Willmar tribune., 1904-02-24

which the police failed to find was con-
cealed?"
Again there was sullen silence.
Then Number Two went on speaking
with the air Of a man who feels that
he has the game in his own hands.
In the cellar of the house am speak
ing of there were a few dozen bottles
of wine, half dozen bottles of spirit
and small cask of beer. The wine
and spirit the police took with them
and the beer they drank, leaving what
they supposed was the empty barrel
behind them. Their way of looking
at things evidently was that, as bar
rels were made to contain beer, and as
this particular barrel did contain beer
and good beer-and beer was made
10 be drunk, all they had to do was
10 drink the beer and there was an
end of the matter. If they had taken
the trouble to ascertain whether the
oarrel contained anything else but beer
they would have left the house with
full hands as we'll as with full bellies,
for the barrel was divided into two
that concoction of the devil, as our
teetotal friends would call it-Double
X, and the upper that pretty little
playthine, which it has been left to
man and not to the devil, to devise
dynamite.
We'll, gentlemen he went on. in a
brisker and more business-ike tone,
YOU all kn,w the story of the quarrel
between Lord Cranthorpe and his work
people-that he has reduced the wages
of more than 1000 men and women
who work in his mill, taking 20 per
cent. off the mems payment and 25 off
the Womens, and has refused to lis
ten to anything which is to be said on
behalf of the people or to receive dep
utation on the subject. He has taken
advantage of the fact that he is roll
ing in money and that they are en-
tirely dependent upon their earnings
to act toward his fellow-countrymen
as the rich acts towards the poor in
Russia. At this moment hundreds of
families are starving through his
greed. He is the best-hated man in
England to-day, and nothing we can
do would make the societies which we
direct more popular among the people
who support us than a blow aimed at
him. This dynamite of which I have
spoken was brought to England by the
instruction of our late chief, who had
intended at the next meeting of the
council to propose the blowing up of
Lord Cranthorpe's house in Plantag-
enet Square. If this could be accom-
plished by us successfully it would give
a wonderful stimulus to our work all
over the world, and would cause sub
scriptions to pour in, which, as the first
handling of whatever money is sub
scribed is one of the privileges (shall
l say perquisites?) of being on the
council, is very desirable state of af-
fairs. Gentlemen, there is not a mo-
ment to lose. l know the house where
the dynamite is concealed. If you will
appoint another member to act with
me, I will endeavor to obtain posses
sion of the explosive that is concealed
at Fassett Square, and to meet you
here at midnight this day week, that
we may make the necessary arrange
ments for using the dynamite in the
manner in which our late chief in
tended-I mean in blowing up Lord
Cranthorpe.s house in Plantagenet
Square"
He paused and looked around him in
a somewhat dramatic, not to say melo-
dramatic, manner. But he had spoken
SO confidently and with such evident
conviction that it was very plain he
carried his hearers with him. Just as
We see a thread Of ringed fire shine
out upon the charred edges of sheet
Of paper. when a live coal has dropped
from the crate. so, as the last words
fell from his lips, there ran around the
circle of listening councillors a thin
murmur Of unmistakable approval. In
the next instant-as the ring of smoul-
dering fire breaks out into open flame
the mnrmur of appreciation swelled
into something like enthusiastic ap-
plause, and the very councillor who
had hitherto seemed suspicious of
Number Two's credentials called out
Hands up, those who vote that
Number Two's proposal be accepted"
Like a parcel of school-boys who
shoot out eager hands for permission
to reply to an easy question which has
been asked by the master, the whole of
the listening councillors (myself in
cluded, for thought it wise to stim-
ulate the enthusiasm of my Quondam
colleagues) held up an asserting fist.
Against" called out The 1eelf-con-
stitated chairman; and there being no
he, so to speak, let fall the
hammer with decisive mem. CON-
Thank you, brother councillors, for
this mark of confidence" said Number
Two. The dynamite should not be
left in that house an hour longer than
is necessary. should like, If possible,
that l and whoever be appointed to
work with me should catch the next
train up, and beg to propose that all
other business before the council be
postponed until We meet here seven
days hence at midnight"
This also receiving the assent of the
meeting, the council next proceeded to
settle who should act with Number
Two in obtaining possession of the dy-
namite. Lots were cast, and the duty
falling to the share of Number Three,
he was instructed to join Number Two
in London, travelling thither by the
other line, to avoid attracting attention.
The only matter that remains for
US to settle,' said our self-constituted