Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-08-01

As I've told you before, I've no theory
about the labor question. | never was
up against it before, and I'm a little
uncertain. I've always believed in the
best man winning | picked you fell
lows because you were likely chaps.
I'm paying you the highest wages GO
ing because you earn it. You're salts
fed you say, and / cont see why we
are not privileged to go ahead in our
own way. | haven't felt any need of
going into this fight for the benefit of
the crowd till now. 1t looks now as
though we should take a hand Any
how, well give Munro another chance
to do us justice. and If he don't, then
we'll we'll try some other plan" He
shook off this disagreeable cloak of
doubt But be that as it may. boys.
| shall never forget the good work
you've done for me when you knew the
crowd was against you"
As they stepped out into the warm
afternoon sun Kelly, with a jocular
note in his voice. remarked, well,
Robbie. we're gents at leisure. Nothing
to do now but play the nurse'-here
his voice swiftly changed-"or do bat
tie"
the sick I'd fight. We have nothing to
lose now, and the boys are hot for it.
Have you been up the street."
NO, | have not"
81 don't see what we can do with
these two wounded men and the boy
and the women on our hands. Matt,
the real heart of this opposition is now
in one man. If he were taken away
these rowdy miners would scatter like
grouse"
Kelly turned quickly "You mean
Munro?'
Il do. I'm going up to have an inter
view with him."
Kelly laid big hand on his arm.
you're talIin II big risk. Let me go
instead"
NO, you must stay here. | am going
and | am going unarmed I am sefe~
with empty hauds. Matt They Will
not sloot an unarmed man. I'm going
to make one more appeal to Munro
Mounting his horse, Raymond rode
rapidly out along the ridge toward the
hill on which the fortifcation stood.
He passed now and then "A group of
men who knew him, and while one or
two greeted him pleasantly all the 9th
ers met his glance with menace. lie
felt the hot breath of their hate, but
tnS Sa1 an without hn rpUrnttipo hic
action in leaving his reyolvers behind
him.
The camp had eaten its midday meal
for even in times of war men must
eat; the miners had hastily devoured
their rough food and We're swarming
encampment The vedettes were biv-
ouacked III Il small grove of frs to the
left and little below the fort (Which
was merely Il log corral banked with
dirt, and Munro was directing the
shovel brigade ut work ON the walls of
the redoubt. which was growing rapid
ly under the brisk movement of chat
tering miners.
AS Raymond neared the crowd of on
lockers he recognized Denver Dan and
one or two other horsemen, but for the
most part the spectators were stran-
gers and plainly hostile.
He had drawn rein to pass to the
left when Brock stepped forth on foot
and roughly called ors
whats your BUSH s@ up here?"
Il want to find Munro
well, you go back to your shack
and keep out of this"
Raymond smiled. when did you
become roadmaster?'
Brock raised his voice so that the
rapidly gathering crowd might hear
"Ileres the spy that warned the sher-
if not to come on the freight train.
Here's the man that ruined our plans.
You can't deny that he said, laying
hand on the horses rein.
Il don't intend to deny it," replied
Raymond, facing the lowering faces of
the close packed throng as a mastiff