The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-30
CHAPTER TX.
Copyright, 1901, by Charles King

the great railway strike at Brentwood.
IL was but natural that the officials or
the Big Horn should vaunt themselves
over a victory that not only broke up a
mob, but quite as effectually downed
the Seattle. The chagrin of Messrs. Bar
clay and others representing that power
fll and wealthy corporation could not be
concealed despite all their brave show
OF satisfaction. The-Bis- Horn had all
trains running and its live stock In
Chicago before the Seattle could sue
ceed In firing a freight engine. The Big
Horn behaved magnanimously to Its mis-
guided employees. for Claiming was a
man ever In touch with the great army
OF operatives and knew how best TO win
their sympathies and willing service
Every engineer fireman and trainhand
who had not taken active part I'm the
destruction of property was back at his
post inside of "A hours, whereas the an
ger, envy and disgust ranking In Mr.
Barclays bosom against the Big Horn
could only find vent in malicious news
paper Items at the expense OF the rival
management and heroic measures at that
OF his men. IL was a day OF disaster TO
the Seattle and of triumph for the Big
Horn, and the breach. already broader
than the gorge OF the Red Water, now
widened between the roads. Claiming
couldn't help Dragging and exulting. and
IL was bad policy. The Seattle was
much the richer company of the two.
Its stock was mainly held In England
and the eastern states. whereas the Big
Horn was western in ownership and man
agement Barclay gave big dinner at
the Brentwood House three days after
the break OF the strike, TO which all
local journalists and magnates were bid
den, the cigars and champagne for which
were expressed from Chicago, and In the
post-prandial eloquence on that fiowery
occasion much stress was laid on the fact
that the Seattle would rather suffer
double it's loss than that IL should go
down 10 history as having won its victory
by means OF shotted guns in the hands
of hireling soldiery leveled at the breast
OF Brentwood's manhood. Captain Ma
than made an effective speech in response
TO the toast TO the army 1T would
have been an easy matter" said he. for
my brave men to shoot their speedier
way TO the scene of action, but that from
his great and merciful heart the general
maiiager OF the Seattle declared that he
would rather the earnings of thousand
years went up In smoke than that the
blood OF one honest toiler should lie at
their doors" Tremendous and long con-
tinued applause ensued. through which
Santley and Woodrow sat In grim silence
and in which even Torrance only half
heartedly Joined, for well they remem-
bered Barclays almost frenZied appeals
TO Nathan TO get ahead, for Gods sake,
and do something. II he had to dam the
Red Water with the dead.
Melville, his eyes covered. his head still
bandaged, lay upon low couch In an
upper room, attended by his devoted wife
and niece. The sound OF revelry by night
came from below with explosive puffs,
and the manager of the Brentwood twice
tapped at the door 20 express his regret
and anxiety and the hope that the major
wasn't being disturbed. ITS the Seattle
blowout" he explained 'and the roads
setting EN- up for all corners apparent
ly."
when does the Big Horn set 'em up?"
asked Melville, with smile or amuse-
ment.
'sThe B. II. doesn't have to-" answered
Boniface. by the way. sir. Mr. Chan
ming goes east again tomorrow, and he
hopes that you will feel able to see
him. OF course he isn't at the banquet
he added, with a grin. We've had a
queer time with the rival factions in the
house."
IL had indeed been a queer time. Bar
clay, as became the managing head OF
great road, had taken suit of rooms on
the parlor floor, with his secretary. type
writers and assistants, while Channing
and his one aid-de-camp. Mr.. Langdon,
occupied modest rooms on the floor above
and attended to business over at the sta
ton Barclay nodded patronizingly
when he met or passed Claiming and
once so far unhent as TO take one hand
out of his trousers pocket and extend
finger TO his rival. But he never seemed
10 see I,angdon, and Langdon had an ag-
grayating way of looking straight into
the others lace In a calmly speculative
manner as though he considered him
some curious specimen OF the freak
family, subject for leisurely contem-
plation, but in nowlse thlhs 10 De ac-
costed
The regular officers and many Of
those of the state troops took their ra-
tions at the Brentwood the few days
they were there on duty, and IL was Gu
rious TO note the effect on the two oc-
casions that Langdon entered the din
ing room while the military was there.
The suardsmen to man either arose
10 shake his hand or else whirled
around I'm their seats and waved him
JOYOUS greeting. Woodrow, OF the ar
tiIlery. too. sprang to his feet and os-
tentatiously went half across the din
ing room to clap him on the shoulders
or slap him between them on the broad
of the back. once, finding vacant
8, at by Langdons side, the rash sub
altern quit the table of his command
inc officer and finished his dinner At
Channing's. and Nathan and Torrance,
who never saw Langdon at all, took
prompt note OF the desertion and held
IL up against the youngster as an az
front 10 be expatiated through many
slight and snub and semiofricial IN
noyance when they harked back TO Paw
nee IL was plain that Langdon was a
marked man in the eyes OF the populacc -
envied. respected and esteemed by ono
element and feared and hated by another.
ITS lust as well you are going WITH
Mr.. Claiming" said mine host OF The
brentwood TO him the nieht OF the bon'
ouet. There's bad undercurrent h"Te
that will never forgive your spelling thcir
plans. and those fellows Of the Seattle.
who would have thanked God for "our
s.rvices at the time, are now doug me
hes, they know how to stir up sentiment
against you"
''But r'm not going with Mr. g an
ming" said Langdon promptly ihey
have offered me a good position here
The landlord was leaning against
eoIuun ~ the rotunda al the moment,