Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-10-23
HAN1LIN GARLAND

had caught and held huge mass Of
rock which the conclusion had shaken
from the mouth of the mine, and to dig
through this was the task that now
confronted them; but the air of the
shaft having cleared, volunteers thick
ened, and the exhausted leaders were
able to rest their aching limbs and lis
ten for signals.
They were nightly cheered by the
faint but unmistakable sound Of knock
ing. The imprisoned ones were calling
In the well tried fashion-by hammer
ing on the rock with their sledges.
They beat cheerfully, as If seeking to
reassure their rescuers.
An hour later the rescuers could hear
the voices of those beneath, and it was
hardly more than midday before they
began to lift them out two by two in
the big bucket.
Ann, hearing their shouts, came down
the patti with Nora to meet them. KEEL
ly's eyes were dim with tears, and
AIMS heart went out to him as he
shouted, "They are all here, and un-
hurtw
"But you are hurt?" she asked Ray
mond, with anxious, timorous voice,
peering at his torn and trembling
hands.
'No-only tired. How is the pa
dent?" he asked as they started to-
ward the cabin together.
He Is awake, but his pulse is still
rapid, and he Is very restless"
"What does the doctor say?"
He insists there is no danger. 1
think he means it. But. oh, that poor
boy Is so sick" She checked herself.
"This will be very serious loss to
you, will it not?"
He strove to answer lightly. ooh,
yes; but our vein is there just the
same. Luckily they couldn't blow that
away"
| At the door of the bungalow he turn-
Cd II must leave you for time. l
must repair damages"-he looked at
his hands and arms-"and I want to
talk with my men,"
Raymond found his men in the bar
rack, discussing with characteristic
calmness the general situation while
waiting for their dinner. And when
Perry shouted grub pile" in COW camp
phrase each man hustled to his place
With cheerful clatter. Raymond drew
up with the rest, and for few minutes
no word spoken referred to the disas-
tar.
As the first man. well filed, pushed
back his chair Raymond called out:
Boys, want to say a word before
any OF you go out. A council Of war
IL necessary at this minute"
Those who had risen took seats again,
and all faced his way. AS he looked
at them his throat filled with realiza-
ton Of their loyal service, and he could
not ind voice for few moments, but
sat with bowed head, rolling q bit of
bread between his fingers. At last he
resolutely cleared hts throat and began
harshly: "Well. boys, the game halts
hight here. You see where Kelly s.
Raymond are-they're fat. We've got
q good mine If we could work it, but
We can't. Just about every dollar we
had to spare went into that machinery,
and our ore shipments were just begin
ming. I've been doing little figuring,
and ! find we can pretty near pay all
that's due you, but we can't do any
more. II this strike were settled we
might get somebody to come in and
help us put up new power plant, but
as things shape up at this present time
we're up a stump as they say back in
Ohio. 80 guess We'll have to let you
CO." There was a movement among
the men which he felt as protest, but
he continued: II hate to do this, espe
cially now in the winter, but you can
see how 1t is. II I were in your
| places I would go to Reese and the 9th
or Independents and stick by 'em; help
them fight this thing through on fail
| play lines"
His slight pause brought no response.
When he began again his voice was
softened. "And, boys, ride up and tell
Matt good word. He's hard hit"
His voice trembled dangerously, and
he was forced to stop.
The tension was eased away by
Nary, one Of the older men, who broke
out with deep lunged profanity in order
to conceal his good heart
1 "Well, don't know how the rest of
you feel, but want to turn right in
and put this mine into shape again and
lynch the dogs that blew us up!"
Raymond lifted his hand. Hold on
boys. Don't be too quick on the trig
ger. Keep cool till ride up on the
hill and take look around and have
little talk with Munro. We must
rally all the Independents, which will
take time, and, besides, you must re.
member have very sick boy on my
hands. and there is Baker, who needs
care. Don't rush. Let me go up and
see what the sheriff seems likely to do
AS I've told you before, I've no theory
about the labor question. I never was
up against it before, and I'm LITTLE
uncertain. I've always believed in the
best man winning. picked you fel
lows because you were likely chaps
| I'm paying you the highest wages go
ing because you earn it. You're salts
fed, you say, and don't see why we
are not privileged to go ahead in oul
own way. haven't felt any need OF
going into this fight for the benefit OF
the crowd till now. 1t looks now as
though we should take hand. Any.
how, we'll give Munro another chance
to do us Justice, and If he don't, then
well, we'll try some other plan" HI
shook of this dlsagreeable cloak OF
doubt. But be that as it may, boys
| I shall nauar fornnof tho mod urorb