Arizona republican., 1912-02-26
66e VICTORY
By PETER CLARK MACFARLANE. Copyright, 1910, by the Pearson
 Publishing Co.)

It was all over in their minds hut in
 mere formality of opening the bids
 They would be careful to hand then
 in the last minute before twelve The,
 would have then a few anxious hour,
 while computations were being made
 and then by three or three thirty tho
 successful bidder would be ready with
 his bondsmen, and the four o'clock
 train that afternoon would carry then all back to Rockport, where they would
 arrive al seven thirty. With the con
 tracts secure and an unbroken period
 of industrial peace ahead, they had
 good reason to congratulate them
 selves
 It's a good thing to stand together
 said Simonds of the Simonds Casting Company.
 ''It certainly pays in the long run. " declared MT. Collins of the Rockport Foundry.
 Even if we did have 10 buy out their hero" sneered Medros, of Medros Scanlan Co. who were to be the sue. cessful bidders.
 ''I don't look at it that way" de clared MT. Collins, with an instant flush in face and tone. 'I would never stand for a cent of my money 10 go as bribe to man I couldn't beat. l look at it this way. They would have lost out pretty soon any way. but this man Martin, who is a mixture of genius and fanatic, would always be dangerous. What we did was 10 give him sort of subsidy to get out of the country, so he couldn't be around making trouble for us. It's just like buying out a troublesome competitor. Isn't that the way you regard 1t, Simonds?'
 Exactly" answered MT. Simonds. highmindedly.
 There had been crowds in the union hall before, since the strike began. but never such one as that which presesd and damned and struggled for admit tance on Saturday night By seven thirty every available space was taken The mystery of Martins disappearance was still unexplained. At five minutes TO eight McKichnie and Kaufman. An derson. Bolan and the other members of the Executive Committee filed into the hall from the stage entrance and filled the chairs upon the rostrum. The secretaries were at their desks In the center of the platform was the chairman's table. Upon it was a glass. pitcher and a gavel Beside it was a chair. The chair was empty.
 At three minutes to eight Bolan con- ferred with Anderson. Gerson and other members of the Executive Com mittee. There was a solemn nodding of heads. Bolan held his watch in his hand. At one minute of eight Bolan extravagantly dropped a half-burned cigar into box of sawdust. spat some shreds of tobacco leaf from his mouth. buttoned his coat. cleared his throat and passed his hand with a composing gesture over his features. In the in terval shadow appeared 10 pass in front of him. An instant later a sharp blow upon the gavel smote upon his ears. He looked up to see John Martin standing at the seapker's chair.
 The effect of his appearance was electrical Ii aroused interest and ey- pectancy The men had entered the hall dispirited and gloom-enshrouded half inclined to believe John Martin a traitor. The Executive Committee. slipping in like defeated warriors. had, by their demeanor. only previsaged the defeat which every man felt in his soul. But now. after an unexplained absence of twenty-four hours. had come John Martin, the man who again and again since the strike began had re- versed the surrent of it's trend
 He stood there before them, tall and fliOnifod inct bo had cporn Af times before. but with a difference. The marks of pain and weariness were gone. Even that holy shade of sadness which had first appeared when his baby succumbed 10 the effects of coarse and improper food in the fourth month of the strike was temporarily at least eclipsed by a glow reflected from the wonderfully brilliant light that was burning in his dark eyes.
 The Executive Committee" he be- gan. has got report to make, but was to say something first
 His voice was deep and steady. with a growing vibrancy that kindled expec- tation.
 Hes leading up to something" Hes got something up his sleeve was a comment that began instantly to be murmured in different parts of the hall But his next words were spoken with profound seriousness.
 You all got your strike benefits yes terday, as usual You thought that money came from the Internationals. Ii didn't I borrowed that money at the bank on your credit. I expect you to pay it back. seven dollars from every man, out of his first weeks wages"
 Out of his first weeks wages" It sounded. then, as though the men were going back to work But Martin hadn't said so yet He was waiting for the first idea to soak in They sensed it with deepening solemnity. The Inter nationals had cut them of All that stood between their long months of suffering and the complete collapse Of the strike was this tall man with the deeply lined, glowing face and the burning eyes. who was just now Segin- ming to speak again.
 The men, leaning forward. hung on his words breathlessly. Their eyes were fastened on him. the glazed whites gleaming like a thousand tiny moons about a central sun. The Elk ecutive Committee was bound by the