Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-05-04
"vhat Is it all about?' asked Jean

don't ask me to go into the cause oI d
strike. A woman never understands
such situation. However, here is
what Rob says:
Mackay posted his notices Saturday
aight. putting the new nine hour schedule
Into effect Monday morning. sunday the
camp boiled. The union put forth It's de-
cree, and of course at the morning hour
t. big crowd gathered to see Mackay race
his men, He came riding up (the JACK
assO in tan colored English riding
brooches and little two billed gray cap
YOU know the kind OF course they hooted
him and headed his horse back down the
slope. He was red headed, naturally, and,
being a double distilled idiot, hired a
couple of desperadoes from Bozle as
guards and came back. This time the
buys' ierked him and his men from their
horses and hustled them down the canyon
at the boot toe. 1 did what could to
prevent this, but the men who had the
matter in charge had been drinking, ana
the crowd was with them. My men are
not in the union, but / hear ominous
threats. 1 advise you not to attempt to
put the new schedule into operation at
the present time.
The effect ON the valley Of Mackay's
recital of his maltreatment was most
wonderful. The principal mine owners
of the Springs met to discuss their
campaign. The valley called for the
blood of those who had busted the sa-
cred person of their representative, and
the sheriff was ordered to arrest and
bring down the insolent ''red necks"
who had humbled the proud and con-
fidcnt Red Star superintendent. "Ihls
spirit of lawlesSness must be checked
or it will run into riot,' said Barnett,
who developed unexpectedly, into a
leader. of the mine owners by virtue OF
his large interests in the Red Star.
The sheriff valiantly responded to the
call and, with half dozen deputies,
marched UP into the glittering mist OF
the high peaks and came down again
empty handed and sullen.
A meeting of the officers Of the Red
Star and allied companies was called,
Barnett presiding. Most resolute res
olutions were passed. Mackay was In
structed to press his demands to the
full. Barnett naturally opposed con-
ference with the miners. "Either they
come to our terms or we close down
the mines," he said. 1T is our cue to
be firm in this demand"
The sheriff, who had been invited to
be present and tell his tale, put in a
warning word
Gentlemen" said he, you're deal
ing with lot of free miners and pros
pectors-men who won't be driven and
can't be scared. If 1t had been just a
case of ignorant dagoes I would have
brought 'em down, but they've got lead
ers that you can't monkey with. When
Hob Smith, Denver Dan and that devil
Jack Munro met me with their holsters
tied down | threw up my hands. You
are from the east, where things are
different. About one-third Of the men
on the peak are old prospectors and
free miners, and if they stay by the
! proposition you've got to take sneak
or put up the fight of the age"
eve stand pat" said Barnett, and
we shall insist on your arresting the
men who assaulted Mr.. Mackay."
The sheriff made an elaborate bow.
Fright you are Mr. Barnett, but III
want a hundred deputies to do it with
Moving with such secrecy as he
could the sheriff collected and swore
In some ninety men, the boldest ana
hardest to be found in all the towns
of the valley. They were not sedate
and considerate citizens, but they were
brave. or at least reckless, and without
exception experienced wearers Of guns.
They professed themselves quite able
and willing to bring down anybody Id
the hills. After being armed and pro-
visioned they were to be sent round
by way of railroad which was build
ing toward the camp from the south.
Barnett was heedful of his words at
home and made light Of the probable
opposition Of the miners, but LOUIS,
with a boys ability to discern what
was going on, soon acquired pretty
clear idea Of the plan, and when Ann
asked him not to return to the heights
on Monday he was ominously calm,
but asserted his right to go where he
pleased.
"Rob wants me and needs me, and
Pm going. You can put me in jail, but
that is the only way. If there is going
to be war, am going to be in it, and
I'm going to- be on the side OF the
miners"
Ann wrote swift and fervent note
to Raymond:
I am trusting Louis to your care be-
cause he will not stay You have won
his heart from u.s. and we are powerless
TO prevent his return. Guard him, for the
sake of his boyish sweetness, for my
sake.
She wrote no further, for as her
mind dwelt upon that camp Of ruffian
miners and their desire for battle a bit
ter resolution swept over her. II will
test his love for me-" With cold inten-
sity she announced her purpose. III
you insist on going back to that camp
/ shall go too"
"You must not CO." said Louis. tits
no place for you"
at is no place for YOU"
He asserted himself again. II can
take care Of myself"
''Mr. Raymond has asked me to keep
you here" She went to him and put
her arm about his neck. "Stay with
me, laddie. 1 am missing you these
days"
In the end she seemed to prevail, but
she took no pleasure in her victory, for
he went about the house like a young
eagle pinioned. Nothing save the news
Of the camp interested him, and when
the time came for the sheriff to start on
his new raid he became greatly ex-
cited.