The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-06-10
Antona
The Story Of a Strike and
the Way 1t Was Settled.
By AGNES G. sRocAN.
right. 1910. by American Press
Association. So

Association. 80 4
The strike at the steel plant had
lasted long. Vaughn. the assistant
manager, went in his automobile to
investigate the temper Of the strikers.
He was received by a hooting crowd.
A giant Italian raised a stone and held
It poised high above his head.
Throw it, Andrea" screamed the
voices. and then down the steps Of q
tenement building came a flying fig.
urea girl whose dusky hair fell about
her face as she ran.
Andrea" she called b%reathlessly,
remember Nickola"
Unquestioningly the men made way
for her as she rushed through the
crowd and leaped into the automobile.
then stood directly before the man
whose life was threatened, protecting
him with one small outstretched hand.
''Wait!" she cried. "Wait!" And then
It seemed to Vaughn that a miracle
happened, for the desperate mob in
'stantly obeyed her imperious call and
by a common impulse moved farther
back into the roadway. leaving a clear
path before. ("
Andrea" the girl repeated sobbing-
~, "oh, Andrea" And in silence the
giant replaced his stone and followed
the others.
As she stood painting. one hand
pressed closely against her heart. the
picture was indelibly stamped upon
Vaughn's memory-the small white
face with its great dark eyes.
Down the rickety stairway. clatter.
ing upon his clutches. hobbled q Grip
pied Italian boy. "Antona" he wall
ed. "Antona"
The girls face was transformed by a
loving smile. '1t's all right, Nickola,"
she called reassuringly. II will be
with you soon."
"And now" she asked Of the waiting
men. will you let us go? This person
is here for your good. Can you not
trust Antona?"
A0 SAOO6A III 4S"OA ~ S40"O AUA@
city dispersed. and she turned to
Vaughn. II I'M going to ride with you
until you have passed through the dan
gerous section she said. 'Start at
once. for their moods change quickly"
The factories and houses had been
left behind when the girl again spoke.
"You will be quite safe now" she told
him. -'Let me get out, please. 1 must
so back"
Vaughn stopped the machine at her
bidding and bent over to look into her
eyes. 81 am inexpressibly grateful"
he said. "for the great service you
have done me. while I marvel at the
power you hold owe those desperate
men"
81 love them and do things for them
all" she answered simply, land down
here in this part of the world we repay
our kindnesses just as truly as we re-
venge our wrongs"
"You say we" the man interposed
quickly. "but you are very different
from the Others"
'That is only, because I have had the
schooling and training which they
have missed" she answered. I'm
thought and feeling l am still a wo-
man Of the people and sooner or later.
as you have learned. demand payment
for my kind deeds. What reward shall
I claim from you. MI. Vaughn"
81 am eager to show my gratitude"
he replied.
She stood up before him, and her
glowing color deepened. III you are
sincere in that" she said quietly. ''then
end the strike at once"
The man looked up in dismay at
this unexpected request. "You ask an
impossibility." he said CURLY. II am
but the junior member of the company.
and even IL l were willing to yield to
the unreasonable demand of the men
whose cause you champion there are
others in power higher than myself"
The girl spoke in a low, passionate
tone. 'sYou and I both know" she
said, :that they will do exactly as you
advise. All has been left to your judy
ment. Your agents. or whatever they
may be called. have not been giving
you correct information regarding the
origin of this strike. This time the
workman's cause Is just. and ! will
tell q few truths which It will be well
for you to know"
Vaughn sat fascinated, watching her
flashing eyes and impulsiye gestures
as she eloquently portrayed the mis-
cry and poverty in the lives of the
men who had threatened him so short
a time ago. Tears filed the girls
eyes. "And there is Nickola." she
continued. ut was his father who
would have crushed you with that
great stone today. His temper when
aroused Is terrible. In a at Of rage he
threw the baby Nickola downstairs,
and that is why he must walk on
crutches always. Since then Andrea's
life has been one long effort to make
amends to the boy, and because I try
to make Nickola happier there is moth
ing / may ask Of Andrea that he will
not do. When Nickola Is In want
then the father turns savage and cruel.
Many nights since the strike began
~ .G8sF[. 49, -. 4.a.-kFa ~,ohonoA hmm.