Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-05-02
CHAPTER xX.

self to hope that Ann would return
he Lad, in fact, advised against it
and after his supper was over he sat
beside the fire listening to The wind and
pulling ut his pipe like one deserted
of his kind.
1t had turned cold, and great cur
rent of air was sweeping down from
the peak, a movement portending some
great change in the clouds. Kelly pre-
dicted snow, but rs most of the outside
work on the mine was done he was not
concerned about the weather. He was,
in fact, taking account of himself and
trying to address himself to future
without "Hesper.' The glow of his
pride had died out. The confidence
which sprang from his possession of
gold had dulled into doubt.
AS he sat thus, bordering over his
problem, he heard voices, and a mo-
ment later loud rap shook his door,
ominous with a decisiveness of stroke.
Come IMP lie shouted somewhat
surlily, for he did not enjoy Interrupt
ton.
Munro, Brock, Carter and one or two
others he didn't know entered, covered
with snow.
Good evening, gentlemen He in
dicated chairs. "What can l do for
you this EVENING"
Carter seemed very nervous and took
a seat without looking at his host.
Munro was smiling. but his eyes were
aslant MS he replied:
"Oh, we just called to pass the time
of night and inquire about your good
health"
Raymond glanced from Munro's wag-
glsh lips to the frowning or troubled
faces of the other men and bracel him
self for trouble.
"Out with it, Carter! What do you
want of me?"
Carter fidgeted OH his chair. "Wel,
you see, it's this way, Rob: We held
meeting today, and we decided that
In view Of the struggle that labor is
making here all the mines should either
shut down or put their men into tho
ranks"
"You have asked my men 10 join,
haven't you?"
EYES,"
what did they say?"
Munro Clipped in, .Ihey said, Go
to blazes.'"
Raymond smiled. allow impolite Of
them! Well, now, let me say once
again, Carter, am in sympathy with
your main objects. l think man
should be paid for every minute he
works, but don't believe in any meth
cd of forcing men who are working
and want to work into strike. / can't
afford to go into any such organiza-
ton"
You can't afford not to-" growled
Brock.
His tone angercd Raymond. what
have you to say in this matter?"
I'm member of the executive COM
mittee.'
"Since whcn?"
mo matter when. What 1 say goes"
docs it? Well, you keep civil
tongue in your jaws when speaking to
me-
Brock rose. You'll close down to-
morrow or We'll close you down."
Raymond faced him. 1--WE will not
close down, and you can't close us
down. Carter knows, and you know,
Jack, I've played fair in this. / have
not believed in your methods. 1 stood
with Larned, your own organizer,
against violence. If you can't convince
my men by argument you needn't come
to Inc to dragon them into your ranks.
What difference will my hands make
anyway"
Carter seized upon this. at will
make all the difference there is There
are dozen of these small operators
holding out because you and Kelly do.
Your men are all strong men and
ought to be with us. Besides, it weak
ems our discipline
Raymond interrupted. We've been
all over that before. am not concern.
ed with your discipline. have nc
quarrel with my men. They are salts
fed with our present arrangement
You're going mt this hack end to. II
you would turn your attention to re
forming mining laws and crushing Out
these speculative owners Of mining
lands, you would really be doing some
thing, but your assault on men who arc
paying labor full wages weakons your
case"
Kelly opened the door and entered
while Raymond was speaking.
whats the meaning of all this?''
he asked.
Raymond coldly replied, "These men
have come TO serve n final notice on
us to discharge our nonunion men or
shut down."
mot ut ALL" cried out Carter, who
feared Kelly. "All we ask is that you
recommend your men to join the I'M.
ion"-
Brock sprang to his feet again. ooh.
rats! What's the use beating around
the bush? We know that you fellers
are the backbone of the free miners
association and that they would all
come III IL you said SO, and we need
you and your men. We want you to
head 'cnl our way"
Kelly smiled "Ye're not asking
much. So far as I'm concerned, Car
ter, don't believe word In you and
your schoolDoy, tomfool antics. From
the very start ye've gone wrong. You
began by defending lot of drunken
blaggards, and that Qucercd We with
every decent man. Go back to camp,
arrest Denver Dan, San Juan Jones.
Hob Smith and the rest of the bunch
and send them down to the valley as a
peace offering; then serve notice on
the men that blew up the Red Star
that they'll be hung tomorrow morn
ing. By that time Ill begin to believe
in you and your love for the honest
workingman."
Carter, utterly unable to stem the
food Of Kelly's indignant speech, sat
with dropping head. He stammered,
"You-you're traitor to labor"
II am traitor to nothing that is
good, but 1 AM worn out and weary
with your yellin', cursin', gamblin',
drunken looms that assume to be work
men. have more respect for the