Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-12


They are foolsv'7 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 sop
"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 DR.. Saxon said yes
terday. You must not talk any more
on this subject"
II shall There, can control N.Y.
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 clinched,
open easily and lie open on the bed
clothes. Then he spoke without a
culver Of passion, slowly and coldly:
1.-THE companies do not tell the men
so because the men wouldn't believe q
word the companies say. Yet there
isn't man In our mines who can say
Ross Duncan ever cheated a man out
Of penny or ever told him an untruth.
l tell you, Stuart, the men are the most
stubborn, ungrateful, ignorant lot Of
animals that ever lived. Why, all last
winter kept more than 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 parades every
morning! The men are cutting their
own threats. The companies will never
give in"
Stuart did not say anything for
awhile. Then: Don't you think, IA
Their, 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."
"Wil the companies try to do that?''
'"They certainly will If the strike con-
tinues another week. We lose our con-
tracts unless we can deliver the ore as
specified"
isn't it little remarkable, father"
said Stuart after another pause, "that
the men have opened their meetings in
the square every morning with pray.
erY'
Ross Duncan uttered a sound that
represented more scorn than hundred
words.
"Whom do they pray to-the devil?"
1.-The prayer l heard the first morn
Ing came home was as good prayer
as ever heard in church"
"Who offered it?''
Eric" replied Stuart, flushing up
little.
''He is the leader of the whole strike,
the most dangerous man on the range
today. I advise you to break with
him."
Stuart leaned forward a little ''You
remember, father, Eric saved my life
when the skip broke in the shaft?"
"Well, it was only what any man
would do. You are not under any great
debt to him."
Stuart did not reply. He felt the
strange passion he inherited from bis
father rising in him, and after a few
questions as to his fathers condition
he went out of the room.
That afternoon he went up on the
hills for the first time since his return.
He sat down near one of the mines and
thought over his talk with his father.
Then he grew restless and walked
down into the town. AS he passed the
Office he went in and found letter in
the box addressed to him. He put it
In his pocket and walked on through
the square past the band stand, crossed
the railroad tracks and went up the
street, which narrowed, as all the
streets did, into the miners paths, I'M
til he reached the building belonging
to another Of his fathers mines.
The pumps were still going, although
some Of the men had threatened to pull
them out. There were only six men
still at work in the engine house. Stu
art walked up to favorite seat on a
great stone which cropped out on the
hill. One Of the few old pines still left
on the slope grew close by.
He sat down and took out the letter.
It was from Eric. AS he read his face
darkened:
Dear stuart-the letter began, with the old ia
miliar sound-1 write to you because have been
refused admission to the house. l called twice
this week to inquire for youy and the servants
would not let me in. don't blame you. The
times are bringing many questions before us, and
| the rights of men men not to be ignored.
don't know that you to keep up the old &C.
quaintance. 1t rests with you to say. I don't
know what year may have done for you. The
new situation may also make change in your
attitude toward me. l am doing what l believe
IL right 1t may seem all wrong from your stand
point. II you will be at the old stone by the big
tree this afternoon, will meet you there Your
old friend, ERIC.
This was most unsatisfactory letter
to Stuart. The refusal to let Eric into