Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-13
CHAPTER NJ.
"a ~ 4 Y

@CAI. Clarence blurted out,
there's going to be a strike"
Oakley glanced up from his
~ writing.
whats that you are telling me,
Clarence"'
There's going to be a strike, Mr..
Oakley"
Dan smiled good naturally at the
boy.
Il guess that has blown over, Clar-
ence," he said kindly.
mo, it amt. The men had a meet
ing last night. 1t was in the room over
Jack Britt's saloon. I've just been
talking with a fellow who was there.
He told me-"
Sit down" said Oakley. pushing a
chair toward him.
Nov. what is it," as soon as he was
seated. And Clarence, editing his
"reminiscences as he saw fit. gave a
tolerably truthful account of his con-
%versation with Spide. The source Of
his information. its general incomplete
ness and the frequent divergences oc-
casioned by the boys attempt to in
corporate into the narrative a satisfac-
tory reason for his own presence in til.
yards. did not detract from its valu.
in Oakley's estimation. The mere fact
that the men had held q meeting was
In itself significant. Such a thing was
new to Antioch. as yet unvisited by Ia
Dor troubles.
What is that you say about my ia
ther:" For he had rather lost track
Of the story and caught at the sudden
mention of his fathers name.
"Spide says they got it in for him. /
can't just remember what he did say.
1t was something or other Crit Ry.er
knows about him. Its funny. hut its
clean gone out of my head. Mr.. Oakley"
Oakley started. What could Ryde.
know about his father: What cou!
any one know:
He was not left long in doubt. The
next morning shortly after he arrive
at the Office he heard the heavy 81:
fling Of many feet on the narrow pa,
form outside his door. and a deputat:o
from the carpenter shop led by j
Stokes and Branyon entered the .
For q moment or SO the mer stood
abashed silence about thu doc" a.!
then moved over to his desk.
Oakley pushed back his chair and as
they approached came slow..y = Ii.
feet. There was q hint Of anger !. -
eyes. The whole proceeding StLac,,:
Of insolence. The men were n -Le:r
shirt sleeves and overa!ls AMI Rid OF
their hats. Stokes put up his ha:- a.
took off his hat. The others acceo-a,
this as g signal and one after another;
removed theirs. Then followed q no,
mentary shutting as they brncled
closer. Several who looked as if they
would just as o O be somewhere csc
breathed deep and hard. The Office
force-kerr. Holt and Miss Walton
suspended their various tasks and
stood up SO as not TO miss anything
that was said or done.
Stokes took q step forward and clear
ed bis throat as If to speak. Then i.
looked at his comrades. who looked
back their encouragement az him.
W want a word with yor. Mr.. Oak.
ley said he.
What have you to say"
Well, sir. we got q grievance" be-
gan Stokes weakly, but Branyon push
ed him to one side hastily and took his
place. He was a stockily built Irish.
American. with plenty Of nerve and a
loose tongue. The men nudgeI each
other. They knew Mike would have
his say.
ITS just this. Mr.. Oakley: There's
a man in the carpenter shop who's got
TO get out. We won't work with him
no longer"
That's right" muttered one or two
Of the men under their breath.
Whom do you meanf' asked Oakley,
and his tone was tense and trenuous,
for he knew, There was an awkward
silence. Branyon fingered his hat Il
trihe ~neryously. At last he said dog
gedly: