Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-24
PART TWO.
CHAPTER X.

which was built where the ground rose
from a pine clad plateau to a rocky
point overlooking the valley to the
north 1t had but one business street,
which repeated in implanted lumber
all the shoddy architecture of prairie
town, whose flaming battlements pre-
tend to a dignity which they do not
fulfill
The chief business of the street was
gambling. Next in order stood rum
selling, with assaying close third.
The street was swarming, as usual, but
the talk was directed for the moment
to one topic. \ convention of miners
had been called TO meet i'll the Golden
Horn saloon, and several who knew
Kelly called out. Hello. Matt; were
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, well 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,
they were soon wedged into throng
which filed the largest saloon of the
street. a huge gambling establishment
called the Golden Horn. of which Mar
win Hanley, Il celebrated gambler, was
proprietor.
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. 4 man who looked like Catholic
priest, mounted IL box at one end OF
the room and called the house to order.
You know the purposes of this meet
ing" he said Now, who viii you
have for chairman
Kelly. Kelly cried dozen men.
Munro shouted those farther up
the hall.
Moved and seconded that Munro be
chairman" said the smooth faced man.
'.AIl who favor say Aye" y shout or
many mingled voices answered "Op-
posed, No." Only an obvious minori-
ty voted mo" Munro is elected.
Jack, get up here
AS the new chairman's head rose
above the throng Raymond experience
ed shock. Il know that man. he
said under his breath. Munro was a
clean shaven, boyish fellow. with black
hair pushed back from his face. He
was young and handsome and began
speaking in Il clear, musical and most
voice. 1t was plain he was
on good terms with his audience and
quite certain OF himself.
at don't know why should be made
chairman of this meeting" he said aft
or some local illusions. unless it be to
open the way for the real speaker and
man of the hour-the man who has a
message for you-Tom Larned Of Dead
Pine
While the crowd applauded 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, its
calm lines in vivid contrast with his
burning blue eyes. He ignored ali of
Munro's joking and thrust his way in
to tie middle OF his contention.
Il hear some men say we don't need
a union here. but 1 tell you you do.
You're going the way of all mining
camps. As soon as the claims are all
lahCA mGBtS
will be cut. 4 big mining camp must
be run by union labor. The work has
got to be done by men bsed to the
mine. and they must be organized. If
they're not. they'll work for nothing.
This camp is about to decline
No. Nor shouted dozen men,
The speaker held up hand wait
a moment / mean to say that this
swarm of easy going tramps scratch
Ing the surface looking for mine will
begin to melt away. II 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'T shouted a big
lunged fellow.I The real miners have |
got TO get underground and stay there! |
You understand? Stay therei And
they will want somebody on top to |
look after their interests. They'll want |
a union if you don't; but. l tell you,
you short term miners will want |
union before February IL out
In such wise he argued, and even
Kelly admitted the truth of what he |
said Others spoke. griZzled old fell |
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 |
contentment with good wage and |
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 |
the home of those who lived ON the la
Dor of others. and some of those In the |
valley, as Raymond well knew, ex-
pressed their contempt OF those who |
dwelt in the Sky by calling them rcd |
necks," in alluslOn to their tanned or |
drink infiamed faces. Politically the |
two towns were already as wide apart |
as the poles, and references to this d.
vision were numerous during the even
ing. The county was divided against |
itself and hOpelessly imbittered, and |
Bozle was eager to be free from the
valley.