Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-10-18
CHAPTER I.

Bob Peters, and you'd best not try itv'
What do you mean talking that way
to meT'
Just what say
The sentence cut the air like whip.
There was snap in the words, snap in
the tone. snap in the expression and atti-
tude of the speaker.
The two men looked at each other.
They were not unlike In general appear
ance and age. Possibly the man with
the flannel shirt, and check cap on his
head, was the stronger and finer looking
Of the two. just now his eyes were flash
ing with anger. His face was red with
the heat of the furnace he had faced and
the excrtion he had put forth In pudding
the iron. His shirt was unbuttoned, ex.
posing a neck and shoulders that would
have delighted sculptor. His shirt
sleeves, rolled up to his shoulder, reveal.
ed a muscular arm. His frame was mass.
I've. his head well set on his shoulders,
and as he faced Peters he looked like u
man capable of holding his own with any
man, as, indeed. Dan Anterior had DEM
onstratcd time after time.
The man facing him was plainly but
decently dressed. but he did not meet
Dan Atherton's eye boldly. His manner
indicated restraint. He ought to have
had the advantage In the wordy encoun-
ter, hut he seemed to be nj disadvnn-
tage. One was the manager, the other
was a workman In the Star Iron Works.
1--WE may as well understand each 9th
er, Bob Peters," said the puddler, cross
ing his arms and looking defiantly at the
manager.
"You talk like q fool, Anterior. Are
you crazy? II you want to quit, your
money Is ready for you at the Office" said
the manager.
"Look here, Pcters-if I take that
money to-day. and through You. you'll
hear from me-"
Pooh! Now you are childish"
eve warned you"
"Who cares for your warningw ex.
claimed Peters. "Who il running this
millT
"That's just what I'd like to ask the
owners. You are running II, and a nice
mess you are making Of It. Ever since
We worked In the old Hope mill you've
had grudgc against me. Bob. I'm not In.
debted to you for any good will. nor for
my furnace. You want to run II very
economically, to please the owners, but
you do II at our expense. Oh! you needn't
swell now, and curl your lip-it's plain
truth, and hundreds In this and other
mills know just as well as you and know
how things are working"
Have You done, Athertonr' demanded
the manager. In grave tone"
I'm minute. The furnace you put me
on was run down. It's one Of the hard.
est furnaces In the mill-every body knows
that"
'There, that's enough, Anterior"
I'm not through. Peters. You haven't
had man on Number Fourteen In two
years who brought AZ much iron out of Il
~ ! have. And because have done Il,
and held up my end better than some OF
your pets, you don't like me. The whole
trouble the last two weeks was our
fault, not mine. I've asked you twice to
repair 1t, but you've pretended II didn't
need 1t, or you hadn't time-all to get INC
IN disfavor-and like a. not, when the
dme comes, you'll lie about Il, and sos
you wasn't notified. IL that plain
enoughY"
Peters at that moment was In such O
rage he could scarcely speak. He STAN.
mered, gulped, thep, with q white face
clenched his first.
"Oh. II that's your kind, I'm your man
Come on"
\ But q hand was laid on the Managers
D arm at that critical juncture, and voice
n each recognized said:
y "Hello! What fool nonsense Il this?"
/ The workman turned to the newcomer
with an angry look. The manager lcOk
cd crcstfallen. He wondered how muci
the newcomer had heard: he suspected
he had heard all that passed.
"Nothings gained by Aghting-you tvs
ought to know that"
The remark was an unfortunate one
i recalled contests between these two
when they were yOunger-cOntests which
always exposed Peters to the ridlcule o.
his fell0w.wOrkmen. II he could not vvn
Quish Anterior In hand.to.hand contest
he could show him he was his superior b,
dlscharging him.
"What's all the fuss sbouty'
The manager aud workman glared o.
him. Both thought he knew. It was tn,
puddler. however, who blurted his belle
out boldly.
u guess you know, Grlpp. But II 20,
don't, Ill let YOU into II. II Bob Peters
here, undertakes to ride over me, 6nd
Ing fault with me for not bringing q
much out Of my furnace ~ other men II
the mills. I'm going to curl every time
I'm going to tell him just where the faul
10. I'm not going to play dummy, an,
Jet him or any other man put me In
false light with the owners. don't car
e he was manager Of forty mills, no 10
10 other man cas make me say white
plack, or blacks white. There you hav
Gripp."
Anterior. you are discharged" sal
Peters. go to the Office and get you
money"
Suppose I don't take my dischary
from your" said Atherton. with a snee,
ing smile.
He looked around. They were standin
under shed cut entirely of from IN
view Of the laborers In ::..e yard. The
had met near II, and involuntarily steppe
lside 20 engage In the wordy cncou,
ter both anticipated.
The person who came upon them her
Twas Mr.. Jackson Grip, gentlema
Whose business transactions with irO
manufacturers led him into and abou
the mills. He was we'll known to worl
lmen and owners.
w Suppose ] give you something to dii
charge me for, Peters. You haven't &c
erounds-Fll give you some."
The iron puddler faced the manager d.
family, placing his hands before hin
ready to strike or ward off blow. HI
eye was fixed on Peters warily. Grip
looked at the manager, then at the put
dler. curiously. The manager was irre
plute.