Arizona republican., 1912-02-25
66e VICTORY
By PETER CLARK MACFARLANE. Copyright, 1910, by the Pearson
 Publishing Col

fupiIsning Sosl
 "Tt's the canal contract" answered Lafferty, frankly-"to be let tomorrow noon in Chicago, with work enough in it 10 keep every shop in Rockport go- ing for three years. Rockport's got the inside on that from the start by reason of location and advantages in water transportation in and out. The whole Rockport crowd has sort of gone in cahoots on the deal to keep from bid ding against each other. It's figured for Medros, Scanlan & Co. to name the low figure. The rest'll bid high, and NedrOs will bid high enough, too, for plenty of profit, but low enough to get the business from other iron centers, but-and here's where you come into the deal, Martin-there ain't one Of 'em can get surety company to go on their bond for time deliveries, and that's what the specifications call for, without this strike is settled first. Now you're the leader of this strike. Don't matter how near the men are to layin' down, and I dDn't think they're so aw ful near myself as some of your own crowd does-we all got sense enough to know that you can keep 'em out for weeks and weeks and months yet; even if lot of 'em would go back to work, you could still hang on and keep things tore up so they wouldn't make satisfactory headway with great big full capacity. longtime contract like this canal deal will be. Do you seer" And Laffery turned over the palm of his hand dramatically, as, leaning over the end of the desk. he peered earnestly up into the great face Of John Martin.
 Latferu was a little puzzled at the changed expression on Martins counte- nance. For a time he had appeared to be struggling with two emotions. Now he was silently thoughtful, thinking slowly, with knitted, calculating brows.
 "Suuosing." he asked deliberately, at length, that the strike wasn't broke, but that they only had assurance that it would be called off-would that do?' "Yc1 bet 1t would-your assurance" answered Lafferty.
 For a full minute yet Martin seemed to stare, almost hatefully, at the little pile of currency. Then, with look Of terrible desperation on his face, he said:
 '~The strike will be declared of to- morrow night"
 AS Martin proceeded to gather up the packages of money and with a quick. almost furtiye movement thrust them into his inside coat pocket, Laf- ferty said:
 You're as clear a thinking man as I ever did business with in my life" Then, with a glow of satisfaction in his breast, as of duty well performed. Lafferty went away. A few minutes after Martin followed. and as he walked down the hall saw a freshly penciled card which read: Strike Benefits Paid at 300 P. NJ. instead of 100 P. NJ. ' At the first bank he encountered on l his way up town Martin walked in | boldly and exchanged the three pack | ages of bills in his coat pocket for a certified check for the amount which they represented. or fifteen thousand dollars. Then he directed his steps 1 toward the doors of the Rockport Ma | tional. The President was old Fritz | Kreider. an honest Swiss, who had | opened the first bank in Rockport & | week after the gas vein was struck that started the town on it's way to prosperity. and kreider had grown with the town to commercial great ness.
 There's thirteen hundred Of us, argued Martin, standing before him, | embarrassed, but full of dignity. We're good citizens. Lots of us had
 savings accounts before the strike. and
 owned property. Some of us do yet. | You never saw strike conducted with
 less disorder. We're entitled to credit. ! I want eight thousand dollars 10 meet
 my payroll to-day. Will you let me | have it?"
 The little old bankers eyes opened | wide al the Dreposterousness of the l idea, but Martin kept on talking with l that strangely persuasive manner. so l far below the deeps of ordinary enthus iasm. and yet so full of that subtle | magnetism which was more and more used to having it's way with men When the strike leader left the bank | he had huge paper sack under his arm. the budging sides and end oi | which were bound about with tvine | Entering the office of Macy and Lar sen. he found Bolan there. talking tc | the two of them in crOaking. poison
 ous whisper.
 | There's your money, he exclaimed
 f1inging the bulky package upon the
 long table. where it bounced resiliently l once or twice.
 For a moment the mems faces pic tured their astonishment. They sazet
 at Martin queerly, and then Macy
 seizing a pair of shears. shipped of
 the twine. and disclosed the packages | of currency in bills of small denomina
 tions, crowding out of the open ent
 of the bag.
 Martin. you're wiz. all right. Macy chuckled as, recovering himself
 he glanced again at the tall, sombe II face before him with look of admira tion. and then. by stroke oi his fin
 ger. ripped open the long side of tn bag
 II Guess he's crazy. what" muttere'
 Larsen as the door closed on his retir ing form.
 That afternoon, while the Executiv Committee were in session and pre-
 Daring the recommendations for tn
 Saturday night meeting. and while tn
 steady tramp Of the thirteen hundre
 men who were being paid their week.
 stipend of relief sounded through tn