habit Of stopping when he came to De
Mott, and, getting out Of the cutter.
with Stunrt following with much won
der, he began to force his way to the
hall door. AS Stuart went on he began
| to realize that there had been mis-
take made by Andrew. II there was
one man left who had real influence
over the miners, 1t was not Stuart Dun.
can. but DIR. Saxon.
1t was almost comical to see the
changes that went over the miners
faces as the doctor showed men this
way and that in order to get near the
hall. At first they swore and threaten.
ed to do unspeakable damage for the
rough treatment some one was giving
them, but the minute they caught sight
Of the rugged. kindly face they were 40
polite and ready to make room as II he
had been some high and mighty poten'
tate and they his loyal subjects.
"Get out Of the way there! Doctor.
he be needed in the hall. Some one be
hurt in there likely" And big Dane
reached out and caught a miner, who
was standing In front Of the doctor. by
the collar and pulled him OF his feet al
II he had been dummy In q clothing
store.
In this way the doctor, Stuart strug
Cling In his wake, fought and had
fought for him way up to the hal
door. Thirty years absolute devotion
to the great needs Of the miners In Dc
Mott rs we'll as in Champion had en-
deared the doctor to every stolid, obsti
nate. dull. heavy Drained. but warn
hearted man out Of the 5000. but ever
tonight he was privileged to go wher,
he wanted and no questions asked.
He was In the hall and Stuart behind
him. 1t was contrary to union rules
but tonight there was no such strict
enforcement Of regulations. The mer
had reached or were nearing a desper
ate resolve and did not care much wht
knew 1t.
So the doctor, still silent, as he hat
been from the time he started to make
his way into the hall. went on through
the dense crowd that blocked thu
aisles. and Stuart still crowded afte
him. his mind in a dream. his amaze
ment at the doctors action not yet re
lieved by a real inkling Of his purpose.
They were on the platform. and tn,
speaker had stopped to shake hand.
with the doctor, and then the doctor
had asked In low voice II he nigh
say word to the men.
The chairman of the union happened
to be one Of the Champion men. L
was only two weeks before that DR.
Saxon had gone out into one Of tn,
herccst storms Of the winter. wadet
through drifts over his head, wher'
Ajax had refused to go. and at criti
cal time In the illness Of this man.
baby had dragged 1t, as II by shee
force Of defiance against death. out o
the very shadow Of the valley bacl
into the warmth Of life. The Chairman
was a hard faced. hard fsted, but BIZ
hearted Cornishman. who loved hi
babies as much as any man on earth
and If DR.. Saxon had asked for his las
crust of bread or a share Of his past.
he would have said. Take II all"
Boys. doctor. he be wanting to say
word or two. 1t don't belong to be b.
the rules. but say let doctor say hi
say"
"Aye, aye! Let's hear doctorr shou,
ed a hundred voices. and the man VIII
, 1t,