, 1906-06-27

IL IL y ~
done everything a mar could do to
kape the peace; | must do SO. Every
thing | have in the world is here-the
mine. me wife and the babies. | want
no quarrel with amy man, especially
with a miner. for | have worked for
wages half me life, but tell We once
more, boys, this mob business must
not circle round that little cabin over
there. If wan of your loafers 50 much
as puts his toe against my door I'll kill
him where he stands"
He ended with a hoarse intensity
that silenced the men who listened,
and after Il pause Raymond remarked,
very quietly:
81 stand with Kelly on this matter.
Is there anything further you want to
say
Brock shook his heavy shoulders, as
If to clear himself of Il weight, and
clumsily rose. Il reckon that's all
you stay outf'
I'VE stand clear said Raymond.
Carter fumbled for his hat. "Of
course you mustn't think we blame
you, Kelly. You are right enough from
your point of view, but what would be-
come of labor if we all stood asideT'
Il don't know said Kelly. 'There
are wise men who have studied this
problem-IIennery Cargo. for Instance
-ye might look INTO his way. I'm dom
sure your ways of violence will never
cure the evil"
A., .l,nr. .tNaI ON tho fhrnShnl1 RrnPk
spoke with Il vicious sheer, We'll re-
port your answer"
AS the door closed behind them Ray
mond turned to Kelly with II look OF
great solemnity. Matt. this means
war for u.s."
Munro will stand between us and
the union"
81 doubt it. Matt. His power will
vanish the moment he goes against the
wishes of the miners. He ouldn
feed his men and their horses without
the union. He is in their pay. for all
his boasting."
Kelly looked thoughtful. THAT is
true"
Matt, you better take the wife and
babies down to the valley.
'I've spoken of that. but the little
wife will not go without me-
'Then you must go. 1t is not safe
for them here. The people below are in
deadly earnest. They're coming up
here with an army next time. You bet
ter take your little family aud get out
II can't dc that. | can't leave here.
DO you take the wife and the boys
down to the Springs while | stay here
and see that the work goes on
They tossed this duty to and fro,
each arguing in favor of the other, TIL
Raymond said, VERY well; let's leave
it to the wife,
As they stepped out into the night
Kelly cried out: Here comes the snow.
Munro's pickets have Il hard night be-
fore them"
Kelly's sons were fast asleep in their
bed. but the small mother still sat at
her sewing, her head haloed with lamp
light.
I'm glad you've come" she said.
My heart is lonely without Ann. DO
you think she'll ever come back, Rob?"
81 hope So" l. his voice
had no he%artiness Of conviction in Ii.
I'm glad she's August now
said Kelly. coming straight to business,
as usual. and Fob thinks you'd better
90 down to the Springs ALSO"
And leave you here, Matt Kelly? l
will not. You'd be sure to get into
AInI1h1n ot o,,aA IF I oN =, Uo y
Kelly lookel at Raymond with a
eomical lift of one eyebrow. THAT set
iles tive stayr'
There's going to be trouble" warn
I'd Raymond, and you ought not to be
here, Mrs. Kelly"
THE fightin' will not be on the hill.
You said so yerself, Matt"
Il did, and | think so still, but at the
same time 'twould be safer far if you
and the lads were in the Springs"
What has happened tonight, Matt?
You were not so blue when you went
out"
He told her quietly while she. rocked
to and fro in her low chair. She seem
ed scarcely to listen, but at the end she
said: You did right. | am heartsick
OF these drinkin', carousin' miners who
go about making trouble for others.
The most of them have no one but
themselves. and they don't care what
they do. If Jack Munro is the man he
boasts himself to be all the time, he'll
come in here and protect his friends
lack is up against Il hard streak O.
weather. He's either got to stand in
with the union or put up the money to
feed and take care of his men and