Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-21

Yes, may not start till dark to-
night
You have my best wishes
The men assembled in the library
were n grim lot. Mackay was no less
square .jawed than Banker Moore, and
the squat, coarse featured, scowling
sheriff resemblcd bulldog. Don Bar
nett alone seemed not a part of the gen
eral massing of prejudice and passion.
and yet he was one of the most pitless
of them all. The mayor, a large man
with Il plump ana smiling face, seemed
the only man likely to side with a
peace messenger
After general introdnctions Raymond
took II seat and ut Don's request reit-
vancing hcrdcS
You think they'll Gght?" asked the
mayor.
Il know they'll fight
How many men does this man Nun
ro"-
Raymond raised warning hand
Now, your honor and gentlemen. am
here merely as Il peace envoy. do not
intend to utter one word which could
by any force be twisted into revealing
the camp secrets. If | betrayed these
men my life wouldn't be worth tooth
pick. They would quite properly mob
me-"
The mayor smiled as If 1t were all
joke. quite right, Mr. Raymond.
see the propriety Of your attitude
II don't" said Maekay. Raymond
and Kelly have elected themselves into
onlookers If they had taken prompt
action with us in this whole matter
trouble would have been ayertetl."
The mayor resumed his questions.
"Who sent you? Whom do you repre-
sent?"
Munro sent me-"
"Who is Munro?"
"He is the adviser Of the president
Of the union"
Hes the whole thing isn't he?
asked the mayor.
THAT / cannot answer. He has the
confidence of the committee"
81 don't suppose it will do any good
to ask about the buried dynamite and
the Notifications on the hill?"
"None whatever"
"Then what did you hope to accom-
plish?"
Raymond fired little. 81 came here
to tell you that il you think you can
overawe this camp with 1000 men or
1000 men you are mistaken. Since
this trouble began hundreds Of the
most reckless and dangerous charac-
tiers in the west have fiocked to Sky In
support of the miners These recruits
are accustomed to the sound Of guns.
Furthermore, Bozle itself-in fact, the
whole western end of the county-is
tired Of the domination Of the eastern
end, and they will aid and abet the
miners. Your party is In minority in
the state, and you cannot safely look
for support to the militia. Therefore,
for all these reasons and because ]
know Munro and his men, l advise, !
plead with you, to stay where you are.
There is one other considerations: The
party which represent-the free min
ers and prospectors, like Kelly and
Bingham and Reese-have stood aside
from THU quarrel We have had no
share in it. We have kept our men
out Of it, but if you march against the
hill many of our fellows will join
Munro. And | want to tell you, gen
tlemen, that one of these free miners
these rangers Of the hills-is more dan
gerous than twenty little dagoes. A
hundred of them would stand off 500 of
your men,"
His deep earnestness impressed them
all, and silence followed his last
words. At last Don said:
Gentlemen, Raymond is not merely
an acquaintance; he was in my employ
for some years, and he is my friend
I am forced to give his words great
weight. 1 suggest that we try to ar
range a meeting between the miners
and ourselves and the governor and
reach some peaceful solution"
The sheriff leaped to his feet. "That
would make us the laughingstock Of
the whole country"
Better be that than melancholy
example of foolish pride and obsti-
Macy" Raymond interjected.
At this point the argument stuck.
Mackay, the county attorney, and the
sheriff stood for war; the mayor and
Barnett, being for the moment under
the power Of Raymond's earnest
glance, pleaded rather spiritlessly for
at least stay in proceedings.
81 think it all ruse to gain time"
said Mackay. II think we ought to
hold this man here and march at once.
He is known to be friend Of Munro.
If we allow him to go back he will in
form
Raymond smiled grimly. "My serv-
ices as a spy are not needed. Every
movement YOU make will be watched
by a hundred eyes, and back of the
eyes will be gun"
The mayor rose. "Well, gentlemen,
I don't see that we can decide any
thing here. We have Mr.. Raymond's
opinion that our attack on the hill will
result in disaster The sheriff is conf
dent he can win practically without a
struggle. This is no place to take
vote on so momentous subject"
Here he looked at his watch. "And it
is lunchtime. l suggest that we go to