Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-31
HESPE;R:
HAMLIN GARLAND


oeSAucS -dHu ueTe ne broke into
broad smile-"I'm an employer of labor
meself."
"Down wild imw shouted Munro.
TO what extent?" asked another.
ITO the whole Of five men-not count
in meself," answered Kelly with ro-
guish grin. "And I'm har-r-rd mas
ter"
A roar Of laughter responded to his
Jest.
down with the oppressor Of laborv
shouted Munro. "ofr with IS head!
Kelly playfully struck at him with
hiss hat and then became serious.
"Now. boys, let me tell you. I hon
estly don't think you need union.
The landscape is wide up here; there's
q chance for every man in the hills.
I believe in the big, free land. When
any man tries to corner me- I take me
mule and strike out into the wild coun-
try. have no fear Of the Red Star
Mining company nor any other, and
you needn't. do not oppose the I'M
ion. Mind what I'm sayin'. It's well
enough for those who believe in it
and made 1t, but lave me out of 1t.
The Kellys will take care of them
selves"
Larned was on the box before Kelly
had time to get down and, leveling his
finger at him, cried out sharply:
That's all we'll and good for you,
Matt Kelly, skilled prospector,
man with a paying mine already, but
how about these men who have no
skill in finding gold, who are working
for money to start themselves homo?
How about those who are hoping to
bring their families here and clothe
and educate them7 They are not so
fond Of oil outdoors. They haven't
even the mule and the grub stake.
They are holed up five hundred or a
thousand feet underground, working
for company, and this company, l
tell you, has no regard for its hands.
Their Interests are not those of the
miner. You may blarney all you like,
but the miners must look out for their
own interests, just as the employer
hires lawyers and agents to look after
his"
Every true" replied Kelly calmly.
"I'm not objectin' to that. Organize
and take care o labor's interests, but
don't ask me. an employer Of labor,
to throw up me hat when you vote to
raise the wages Of me Eve men. I'll
fight scandalous"-
go 1t, Kelly! You have him on
three legs and goin'!' shouted a wag,
and, amid the laughter that followed,
Kelly leaped down and made for the
door.
When Raymond overlook him again
be was in talk with lean young fell
low with large, bright eyes, who had
the tone of an old and bitterly disap-
pointed man,
Kelly introduced him. "Rob, shake
hands with Mr., Dolan, correspondent
Of the Valley Springs News. Jim, this
is my new partner"
Dolan, as he clasped hands, remark
Cd, you've met up with good man,
q man that won't do We, and there
aren't many like him in this town."
Only long after did 1t come to Ray
mond's mind that Kelly had been CIV
ing Dolan note concerning their
plans and that his whereabouts would
be at once made known to Valley
Springs and to Louis.
"Who is this man Munro? asked
Raymond as they left the reporter and
started for home.
Hes q devil-may-care chap from
Red Cliff. He pretends to be miner
and is partner with an old fellow on
the north side O the hill. but he's
workin' for Hanley-lookout for the
roulette wheel. The boys all think a
heap of him. They say he always gives
Asm square DEAL"
"Does he?"
VI think so. I never heard to the con-
trary."
"Lnrned was right about the union"
said Raymond. "The big owners in
the Springs are sending east for their
miners. They know that men like you
and me will not do their deep work for
them. He's right, too, in saying these.
cowboys and farm hands from the
states won't make miners. They don't
intend to work underground. Well
ind ourselves left short some morning
# we depend on these fellows, who can
bit the trail at ten minutes. notice.
".snre' thing" said Kelly. SIAls get
TIM under the crust o. the earth and
Twin there is unholy businessmen for
free men like ourselves. It's all goin'
to be done by the Rooshians and the
dagoes."
In silence the two men looked abroad
over the yalleY toward tile dim line of
peaks faintly' lit BY the big silver
bright moon. ~ e
A sentence from Richter came into
Raymond.s mind, in the presence Of
beauty, beneath the stars, men think
eF love" and his heart ached with
sense of loss:
ppconsciously, In spite of his at
tempt to put himself away from her
presence, Ann had come to dominate
bis musing hours. At thought Of her
he grew resolute ana hopeful and,
reaching forth a powerful hand, Crap
pied the air as IL it We're the throat of
a hitherto invlncible opponent and
said, 81 will VIM" He acknowledged
that wealth had power to aid him ss9
long as am midtown And poor and
fn' Disgrace she can only consider me
what | ana failure. Money is a
measure Of value, and wealth 1 must
have first, then leisure and the higher
life"
ITO be continued.