Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04

half an hour ago. It's fixed for three
years-Nrec yedrs!' His voice rang
out exultantly.
And then the men woke up. With
roar like the voice of Niagara and a
movement like thousand human
springs uncoiled at once, they leaped
TO their feet. They flung hats and caps
in the air They stamped. They
climbed upon chairs They screamed
like madmen. They hugged each other.
They laughed and wept. They waltzed,
They waved their arms. They yelled
themselves hoarse Cheer after cheer
was lifted The men upon the plat
form leaped up and pressed round. No
kichnie reached for the document Mar
tin was waving He and Kaufman
scanned 1t and were convinced. Soma
Of the men tottered and sat down. weak
with joy Some rushed about the hall,
Some dashed out Of the building and
ran like madmen for their homes.
In the street the cry was raised
"The strike is ended" The long,
echoing pRan floated upon the air:
1--WE win. We win. We win"
What is it that brings a woman near,
as If by instinct, in the great crisis Of
a mans life. Suddenly one appeared,
lodging eycitedly amid the whirling
throng Her face was flushed with run
ming, Wisps of chestnut hair had
broken away and swept the scarlet
spots upon her cheeks Her dress was
cheap and poor, but chung to her hurry
Ing figure with a kind of grace that
was attractive. That indescribabls
charm with which love may invest
face that is plain and care-marked
was hers. John swooped down with
his strong arms. and lifted her up.
John! john" she exclaimed, kiss
ing him rapturously. You won it. and
you won it square"
You bet. Jennie" he responded,
proudly. returning her kisses with
frank gusto. and the honest look of alb
ssolute sincerity. "How's Jack and
Tommie?"
Fine" she answered.
But the men were cGowdng round
again
How'd you do It. Jack?" asked Nc
Kichnie. with honest admiration, I'M
chagrined in the Joy of victory, no mat
ter how near he had come to commit
ting the men to a grievous mistake.
Il just went up 10 Chicago. put in a
bid and grabbed off that big canal con-
tract myself" he answered laughing
with excitement and sheer joy. Say.
they was the maddest bunch of hornets
you ever saw in your life. I had as
good a right TO bid as any of EN-, and
take my chance on suhlettin. which
was what they was gon' 10 do. Had
my bondsmeu right ready too. and
they couldn't say word. Besides.
they Gained down considerable when
they found ! was willin' to turn over
the whole contract TO them if they'd
agree TO recognize the unions and sign
our scale for three years. They pow
wow'd lot on the train comm down.
! but finally they fell over their selves
to sign up"
But you had TO have certified
check for fifteen thousand TO accom-
pany your bid -
Il had It," answered Martin. with
glowing smile of self-satisfaction. while
the round and wondering eyes of the
men grew rOunder and more wonder
ing still.
Outside. the block in front Of union
headquarters was filled with wildly
jubilanl men. from curb to curb. On
, the nearest cross street motor car
with two men in # had been stopped
by the press OF pedestrians. One Of
Ian & Co. who We're to have put in the
winning bid. The other was Laferty.
/ Medros was grumpiy reciting the
events Of the day.
80 that's what he took our fifteen
thousand for snarled the crestfallen
lafferty. ITO accompany his bid against
, us for the contract. ! thought that
t blohe was Goin' an awful lot of thinkin'
, when | was eXplaning the canal deal
TO him. But the hond." he gasped
= after a moment of further reflection.
I How in blazes did he get the surety
companies to agree TO go on his bond'"
Just talked EN- into il. | guess,
, same rs he does everybody he goes up
4 against. | even heard since | got back
= 10 town that he talked old Fritz Krei
der into lending him eight thousand
l dollars 10 meet his payroll with yes
! terday Come to think. | reckon Fritz
must have helped him with the bond
: ing companies That Dutchman Is
E more of an old woman than he is
: banker, If a fellow Just happens to get
under his vest right. YOU know"
Laferty chewed disconsolately at the
t end of an unightcd cigar. And he's
, done us out of the fifteen thousand
he mumbled. "Darned If see, though.
! how the fellow can lie crooked and
= straight al the same time
ooh. he stung you like a bunch of
, bees" sneered Nledros.
At this stage of the conversation
. Martin appeared from the stairway of
! the hall. borne on the shoulders of en-
3 thusiastic men. lie was protesting
? good naturedly. but yielding somewhat
} TO the hilarious spirit that had broken
out, naturally enough. with the news OF
I the victory. From his elevated posi-
} ton he made out the occupants OF the
l motor car and when the occasion al
, lowed. slipped TO the ground and made
: his way across TO II,
You double crossed me-" Lafferty
= roared
Il told you the strike would he de.
, clared off tonight" Martin answered,
shouting to be heard, and it has
= been"
) A sickly pallor crawled over Laf-
| fertys face. and he voiced his disgust
+. with.
= We'll. I'm damned"
: Besides" continued Martin. as he
0Ghed an envelope from his pocket and
, fSom it extracted a folded bit of paper
J With perforated edges, "here's your
J 0Doney. ! don't need it any more"