Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-18

There's slven av us altogether, me
an Mickey an the ch.ldher. not count
in the cat,-and coal sivin dollar the
ton this Gay. and but a dollar ninety TO
be got at the smelter," concisely
summed up his protector. "Ofve hcarn
tell as how the boss burns sivin ton
the month to kape niver a wan but his
own fat body warm. And there's my
Jamie wild his precious nose frosted
livery winter reg 'lar,''
Geddlng was silent.
Doubtless he'll have that much moro
to burn in whin he dies" rumlnated
Mary OToole comfortingly. as she lent
her large gasp to assist the unknown
fugativc.
Geddlng followed. cogitating the mat
ter of the Smelter wage. Thus quietly
presented. It's appeal was infinitely
more forceful that il it had been ex-
pounded by SNUG ng-delegate.
or howled at him by an unruly mob.
Perhaps the boss is not exactly
bad, at heart he suddenly suggested.
Perhaps he's merely-obstinate, and
thoughtless-"
AN does that change the price o.
coal?-on' the long shifts. an the
wage?" she quizzed. 'No,-no better'n
the divil's own heart! Look there."
Turning in front of the spectral looking
hole that opened into the hillside. she
spread her arm almost grandly to in
dicate the hideous smelter darkening
the horizon to the south west "Ye
see that great black ugly thing-full o
cinder an smoke an fire an accident?
It's that is like his heart. begorra,-
Hard as the very Iron in his Stag
pots."
GeddinGs breathed hard. So this was
the thing he represented to his menl
Never. from his college days when his
fellows fawned on him to keep within
the circle of his patronage and treats.
nn IA iINa
in mansion of selfish bachelorhood,
acquiring ever greater stores of un-
utilized wealth, with a dozen servants
answering his call and n few unsatIs-
Tying social friends to pay him further
homage, had he heard bit of un-
mitigated truth about himself until
now. And he had never dreamed that
the truth could have so keen an edge.
1t was with humbled spirit that he
crawled into the low forbidding mouth
of the cave, self mistrust mingling
oddly with self-pity in his startled con-
seriousness. To be sure the prospect
was most uninviting-this damp, cold
isolation on Christmas Eve. while the
fire burned brightly. unenjoyed, in his
cosy den at home hardly appealed to
one of his pampered style of living.
Moreover, the revelation of his own
iniquity to which he had just listened
added mental distress to his physical
discomfort.
But Mrs. O'Toole soon interrupted his
moment of lntroSpection.
Its goodbye fer now" she said
cheerily. IAN Oi'll be back fer We when
Mickey goes on the midnight shift"
But there's strike on" Geddings
shift"
"Oh well. It's all wan wild Mickey.
He'll make a shift o. his own at wan
or tother o. the saloons. then. Niver
ye fear. It's niver a minut his bed
will see him this night. But-"turning
for final inquiry, "phwat was 1t start
ed them hot-heads afther ye? Was 1T
wan av the men ye hit wild yer auty-
mobile, belize? 1t makes fury in
the hearts, O. the men-these autymo-
bile runovers."
mo" replied Geddings cautiously.
"it was little miX-up at the smelter.
One of the men threw a piece of Stag
which struck me on the head. And
threw something back. That's all. Then
they chased me-"
Geddtngs's self-complacencv was fast
ebbing away. He saw himself unwin-
Ing to confess accurately the occur
renee at the yards. or to acknowledge
his own identity. He found himself de-
pendent upon woman Of the dependent
class for safety. for life, perhaps, and
hitherto 1t had been his proudest boast
that the lives of moro than a thousand
men lay In his own keeping. His con-
ndence in himself and his proud POSI-
ton was considerably shaken. But,
crouchinS humbly In the mouth of the
cave, he suddenly became aware of tho
humor of his predicament Sidney Ged-
dings, mining magnate and copper king,
a fugitive Santa Claus in turkey-redi
BY George, I'd make a peach of a
cartoon" he murmured. but his smile
at the reflection was more rueful than
amused
Mary O'Toole made quick work of tho
return journey to her cottage She
found her two younger children. having
stuffed to their utmost capacity, asleep
at the table, while the other boys
played noisy game of tag about the
room.
ITO bed. to bed livery wan av ycz. this
mint, or shur an Santy'll niver be
back to fill yer stocldn's. Off wild yer
shoes and hang yer stockln's on the
line back o. the stove ready fer
whishtl" Mother O'Toolo held up
silenclng finger. There comes some
wan now, Doubtless It's yer father,
night to livery wan av yez-be off"
There was a scattering to bed. The
smallest, toddling Clarence, Mrs.
O'Toole was just tucking in on the an
cient sofa by the stove, when tho ap-
preaching steps reached tho door, and
knock followed knock In rapid success
sion until she opened.
1t was not tho expected husband.
Instead there stood two of the Irish
hands, engine-men at the smelter, who
when confronted by Mrs. O'Toole
seemed suddenly struck dumb.
"Phwat Is ut as yer a traipsln' up
through the snow fer?-some fresh
mischief OPll be boundI Phwat is ut
yer afther wantn'2" she demanded,
irate at their speechle ssness 'Wil
yeZ come in, OPm askin' yez, or will
yez be gettin' bit farther out SOS OF
kin shut the door?"
Despite her evaporation there was
no answering movement or explanation
from her countrymen.
WELL divil take yeg, On II It's Mickey
ye're afther wantin'. tits at wan av the
saloons he may be found-the Athens
OF the 'Parthenon.' like as not"
AT this one OF the pair was embold-
ened to speak. TITS at tho hospital
we wud be findin' Mickey this night"
'Phwats that ye say. as took ye
three hours to git tsaid-Mlckey-at the
Phwat Is ut, man, git
the rest said quicker or"
There was stroilIe on. num-
But Mickey"
"Yis-and some wan threw a bit o.
Stag at the boss
But"
"An' the boss pulled his gun and
fred"
AN shot my Mickey! oh the fend
20 hurt me darlin'! An then to come
Up here to mel" She choked with grief
md rage.
"He came. did he-an' which way did
le go? We're afther him-we'n git him
yet Which way-do ye known"