Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-17

life on the same day left a painfully
empty space He did.not permit him
self to hope that Ann would return
he had, in fact, advised against it
and after his supper was over he sat
beside the fire listening to the wind and
pulling at his pipe like one deserted
of his kind.
1t had turned cold, and a great cur
rent of air was sweeping down from
the peak, movement pOrtending some
great change in the clouds. Kelly'pre-
dicted snow, but as 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 a 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 overt his
problem, he heard voices, and a mo
ment later a loud rap shook his door,
ominous with a decislveness of stroke.
Come inr' he shouted somewhat
surliIy, for he did not enjoy 'iuterrup-
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 lido for
you this EVENING"
Carter seemed very nervousband took
a seat without looking at his host.
Munro was smiling. but his eyes were
aslant as he replied:
''Oh, we Just called to pass the time
of night and inquire about your good
health"
Raymond glanced from Munro's wag-
gish lips to the frowning or troubled
faces of the other men and braced him.
self for trouble.
'Out with 1t. CarterI What do you
want of mew
Carter fidgeted on his chair. well.
you see, it's this way, Rob: We held
a 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 the
ranks"
."You have asked my men to join,
haven't you:"
Yes"
what did they say"
Munro Clipped in, "They said, Go
to blazes.'"
Raymond smiled How impolite of
them, Well, now, let me say once
again, Carter, L am in sympathy with |
your main objects. 1 think a man |
should be paid for every minute he |
works, but don't believe in any meth /
od of forcing men who are working |
and want to work into n strike. / can't |
afford to go into any such organiZa- |
ton"
You can't afford not to-" growled |
Brock.
His tone angered Raymond. what |
have you to say in this matterT'
I'm Il member of the executive COM |
mittee''
''Since when:"
NO matter when. What say goes"
Does it? Well, you keep a 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. We will not
close down. and you can't close us
down. Carter knows, and you know,
Jack, I've played fair in this. l have
not believed In your methods. l stood
with Larned, your own organizer.
against violence. If you can't convince
my men by argument you needn't come
to me to drag oon them into your ranks.
What difference will my hands make
anyway?
Carter seized upon this. "It will
make all the difference there Is. There
are q 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 no
quarrel with my men. They are salts
fed with our present arrangement.
You're going at this back end to. If
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 are
paying labor full wages weakens 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 a final notice on
US to discharge our nonunion men or
shut down.
Not at air. cried out Carter, who
feared Kelly. "AIl we ask Is that you
recommend your men to join the I'M
ion"-
Brock sprang to his feet again. lob:
rats, What's the use beating around
the bush? We know that you feners
are the backbone of the free miners
association and that they would all
come in if you said so, and we need
you and your men. We want you to
head 'em our way"
Kelly smiled. "Ye're not asking
much. So far as I'm concerned, Car
ter. 1 don't believe word in you and