Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-20


 he has the game in his own hands. Tn the cellar of the house I 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 peer was made to be drunk, all they had to do was to drink the beer and there was an end of the matter If they had taken the trouble to ascertain whether the barrel 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 compartments, the lower containing thas concoction of the devil, as our teetotal friends would call it-Double x, and the upper that pretty little plaything. which it has been left to man and not to the devil, to devise dynamite.
 
 brisker and more business-like tone, you all know 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 women's, and has refused to lis- ten to anything which is to be said on behalf of the people or to receive a 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-countryme 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 l do would make the societies which we direct more popular among the people | who support us than blow aimed at l him. This dynamite of which have ] spoken was brought to England by the instruction of our late chief, who had l intended at the next meeting of the 1 council to propose the blowing up of Lord Cranthorpe's house In Plantag- enet Square If this could be accom- l plished by us successfully it would give ] wonderful stimulus to our work all over the world, and would cause sub l scriptions to pour in, which, as the first I handling of whatever money is sub- 1 scribed is one of the privileges (shall say perquisites?) of being on the l council, is a very desirable state of af- l fairs Gentlemen, there is not mo- ment to lose. know the house where l 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 8 somewhat dramatic, not to say melo- l 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 I we see thread of ringed fire shine l out upon the charred edges of a sheet I of paper, when live coal has dropped l from the grate. so, as the last words fell from his lips. there ran around the l circle of listening councillors a thin murmur of unmistakable approval. Tn the next instantas the ring of smoul- dering fire breaks out into open flame l the murmur of appreciation swelled into something like enthusiastic ap- l plause, and the very councillor who had hitherto seemed suspicious of Number Two's credentials called out
 Hands up, those who vote that Number Twos proposal be accepted" 4 Like parcel of school-boys who l 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- T ulate the enthusiasm of my quondam colleagues) held up an assenting fist.
 Against" called out the self-con- stituted chairman; and there being no response, he, so to speak, let fall the uHuIUST WlLu q uSCASlNC AlChA. SOA' lfE
 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. I should like, if possible, that I and whoever be appointed to I work with me should catch the next train up, and I 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