Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-02-05
CHATTER [

Bob Peters, and you'd best not try it,
what do you mcan talking that way
to mc2"
Just what say
The scntcncc cut the air like whip,
There was snap Ia the words, snap in
the tone, suap IN the expression aud att
tudc VI the speaker.
The two men looked at each other.
They were not unlike In general appear
Rncc and age Possibly the man with
the Bauncl shirt, aud check cap On his
head, was the stronger aud finer looking
of the two. Just now his eyes were lash
ing with nngcr His face was red with
the heat If the furnace he had faced aud
the cAcu'jon he had put forth in pudding
the iron. Ills shirt was unbuttOnrd, rX-
posing . neck aud shoulders that would
have delighted a sculptor. His shirt
sleeves, rolled up to his shoulder reveal
ed muscular arm. Ills frame WAS mss
i've, his head well set on his shoulders,
and as he faced Peters he looked like n
nun capable Of holding his own with any
man, a,, indeed, Dan Athcrton lad dem
onstFted time after time.
The man facing him was plainly but
deccnlly dressed But he did not meet
Dan Atherton's eye boldly. Ills manner
indicated restraint. He ought to have
had the advantage in the wprdy cncoun-
ter, but he seemed to be at a disudyHn-
tage. One was the manager. the other
was IA workman in The Star Iron WorlSs.
I'VE may as we'll understand each 9TH
er, Bob Peters" said the puddlcr. cross
ing his arms aud looking dciantIy at the
manager.
"You talk like fool, Athertou. Are
you craay2 If you want to quit, your
money is ready for you at the office" said
the manager
Look here, Peters-if take that
money to-day, aud through you. your
hear from me-"
Pooh! Now you are childish"
i've warned YOU"
"Wh0 cares for your warning" cx-
claimed Peters. Who is running this
millr
That's just what I'd like to ask the
owners You are running it, aud nice
mess you are making OF it,. Over since
we worked in the old Hope mill you've
had grudge against me, Bob I'm not in
debted to you for any good will, nor FOR
my furnace You want to run it cry
economically, to please the owners, hut
you do 1t at our expense. Oh! you needn't
swell now. and curl your lip-its plain
truth, and hundreds in this aud other
mills know just rs well as you aud know
how things are working"
Have you done, Atherton?" demanded
the manager, in grave tone"
In minute. The furnace you put me
on was run dawn. It's one of the hard
est furnaces in the mill-everybody knows
that"
There, that's enough, Athcrton."
"Im not through. Peters. You haven't
had man on Number Fourteen In two
years who brought as much iron out of II
as ! have. And because | have done it,
and held up my end better than some of
your pets, you don't like me. The whole
trouble the last two weeks was Your
fault, got mine. I've asked you twice to
repair ii, but you've pretended it didn't
need It, or you hadn't time-all 10 get me
IN disfayOr aud like as not, when the
time comcS your lie about il, aud say
you wasn't Notified. Is that plain
enough ="
Peters At that moment was in such a
rage hv rDud scarcely speak. He STAN
mercd, sdlped, thrg, with white face
clenchcd hts first
"Oh, e that's your kind, I'm your man
Come OF"
But baud was laid on the manager,
arm at that critical juncture, aud a vote,
each recognized said:
Hello! What fool nonsense ia this ."
The workman turned to the newcomer
with IA aagry look. The manager look
ed crcstfaileu. He wondered how mncI
the newcomer had heard; he suspected
he had beard al! that passed.
"NothhG's gained by fighting you tw,
ought tn know that"
The ccmark was an unfortunate one
1t recalled contests between these tw,
when they were younger-coutests which
always exposed Peters to the ridiculc OF
his fellOp w0rkmcn. liz he could not van
quish Athert0u in a hand-t o-hand contest
he cOUd chow him he was his superior 10y
diScharEtug him
What's all the fuss about?"
Tho mhnhSer and workman glarel al
him. Both Thought he knew. II was tn,
puddlcc, however, who blurted his belief
ont boldly
Il guess You know, Grip. But il yol
don't, III let you into it, Ii Bob Peters
here, undertakes to ride over ME, find
Ing tHult with me for not bringing a,
much uUt Of my furnace AS other men il
the mills I'm going to curl every time
I'm going to tell him just where the faul
Is, tu act going to play dummy, an,
let hIm 0r any other man put me in
false ttsht with the owners. | don't ear
II he was manager of forty mills, he no
no Oth"C ulau eau make me say white
black, 1r blacks white. There you hav
it, Grlpp
Affection, you are discharged" sal,
Peters Go to the office and get you
money!
Suppose | DON'T take my discharg
from gouF" said Atherton. with a sneer
ing smIle
lie looked around. They were standin
under shed cut entirely off from IN
view OF bhe laborers in the yard. The
had met urar il, and iHvoluntarily stepDc
aside 60 engage in the wordy cncouu
ter both anticipated.
The person who came upon them her
was Mr. Jackson Grip, gentiema
whose husinesS transactions with iro
manufacturers led him into aud abou
the mills He was we'll known 20 work