Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-24

/ L-tilt Was StlZeO, II couple
of brawny fellows lifted him to the bar
and so, towering over them all, the big
| prospector took off his hat and, with
| smiling compOsure, said: Boys, wish
We we'll / make no objection to the
| plans, but why should 1, an old burro
| puncher, bother me head about a un-
| ion? No one is cuttin' my wages. No
| one is shortenin' my hours of labor.
Besides''-and here he broke into a
broad smile-"I'm an employer of labor
meself''
"Down wild 'im.' shouted Munro.
ITO what extent? asked another
ITO the whole of five men-not count
in meself," answered Kelly with a ro-
gulsh grin. "And I'm har-r-rd mas
ter"
A roar of laughter responded TO his
jest.
Down with the oppressor of labor!'
shouted Munro "Off with IS headr'
Kelly playfully struck at him with
his hat and then became serious.
Now, boys, let me tell you. 1 hon
estly don't think you need union.
The landscape is wide up here; there's
chance for every man in the hills.
1 believe in the big, free land. When
any man tries to corner me, l 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. 1 do not oppose the I'M
ion. Mind what I'm sayin'. It's well
enough for those who believe in it
and made it, but lave me out of it.
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 well and good for You,
Matt Kelly, skilled prospector, a
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 Il home?
How about those who are hoping to
bring their families here and clothe
and educate them? They are not so
fond of all outdoors They haven't
even the mule and the grub stake.
They are holed up five hundred or 4
thousand feet underground, working
for Il company, and this company, l
tell you, has no regard for its hands.
Their interests are not those of the
miner. You may barney 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"
VERY 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 five men. I'll
fight scandalous"-
go it, NELLY, You have him on
three legs and goin'r' shouted u wag,
and. amid the laughter that followed,
Kelly leaped down and made for the
door.
When Raymond overlook him again
he 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
a man that won't do ye and there
aren't many like him in this town"
Only long after did it come to Ray
mind that Kelly had been Civ
ing Dolan Il 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 devil-may-care chap from
Red Cliff He pretends to be Il miner
and is partner with an old fellow OH |
The north side o. the hill, but he's |
woriin' for Hanley-lookout for the |
roulette wheel. The boys all think a
heap of him. They say he always gives
EN- square DEAL
docs hep
81 think so. i never heard to the con- |
trary.''
Harmed 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 anu tic
states won't make miners. They don't |
intend to work underground. Wei |
find ourselves left short some morning |
If we depend on these fellows, who can |
hit the trail at ten minutes notice.
''Sure thing" said Kelly. This get
tin under the crust o. the earth and ;
Twin there is unholy businessmen for |
free men like ourselves. It's ll-goin' |
to be done by the Rooshians and the |
dagoes."
In silence the two men looked abroad
over the valley toward the dim line of /
peaks family lit by the big silver |.
bright moon.
A sentence from Richter came into
Raymonfs mind, I'm the presence Of !
beauty. beneath the stars, men think |
Of love-" and his heart ached with
sense of loss.
Unconsciously, in spite of his at