, 1906-03-28

lunged fellow.l The real miners have
got to get underground and stay there!
You understand? Stay therel 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 a
union before February is 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, mel who had
given up all hope of discovering Il lead
for themselves; mel with families to
feed and educate, who had fallen to
contentment with Il good wage and a
steady job. But in some of the
speeches d 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 red
necks,' in allusion to their tanned or
drink inlamed faces. Politically the
wv lOh Is NcIt dlfedug dS NtuH uIldfL
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.
Kelly, weary of the wrangle, touched
Raymond on the arm and turned to-
ward the door. A big miner, detecting
this movement, shouted out, Here's
Kelly taking a sneak"
Instantly Kelly was seized, n couple
Of brawny fellows lifted him to the bar,
and SO, towering over them all, the big
prospector took off his hat and, with
smiling composure, said: Boys, l wish
ye well. | make no objection to the
plans, but why should 1, an Did burro
p%uncher, bother me head about a IN
ion? No one is cuttin' my wages. No
one is shortenin' my hours of labor.
Besides'-and here he broke into a
broad smiie-"Tm an employer of labor
meself."
"Down wild 'imp' shouted Munro.
ITO what eXtent?" asked another.
ITO the whole of five men-not count
In meself," answered Kelly with a ro-
guish grin. And I'm a har-r-rd mas
ter"
A roar of laughter responded to his
jest.
Down with the oppressor of labor"
shouted Munro. "Off with s headt"
Kelly pIayfully struck at him with
his hat and then became serious.
'Now, boys, let me tell you. l hon
estly don't think you need a union.
The landscape Is wide up here; there's
a chance for every man in the hills.
l believe in the big, free land. When
any man tries to corner me, l take me
mule and strike out into the wild coun-
try. | have no fear of the Red Star
Mining company nor any other, and
you needn't. | do not oppose the I'M
ion. Mind what I'm sayin'. It's we'll
enough for those who believe In it
and made it, but lave me out of it.
The Kellys will take care of them
selves"
Larned was on the box before Kelly
had time to get down and, leyeling his
finger at him, cried out sharply:
That's all we'll and good for you,
Matt Kelly, a skilled prospector, n
man with a paying mine already, but
how about these men who have no
skill in finding gold, who are working
for money to start themselves Il home?
How about those who are hoping to
bring their families here and clothe
and educate them? They are not so
fond of all outdoors. They haven't
even the mule and the grub stake.
They are holed up five hundred or a
thousand feet underground, working
for a company, II this company, l
tell you, has 10 regard for its hands.
Their interests are not those of the
miner. You may blarney all you like,
but the miners must look out for their
own interests, just as the employer
hires lawyers and agents to look after
his"
every true" replied Kelly calmly.
I'm not objectin' to that. Organize
and take care o. labor's interests, but
don't ask me, an employer of labor,
to throw up me hat when you vote to
raise the wages of me five men. I'll
fight scandalous'-
Go it, Kelly. You have him on
three legs and goin'!!" shouted a wag,
and, amid the laughter that followed,
Kelly leaped down and made for the
door.
When Raymond overlook him again
he was in talk with a lean young fell
low with large, bright eyes, who had
the one of an old and bitterly disap-
pointed man.