The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-19

this was the eastern lover-thiS fat,
fair man. 81 think I have heard Of
you" he began slowly.
Louis arrival relieved the awkward
ness of the moment. "Hello, Mir. Pea
body. how did you get here?'
Peabody caught at the boys hand.
well, we'll, Louis, I'm glad to see you.
You saved my life How is Amp"
Zine: You ought to see her work.
She's brown as oak Come on, Ill take
you to her Gee. she'll be glad to see
you!"
AS Peabody excused himself and
made off, Munro, with a world Of
meaning in his voice, softly swore.
"Well, if I'd known that, 1 would have
killed him and laid him away under
little rock. She turned me down fat
the other day, and it hurt. It hurts
worse now that I've seen the other
man. really hoped you were the win
ner.''
"She's out Of our world Jack" re-
piled Raymond, and large part of his
resentment Of Munro's impertinence
vanished with the knowledge that he
was fellow sufferer in despair.
Munro went on gravely: '.She had
me going, sure thing. Why, stopped
drinking-just as told you would
and I cut off Claire Say, boy, that
was a severe job! She raised dust for
day or two, but when the queen Of
heaven gave me my jolt said, Wat
the good?' and slipped into my old
ways. Think of us strutting around
! the parade ground in front of the seats
Of the visitors with intent to beat out
old Grant, and here we are! I'm polio
ing mining camp, and you're paving
dirt like a woodchuck. What fall is
there, my brother"
Raymond did not enjoy Munro's tone
and changed the subject. What are
you going to do now:'
Munro ceased to laugh. Il am going
to cinch this whole camp little tight
er from this on. Pm going to turn back
every nonunion miner. All you fellows
who are friendly can &c on working
| just the same, but your men must put
themselves on record"
Raymond's face settled into stern
lines "Jack, I don't want TO be mixed
up in another mans fight. We are on
good terms with our hands-they're a
lot Of cantankerous American citizens
anyway and can't be coerced. I warE
you not to monkey with our plant
Munro laughed. "I'll fight shy, old
man, so far as I'm concerned, but these
dagoes and Poles are getting watch
eyed, and if they stampede they'll run
over somebody. You don't believe in
me and my cowboys, but the time may
come when you'll see that I'm about
the only commander in this camp"
"I see that now, Jack. That's why
I'm talking to you. But you've start
ed on a line Of action that means war
with organized society. You had no
call to join those jackasses who ran
Mackay out of camp. 1t was none O
your funeral-had nothing to do With
the question OF wages {.
Munro grinned. 'He was such an
ape"
''Yes, but it started you wrong. Now,
1 don't know who blew up the shaft
house, but if you do your best plan is
to cut those outlaws out and turn them
back to the authorities
81 don't know a thing. OF course the
union had nothing to do with it. It
was done by a few hotheads full Of
peaches These mine owners have got
to give up their nine hour scheme.
We've got 'em dead to rights, for l
can drive every nonunion man out Of
camp II necessary, anu my advice to
you is, have your men march up and
sign our rolls double quick"
They can do as they please about
that. I will bring no pressure to bear
on them, but I'd like to ask you as
friend not to make it any harder than
you can help for Kelly & Raymond.
We've got all we can stagger under
ROW, and the worst thing that can hap
pen to US is delay We've opened our
vein, and were going to buy ID our
mine inside Of six weeks if nothing
prevents
Raymond walked on to his cabin
with a heavier heart than he had car
ried since he left Barnett's home. Part
of this was due to Munro's warning,
but the larger part of it sprang from
his meeting with Peabody, who was
not at all the sort of citizen be had ex-
pected AIMS eastern lover to be- He
was man of power, dignity and de-
cision, not an erratic idler like Barnett,
and his air Of quiet authority sprang
from a strong personality securely
placed in the world.
Louis came back to the cabin with a
sly smile on his face. What did you
think of Mr. Peabody? Darn him, he's
here to get Ann to 90 back to New
York. don't go, tell you thatr'