Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-03-16
CHAPTER XVI.

own troubles, and when some one tele-
phoned the editor of the Morning Trib-
une that Chiawasse Consolidated had
succumbed at last. he did not deem 1t
worth while to inquire whether the
strike at Gordonia was the cause or the
consequence of the sudden shut-do
But day or two later, when rumors
of threatened violence began to trickle
In over the telephone wires, Tribune
man called. In passing, at the general
offices In the Cocsa Building, and was
promptly put to sleep by the astute
Dyckman, who, for reasons of his own,
was quite willing to conceal the true
state of affairs. Yes. there was a sus-
pension of active operations at Gordon
la, and he believed there had been some
hot-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
pany would be increased. and the plant
would probably be removed to South
Tredegar and enlarged.
All Of which was duly jotted down to
be passed into the Tribune's archives;
and the following morning Tom. doing
guard duty with his father. the two
Helgersons and a squad of the yard
men at the threatened plant read a
pointless editorial In which misstate
ment Of fact and sympathy for the alb
rent and struggling Farleys were
equally and impartally blended.
Look at thati" he growled. wrath
fully, handing the paper across the Of
nee desk to Caleb. "One OF these fine
days I'm going to land that fellow
Dyckman in the penitentiary."
The iron-maste put on his specta-
cles and plodded slowly and conscien-
tiously 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 1t 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, 1t had leaked out that 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 a state
of siege.
Tom put the paper down and smote
on the desk.
81 thought perhaps could give them
q run for their money"
Your" said Caleb, removing his
glasses. "1ow's that?"
TT was a shot in the dark, and 1
didn't want to brag beforehand" he
explained. Il wrestled 1t 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 pointer before I
left Louisville. l didn't see anything
in it then but revenge; but afterward I
saw how we might spend some money
to possible advantage"
Il reckon I'm sort O. dull, Buddy;
what-all did you dor"
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"
ut is the modern definition of it."
whats goin' to happen up yonder
In Indiany?"
"If 1 knew. I'd be a good bit easier
in my mind. What I'm hoping is that
the rumpus will be big enough to make
'em 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; 1 could have bought them If I'd
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.
II wish you hadn't done It, son. It's
a dirty job, any way you look at it."
Norman says It's condition, not a
theory; and he Is right. We are liv-
ing under a new order of things. and
" 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 Pm
here for. There is nothing for US to do
but to sit tight and wait If we get
telegram from Indiana before these
idiots of ours lose their heads and go