Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-08-05
CHAPTER XVI.

uhOned the editor VI lhc "oilAiiiS 80
me that Chiawasse Consolidated had
snccnmbed at last, he did not deem 1t
worth while to inquire whether the
str,l,e at Gordonia was the cause or the
oonsenuence of the sudden shut down.
Rnt q dav or two later, when rumors
of threatened violence began to trickle
IN over the telephone wires, tribune
man called in passing, at the general
o47ces in: the Coosa Building, and was
nromptIy put to sleep by the astute
Dvckman, who, for reasons of his own,
MAS quite willing to conceal the true
state Of affairs. Yes, there was sus-
nansion OF active operations at Gordon
"a and he believed there had been some
bot-headed talk among the miners. But
there would be no trouble. Mr.. Farley
was at present in London negotiating
for English capital. When he should
return, the capital stock of the com
nanv would be increased, and the plant
would probably be removed to South
Tredegar and enlarged.
All of which was duly jotted down to
he Dassed into the Tribune's archives;
and the following morning Tom, doing
puard duty with his father, the two
Helgersons and a squad OF the yard
men at the threatened plant, read
nointless editorial in which misstate-
ment of fact and sympathy for the alb
sent and struggling Farleys were
equally and impartially blended.
Look at that!" he growled, wrath
fully, handing the paper across the Of
flee desk to Caleb. "One Of these fine
days I'm going to land that fellow
Dvckman in the penitentiary."
The iron master put on his specta-
cles and plodded slowly and conscien-
tously through the editorial, turning
the paper, at length, to glance over
the headings on the telegraphic page.
In the middle of 1t he looked up sud-
denly to say:
Son, what was the name O. that In
diany town with the big water-pipe
cOntraCt?"
Tom gave it in a word, and Caleb
passed the paper back, with his thumb
on one of the press dispatches.
Read that" he said.
Tom read, and the wrathful scowl
evoked by the foolish editorial gave
place to a fitting smile of triumph.
There was trouble in the Indiana city
over the awarding of the pipe contract.
In some way unknown to the press re-
porter, it had leaked out that a much
lower bid than the one accepted had
been ignored by the purchasing COM
mittee A municipal election was
pending, and the people were up in
arms Rumors OF a wholesale indict-
ment of the suspected officials were
rife, and the city offices were In state
of siege.
Tom put the paper down and smote
on the desk.
81 thought perhaps could give them
a run for their money"
"You?" said Caleb, removing MS
glasses. "How's that?"
1T was a shot in the dark, and
didn't want to brag beforehand, ne
explained. Il wrestled it out Satur-
day night when l was tramping the
hills after Doc Williams had brought
mother around. One member of the
purchasing committee was ready 20
dodge; he gave me a pointer before l
left Louisville. l didn't see anything
in 1t then but revenge; but afterWaro l
saw how we might spend some money
10 possible advantage.
Il reckon I'm sort O dull, Buddy;
what-al did you do?,'
Wired the disgruntled one that
there was a letter and a check In the
mail for him to be followed by another
and a bigger one If his pole proved
long enough to reach the persimmons.
The old iron master left his chair
and began to walk the floor, six steps
and a turn After a little he said:
Tom, is that business"
TT is the modern definition of 1t"
What's goin' to happen up yonder
in Indiany?"
eff | knew, I'd be a good bit easier
in my mind. What I'm hoping Is that
the rmpus will be big enough to make
EN- turn the contract out way.
Where's your heart, Buddy Would
YOU take the chance Of sendin' these
fellows to jail for the sake Of gettin'
that Contract?"
"Cheerfully," said Tom. They're ras-
Gals; could have bought them If Ia
had money enough; and the other fell
low did buy them
The old man resumed his monoton-
Gus tramp up and down the room. The
hardness in Toms voice unnerved him.
After another interval of silence he
spoke again.
Il wish you hadn't done 1t. son. It's
dirty job, any way you look at 1t.
Norman says it's a condition, not a
theory; and he Is right. We are liv-
Ing under a new order of things. and
If we want to stay alive, we've got to
conform to it. 1t gagged me at first
reckon there are some traces OF the
Christian tradition left. But, pappy.
I'm going to win That is what I'm
mere for. There Is nothing for US to do
out TO sit tight and wait. If we get
telegram from Indiana before these
iolots Of ours lose their heads and go
10 Floting and burning, we shall still
u"Ne fighting chance. If not. we're
smashed" a 1ifg
lou mustn't be too hard on thu
men, Buddy. They've been mighty pa
tent" - - =
could do what I'd like to, I'd
the last man of them. 1t makes
savage to have them turn up and
n-'oeA us on the head after, we've been
r".s blood to pull through. Have
fou seen Ludlow"
saw him last night. He's
So ugly swpre he wouldn't raise