Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-04-23


size nor the other, thought they hat
found their opportunity for revenge
They gave loud expression to theil
pretended sympathy with the men
and soon accused the burly foreman
Of having disclosed the strikers plans
to the superintendent. johnson did
not take the trouble to deny the
charge, but he resented it with ugly
tempered commands and a brimmine
measure of labor for every hour OF
the day. The hatred of his enemies
grew more menacing, and their mum.
ber increased.
From suspicion to threats of ven
geance Is short and easy path for
men who have already undertaken a
lawlesS course. Johnson was thrice
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 to
show his contempt by a more fragrant
whom, recklessly, he soon reused to q
pitch of fury that BODIED i'll for him.
The kid observed this cloud of dan.
ger rising. He had nothing to fear fol-
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 S
office in the ravine, 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, it then de-
scended steeply to the gorge, and led
over a rickety bridge to the opposite
side.
AT various points the path turned
sharp angles, and ran all through q
fringe of bushes. The night was thick
A thin rain had fallen in the after
noon. and the fog now lay like q
blanket in the ravine. 1t appeared tC
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 in the big
box stove in the rear of the shack, fol
the night was cold. Gathered round
the fire, group Of the foreman's per.
sonal enemies began to talk freely, and
soon worked themselves into rage.
Where's the kid?" exclaimed Big
Red Smith, suddenly and somewhat
anxiously.
Several men turned and spied the boy
idling innocently near the door.
He's all right" one of them whis-
pered.
An intense, close conversation In
whispers ensued. The kid heard the
name Of johnson coupled with the
word even" spoken with deep passion.
1t needed nothing more to make him
prick up his ears. The stray words
that came to him increased his uneasi-
ness. He fancied that the men were
TO take it 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 scowling. One of
them the foreman had thrashed for in.
subordination three weeks before
When they had gone, the boy felt him.
self to be under the surveillance of all
the men left In the room. Neverthe.
less, he made up his mind that, cost
what it might, he would be good to
johnson, who had been good to him.
Fetch the kid here" he heard some
one say In whisper.
Nav" was the reply. Leave him
alone. He 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 itP How could it be
averted? Possibly 1t was beating al
some turn in the road, where men
could easily lie in wait, and attack
from behind. Certainly it was not
murder. No man of them was so fool
hardy as to put his own neck in dan
ger But might not the end of it
when passions We're aroused to the
boiling point, be murder?
The kid began to edge toward the
door. He moved with exceeding care
quietly, slowly, and as if aimlessly
When he had come near to the thresh
old Big Red Smith called sharply:
where's the kid?"
"Here!" some one shouted. "Come
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 be caught. He escaped through
the open door and sped down the patti
to the edge of the bluff. He had
planned clearly in his mind what te
do, and in all he did that night he
hesitated not once.
The path TO the ravine was closed tc
him by the four men who had gone
ahead.
The eastern abutment of the bis
cantilever had at that time been fin
ished. The ironwork of the structure
stretched out one hundred feet into
the air, reaching for the middle of the
gorge, where it was to meet the on