The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-04-27
~ l,sE,
continued.)
CHAPTER x.


had talked long at the mouth Of
r. the mine, Kelly and Raymond
- left the house and walked out
along the ridge toward skytown,
which was built where the ground rose
from a pine clad plateau to rocky
point overlooking the valley to the
| north. 1t had but one business street,
| which repeated in implanted lumber
| all the shoddy architecture Of a prairie
town, whose flaming battlements pre-
/ tend to dignity which they do not
fulfill -. r. ~: =. -z>>-,z,~
= The chief business of the street was
! gambling. Next in order stood rum
| selling, with assaying a close third.
The street was swarming as usual, but
the talk was directed for the moment
! to one topic. A convention of miners
had been called to meet in the Golden
Horn saloon, and several who knew
Kelly called out, "Hello, Matt; we're
| going to make you president OF the
| union -
Kelly smiled as if all this were a
joke and introduced his friend and
| partner. Raymond shook hands with
each man heartily, we'll knowing. that
! il he were to remain in the camp 1t
would be well to be on friendly terms
with ALL Following the lead of others,
i they were soon wedged into a throng
which filed the largest saloon of the
| street, huge gambling establishment
called the Golden Horn, of which Mar
vim Hanley, celebrated gambler, was
! proprietor. -. - :, ssc,.%s.- 80
For the first time since the opening
of the Golden Horns door gambling
| was suspended and the machines Of
! chance set aside. The proprietor,
pale man with close clipped yellow
hair, a man who looked like Catholic
priest, mounted a box at one end Of
| the room and called the house to order.
you know the purposes OF this meet
4 Ing" he said. Nov, who will you
have for chairman"
kelly! Kellyv' cried dozen men.
| "Munro!" shouted those farther up
the hall.
! "Moved and seconded that Munro be
chairman" said the smooth faced man.
! "All who favor say 'Ayev" A shout of
MANY mingled voices answered. "Op-
posed, ,'No.'"'. Only an obvious minori-
/ ty voted "No:s' Munro is elected:
Jack; get up here" t'.-zs 49, III: = 90
As the new chairman's head rose
above the throng Raymond experience
| ed shock. II know that man." be
said under his breath. Munro was a
clean shaven, boyish fellow, with black
hair pushed back from his face. He
was young ana handsome and began
speaking in clear, musical and most
persuasive voice. It was plain he was
ON good terms with his audience and
quite certain Of himself.
81 II don't know why should be made
chairman OF this meeting" he said aft
er some local illusions, unless 1t be to
open the way for the real speaker and
man OF the hour-the man who has
|1message for YOU Tom Larned Of Dead
Pine IL *szs -. - t.
While the crowd sapplauded Larned
climbed to his place and began to
speak. He was a short man, with a
forward thrust Of the chin. His high
forehead was smooth and pale It's
calm. lines in, vivid contrast with his
burning blue eyes. He ignored all OF
Munro's joking and thrust his way in
to the middle Of his contention.
& IT hear some men say we don't need
union here, but tell you you do.
You're going the way Of all mining
camps. As soon as the claims are all
taken consultations begin and wages
Will be cut a big mining camp must.
be- run BY union labor The work has
got to be done by men bred to the
mine. and they must be organized. If
they're not, they'll work for nothing |
This camp ia about to decline''-,
! 3 mol Nor shouted dozen men.
The speaker held up hand. "Wait |
z moment! mean to say that this
swarm Of easy going tramps scratch
ing the surface looking for a mine will
begin to melt away. It is already melt
Ing away. These men on horseback,
these grub stakers, these burro punch
ers, will not dig gold for other men,
l''You bet they won'tv shouted a big
lunged fellow. ."The real miners have
got t.. get underground and stay there!
You understand? Stay there! And
they Will want somebody on top to
look after their interests. They'll want
Z union IS you don't: but. tell you.
3su abort term miners will want
union before February is out" ..s:Es
In such wise he argued, and even
Kelly admitted the truth of what he
said Others spoke,:: grizzled sold ,fel-
lows from; other districts, men who had
Given up all hope of discovering a lead
for themselves; men with families to
feed and educate, who had fallen to-
commitment with; a good wage and a
steady Job. But in some of the
speeches a note, of bitterness toward
Valley Springs made itself heard. Sky
town had begun. to- hate the valley as
he home of those who lived on the Ia.
Dor Of others, and some of those In the
valley, as Raymond well knew, ex-