Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-07
CHAPTER MI.

~ NE day Barnett telephoned to
his wife that he would not
take luncheon at home There
~ was nothing unusual In the
words Of this announcement, but Jean
nette's keen eur detected restrained
excitement in his calm drawl.
whats the matter?' she asked
quickly.
Nothing, my dear; nothing" he glib
ly responded.
don Barnett, I know better. Tell
me this Instant
He was in for 1t. well. Mr.. Mac
kay, our superintendent. was tarrcd
and ridden on rail by the miners this
morning.
"Graclous heavens!'
and I'm getting off up the stage
road to meet HIM"
What did they do it for:'
ooh. It's the same Old business The
men didn't like some regulation OF his
and struck. and-but it's long story;
won't 60 into 1t now. I'll get back in
time for dinner, probably"
In an hour Millionaire row was hum
ming with news of the outrage Re
ports. confused, conflicting. flew along
the wires east and west, and the after
noon papers were filled with dramatic
details of the opening of a big strike
in Skytown and the story of how the
union leaders had mishandled Mackay,
.i,,ta nf 40
Mining corporation.
All this would have interested Ann
very little had not her brother been In
the midst of the disorder. She immedI-
ately wired him to come down and got
a reply from Raymond saying, Louis
is on the way-no danger" and the boy
himself came riding into the yard at
dusk.
Rnymond's letter to Barnett took Sc
rious view Of the situation:
don't think Mackay the proper man to
attempt to reorganiHe the working hours
of this camp Don't try to put him back,
and don't make too much of this lit
tie affair. The whole camp is uneasy at
this time. The union Is getting very
strong and likely to make it hot for in
dependents like Kelly and myself.
what is it all about?" asked Jean
nette.
Don cooked bored. ooh, really now,
don't a.sk me to go into the cause of a
strike. A woman never understands
such situation. However, here is
what Rob says:
Mackay posted his notices Saturday
night, putting the new nine hour schedule
into effect Monday morning. Sunday the
camp boiled. The union put forth it's de-
cree, and of course at the morning hour
a big crowd gathered to see Mackay face
his men. He came riding up the jack
assD In tan co!ored English riding
breeches and little two billed gray cap
you know the kind OF course they hooted
him and headed his horse back down the
slope. He was red headed, naturally, and.
being a double distilled IDIOT hired a
couple Of desperadoes from Bozle as
guards and came back This time the
boys jerked him and his men from their
horses and hustled them down the canyon
at the boot toe. l did what / could to
prevent this, but the men who had the
matter in charge had been drinking, and
the crowd was with them. My men are
not in the union. but l hear ominous
threats. l advise you not to attempt to
put the new schedule into operation at
the present time.
The effect on the valley of Mackay's
recital of his maltreatment was most
wonderful. The principal mine owners
of the Springs met to discuss their
campaign. The valley called for the
blood of those who had busted the sa
cred person Of their representative, and
the sheriff was ordered to arrest and
bring down the insolent ''red necks'
who had humbled the proud and con-
fdent Red Star superintendent. "This
spirit of lawlessness must be checked
or it will run into riot" said Barnett,
who developed Unexpectedly into
leader of the mine owners by virtue of
his large interests in the Red Star.
The sheriff valiantly responded to the
call and, with half dozen deputies,
marched up into the glittering mist of
the high peaks and came down again
empty handed and sullen.
A meeting of the officers of the Red