The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-02-07

anonymously warned TO seek work
elsewhere, and that quickly. A coffin
and bleeding heart, rudely scrawled in
black and red on the last notice, gave
point to the warning. Upon each Oc-
casion the foreman had taken pains 10
show his contempt by "A more hagrant
abuse Of the worst OF the malcOntents,
whom, recklessly, he soon reused 10 a
pitch Of fury that BODIED III for him.
The kid observed this cloud Of dan
| ger rising. He had nothing 10 fear for
himself but he was no less distressed
on this account.
On the October night which just pre-.
ceded the first day Of the big strike
| the foreman had gone on some small
errand down TO the superintendent
| Office In the ravinc. under the bluff Op-
posite to that upon which the work
mems shack was set There was but
| one path; running along the edge OF
the cliff for half mile, IL then de
scended steeply 10 the gorge, and led
over a rickety bridge to the opposite
side.
At various points the path turned
sharp angles, and ran all through a
fringe Of bushes. The night was thick.
A thin rain had fallen in the after
noon. ana the fog now lay like a
blanket In the ravlnc. II appeared to
the kid that the foreman's return, be.
ing made at late hour, would be at
tended with some danger.
The men had made fire I'm the big
box stove In the rear OF the shack, for
the night was cold Gathered round
the fire, "A group Of the foreman's per
sonal enemies began to talk freely ana
soon worked themselves into a rage.
where's the kidT" exclaimed Big
Red Smith, suddenly and somewhat
anxiously.
Several men turned and spicd the boy
idling innoccntly near the door.
Hes all right" one OF them whis-
pcrcd.
An intense, close conversation in
whispers ensued. The kid heard the
name of Johnson coupled with the
word "even" spoken with deep passion.
IL needed nothing more to make him
prick up his ears The stray words
that came TO him increased his uncasi-
ness. He fanCied that the men were
10 take II out Of Johnson" while they
had the chance.
Soon four men passed him on their
way out into the night. Their faces
were flushed and scowlng. One Of
them the foreman had thrashed for in
subordination three weeks before.
When they had gone, the boy felt him
self to L. under the surveillance of all
the men left in the room. Neverthe-
less, he made up his mind that, cost
what IL might. he would be good TO
Johnson, who had been good TO him.
Fetch the kid here" he heard some
one say I'm whisper.
Nav" was the reply. leave him
alone. lie can't get away. Keep your
eye on him, Bill"
This was sufficient to convince him
that some evil was awaiting the fore
man. What was IL? How could IL he
avc:tcd? Possibly 1t was a beating at
could easily lie in wait, and attack
rom behind. Certainly IL was not
murder No man OF them was SO fool
hardy rs to put his own neck in dan
ger. But might not the end OF IT,
when passions were aroused TO the
boiling point, bc murder?
The kid began to edge toward the
door. lie moved with exceeding care
quietly, slowly, and rs If almlcssly,
| When he had come near To the thrcsh-
old Big Red Smith called sharply:
where's the KID"
| back here"
| The kid was making speedily for The
door -Four men. Big Red in the lead,
followed in hot haste; but the boy was
not to bc caught lie escaped through
the open door and sped Gown the path
to the edge of the hlun. He had
| planned clearly i'm his mind what ia
do. and I'm all he did that night he
hcsitatcd not once.
The path To the ravinc was closed 70
him Ivy Che four men who had gone
| ahead.
The eastern ahutmcut OF the bic
cautilevcr had at that time been fin.
ishcd. The irouworE Of the structure
stretched out one hundred feet into
the air. reaching for thc middle OF the
gorge. where it was 60 meet the op
posite section then rndcr construct
ION. Halfway up the blum on broad
ledge. the big steam derrick had its
place. The lean, black arm, which
lifted the pondcrous girdcrs from the
bottom of the ravinc To their station,
in the span. extended from this ledge
beyond the point To which the struct
urc had been carried. From its cX
trcmity hung the mighty tackle and
blocks. The ropes fell GO the ground
below where. for convenience, th,
ironwork had been transported from
The town above over Il makeshift rail
road.
The plan Of the kid was TO walk The
girdcr TO the ropes. and descend theme,
by the standing ia.l' to the bottor
of the rayinc.
The night had cleared. Low In tn,
sky to the west the moon was break
ing through the thin clouds. II woult
Ec broad light soon. The boy piCICI
has way over the cnCumbercd abut
mcnt platform. lie had como to tn,
naked glrdcr. which protrudcd into th,
air. when his pursuers found htrl out