Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-04-19

-, S''4HS luls morning., said
clarence blandly, but If there is one
we are ready for it. You bet the hands
won catch US mapping. We are ready
Tor 'em any time and all the time !"
MS delivered with large air i'm.
pressed Spide exceedingly.
Have you sent for the militia
areadyF' he asked anxlously.
That's saying" noting the effect of
MS words. Il can't go blabbing about
telling what the roads up TO. but we
are awake, and the hands will get 1t
In the neck If they tackle the boss"
TO Clarence, Oakley was the most
august person he had ever known. He
rehgiously believed his position to be
only second in point OF Importance and
power to that Of the president of the
United states. He was wont to invest
MIN with purely imaginary attributes
and to lie about him at a great rate
among his comrades, who We're ready
to credit any report touching man
who was reputed to be able to ride on
the cars without a ticket. Human
grandeur had no limits beyond this.
There was meeting last night I
bet you didn't know that" said Spide
81 heard something Of it. Was vour
father at the meeting, Spide?" he ask
ed, dropping his tone of hostility for
one of gracious familiarity. The urchin
promptly crossed the ditch and stood
at his side.
"Of course the old man was. You
don't suppose he wouldn't be in itf"
"Oh, well, let 'em kick. You see the
boss is ready for EN-" remarked Clar-
ence lndifferently. He wanted to know
what Splde knew. but he didn't feel
that he could afford to show any spe-
cial interest Where you going-swim-
ming?" he added.
yep" But Splde was not ready TO
drop the fascinating subject Of the
strike. He wished to astonish Clarence,
who was altogether too knowing.
"The meeting was In the room over
Jack Brltt's saloon" he volunteered.
81 suppose you think we didn't know
up at the office. We got our spies out.
There amt nothing the hands can do
we amt on to-"
Spide wrote his initials in the soft
bank of the ditch with his big toe while
he medltated on what he could tell
next.
"Well, sir, you'd "a been surprised II
you'd n been there"
"Was You there. spide"
yep"
"Oh, come off; you can't stun me-"
Il was, too, there. The old lady sent
me down to fetch pap home. She was
afraid he'd get full. Joe Stokes was
there, and Lou Bentick and a whole
slew of others, and Grin Ryder"
Clarence gasped with astonishment
"Wlry, he amt one of the hands"
well, he's on their side"
What you giving u.s."
Say, they are going to make a stiff
kick on old man Oakley working in the
shops They got it in for him good and
strong" He paused to weigh the eff
feet OF this and then went on rapidly
Hes done something. Ryder knows
about it. He told my old man and Joe
Stokes They say he's got to get out
What's a convicted criminal anyhow 2
What do you want to know that for
Spider questioned the artful Clarence
with great presence of mind
Ia, n,T g..
heard Ryder say so myself, and PAL
and Joe Stokes just kicked themselves
because they hadn't noticed it before
| suppose. My, but they were hot
Say, you'll see fun tomorrow. l SHOULD
not be surprised If they sent you al
a-kiting"
Clarence was swelling with the de
sire to tell Oakley what he had heard
He took the part Of pack of ciga
rettes from his pocket.
Have oneY he said.
Spide promptly availed himself Of hi.
companions liberalty.
"Well, so long" the latter added; "I
got to get back" And a moment later
he might have been seen making hi,
way cautiously in the direction OF tho
Office, while Spide, his battered hat
under bis arm and the cigarette clutch
cd in one hand. was skipping rayly
across the cOrnfeld toward the creek
followed by Pink. He was bound foi
the "Shdy," Il swimming hole h,
mother had charged him on no account
to visit Under these peculiar circum
stances it was quite impossible for him
to consider any other spot.