The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-03

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with miner, for ] have worked for
WAGES half me life, but tell ye once
more. boys, this mob business must
not circle round that little cabin over
shere. If wan Of your ioafers so much
as puts his toe against my door III Kill
Elm where be stands"
He ended with hoarse intensity
that silenced the men who listened,
and after pause Raymond remarked.
very quietly:
seI stand with Kelly on this matter.
Is there anything further you want to
say?"
Brock shock his heavy shoulders, as
if to clear himself Of weight, and
clumsily rose. Il reckon that's all
you stay out?''
eve 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 aside"
@I don't know" said Kelly. There
are wise men who have studied this
problem-Hennery Cargo, for instance
-ye might look into his way. I'm dom
sure your ways Of violence will never
cure the evil
AS they stood on the threshold Brock
spoke with vicious sneer, "We'H re-
port your answer
As the door closed behind them Ray
yaond turned TO Kelly win look OF
great soiemGity. Mart, this means
war for rs;.'
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 couldn't
feed his men and their horses without
the union. He is in their pay, for all
his boastng."
Kelly looked thoughtful. ''That is
true.''
.sMatt, you better take the wife and
babies down to the valley"
.srye spoken Of that, but the little
wife will not go without me-"
Then you must go. It 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 and get out
sI can't do that can't leave here.
Do you take the wife and the boys
down to the Springs while I stay here
and see that the work goes on
p They tossed this duty 80 and fro.
each arguing in favor Of the other, till
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 hard night be
fore hem
Kelly's sons were fast asleep in their
bed, but the small mother still sat at
her sewing. her head haloed with lamp
lgnt.
"T'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" he replied, but his voice
had no heartiness Of conviction in it.
''I'm glad she's away-just now,"
said Kelly, coming straight to business,
as usual And Rob thinks you'd better
80 down to the Springs Also
'.And leave you here, Matt Kelly? I
will not You'd be sure to get into
trouble at once. If go, you go''
Kelly looked at Raymond with a
comical lift Of one eyebrow. That set
ties tive stayr'
There's going to be trouble warn
ed Raymond, land you ought not to be
here Mrs. Kelly"
.sIhe 6ebtia VIII not be on the hill.
EoG said 50 yerself, Matt"
>'I did 29d ( think so still, but at the
sane tire 1voPia be safer far if you
ard tilc l-le,ss were in the Springs.
What has happened tonight, Matt?
You were not SO blue when you Went
OUT
He tod !:er quietly VILE she rocked
to and fro in her low chair. She seem
ed scarcely to listen, but at the END she
said: You ! ID right. 1 am heartsick
of these drinkin', carousin' miners who
20 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 arli protect his friends
Jack is up against 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
horses, and that's no snail item when
the SHOWS have covered the grass If
he should join us. his power would be