The Washington herald., 1907-11-17
CHAPTER Xxx.



1T is no use. gentlemen" said Vic Nor
us 20 the high Council Of Four. who had
been convened on the following morning
10 decide what was 10 be done as 70 the
disaster" the miners Of Kirktown are
no more 10 be condemned IN a body than
employers, managers, or engineers 7 do
not know whether the FIRE was lighted By
any men in our own employ. Such a
thing is possible. Of course have al
ways thought there was a rotten. bad
streak IN the new drafts from the south
mouthers most Of them. breeders OF III
blood"
I am glad 20 hear you speak Ike that.
Mr.. Norris. said James Kahn. for. 10
tell you the truth, have heard II whis-
pered that YOU yourself were not exactly
faithful TO your employer"
Then, Nr. Kahn said Vic Morris.
with sudden ferceuess. whoever told
you that lied. And If you wish for a
more absolute contradiction. bring the
Jalebearer face 10 face with ner'
Kahn glanced first at his two subordi-
mates. McKil and Grinding. and then
at the rather grim-looking face OF
his chief, Mr. Jacob Romer
Go on Mr.. Morris; expose your ideas
fully" said the latter. He cared moth
ms for the strifes Of heads Of deoar--
meDts. nor even great deal for last
nights IRE. Il was annoying, OF course
but. after all. to put il right was a NEE
matter OF detail All his contracts were
IN his lawyers safe, and so long as the
pits themselves We're intact and the night
.
ed very much 10 Incubus. Corn. Rouer
, * Co de had also an idea that the in
/ nuence which VIC Morris had over The
1 best OF the men. the aScendencv he Dos
Sessed over all. might be more useful 70
the firm than the haSty and ll-iudged
measures OF severity into which the
trIumvirate Of Kahn. McKill. and Grind
Ing would fam have forced him.
Al nrst, therefore. lie was inclined 20
I listen 10 LudOyic Morris And. accord
inSly, Kahn and his two satellites felt
the wind OF The great mans favor blow
cold upon them. The hate OF their hearts
went out 20 Morris-for which the strong
careless VIC cared not q whit bis single
weakness had been his passion for Vida.
Even MS enemies could not put their
| niger upon another. And this was per
! haps the greatest weakness Of aIl-that
he had none. Il lifted him clean AWAY
I from that strange, Yet very human sym
pathy- which the working class feel for
the peccadillos Of the great
Eh. but he's a lad says the Ian
cashire pitman. with certain pride in
/ his young masters going the pace
He's a gye boy
'Nocht till COR YIN will reply. in the
comparison Of bosses" the "Geordies'
OF Fife and the Lothians.
80, though his rigid honesty could not
/ nelp but win him respect wherever hs
went. and though every one in the pits
/ from the bank foreman to the youngest
tallyboy. knew that Vic Morris was ION
their side, the rigidity Of his discipline
and the fact that he neither drank
smoked swOre, nor Haunted cheap in
/ EQUITY. were Internationally against him
in that queer. topsy-turvy world Of the
mine
He is more ike a parson in the pit
said "Bubbly' Sugg. the father Of Susan
aforesaid, and the champion heavy
weight of the three main pits. Yet. for
all that. ~Bubbly'' put away his pipe in
a hurry whenever there was a stir and a
whisper OF Here's Muster Morrisr'
along the working faces
Expose your IDEAS" repeated the
chief; Il am here 10 listen"
We'll. sir said Vic. nothing 10th. and
1 "
| all right. Il frightenS nobody worth
/ their salt And II the men are satisfied
/ on a point or two Gin which they are
I absolutely in the right. they will work
I TO your utmost desire. So much I hold
myself ready 10 guarantee. Men who
/ live habituaily on the surface cannot
know what goes on underground. Six
/ teen hundred feet OF solid rock between
/ ones crown and the green grass change
! mems ways OF looking at things when
/ they have 10 stay there ten or twelve
/ hours at a stretch every day. year in
and year out. But. as I have said. I
viii charge myself with all that-if so
/ be you give me free hand to finish the
/ second exits in the pits where these
are not already completed. and 10 uplift
the steam pipes. Illegally placed, in those
that are
Has not that all already been done
TO the satisfaction Of his majesty's' in
spectors o.
Maybe" said Vic. sOurly, but not 10
my satisfaction"
DO you set yourself up as knowing
better than the man appointed for the
/ purpose by the government - demanded
I Mr. Jacob ROmer. And at this the three
plucked up heart They knew that Vic
was treading upon dangerous ground
/ Mr.. Romer was a great man for the
letter Of the law when il could be read
/ in his own favor
The situation is this" said Vic Nor
ris, who could not keep a certain iron
dogmatism out OF his voice. no matter
10 whom 'he was speaking: "the men
have right to "a second exit"
10 BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.