Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-20

there"
Mike understood without the translation mo, no.
no quta da core gang" He started for the doc,
stopped and came back. II Ikea you" he said
reaching out big paw and shaking hands with tho
foreman. He turned and went decisively into the
foundry.
The coremakers punched together Mike came
back to the gang, but he gave them hardly glance
as he picked up r. shovel and went to work
ne cable was quickly repaired, and soon the clash
or the machinery hummed and roared with the rush
u! inc days work Sudden death--coming, ~ it
oi'en oid to the foundry-occupied but few mo-
H'en' ct the mems time The crushing Grind of the
work demanded their undivided attention: lack %
vigilance. moments thoughlessness, might mean
the snufins out of their own lives
INC superintendent, wearing linen buster 20 pro-
et MS clothes, was met by the foreman as he came
INTO the foundry He listened in doubtful silence
TO the toremans suspicious
And you really think they roped him To IN. c,b,.
ana ne broke it by main strength"
i certainly believe it, although bav. no mean.
OF proving it, answered the foreman stop,,v
impossible man; impossible. Why. there isn't a
human being living that could do that" and III,
superintendent went his way, leaving the foreman
biting his lip in chagrin.
an Jay as Mike worked the constant rasp of his
clothes against his rope burned flesh kept the ;d..
constantly before him that these men with whom h~
To
him. For what reason he did not know, or how &
was DONE for it had all happened so quickly that ~
q'd not remember whether it Manila hemp or
S'eei rope that had wrapped itself about his BODY
but he had growing belief that they were re,pon.
sble
ne coremakers soon began to sense portent o.
danger in the change that came over the dem.s,o-
or the Italian. 1t caused them TO walk war;Iv and
leave him alone. Even Moran forgot to sneer and
cropped ms eyes and looked away whenever Miks
tiOD RutJ ,,r:s
mere was gathering of the gangs on the canal bank
lunch ''~ ''eS ct 'ne'l
The six nch-eore gang was late again that night
and as Mike dropped his check at the gate the tine
G I cursed him without looking up from his desk
Like fash the big Italians arm reached through
me window and caught the young fellow by The
throat; he lifted him up and jammed him back into
ms ehar with force that made his teeth rattle
Iou-a TOO fresh; nex'-a time break-a YOU neck"
ne said Then, giving hitch to his trousers, Mike
glanced up the street at the saloon sign a" guess
go now, drink-a for whiskey, at Sweeney's"
Sweeney saloon occupied the front parlc of
dirty yellow house two blocks from the foundry,
with the smell Of cheap beer and vile whiskey the
air was heavy with tobacco smoke the sawdust-
covered floor was smeared and stained with tobacco
skins from the free lunch.
Many men were crowded there, mostly big men,
clothed IN coarse wool en- trousers, beted at the
waist and sleeveless undershrts open at the throat
exposing broad, hairy chests the hard knotted
muscles buged through the flesh; the skin their
drawn tight across the cheek bones from lifting and
straining at heavy weights. They were hard-faced
browning glittcry-eyed men, who talked in short
syIlables colored with hard. explosive oaths.
AS the unexpected bulk OF Mike showed through
the low doorway the ioud-voiced talk suddenly
silenced and the men glared at him, raising on toes,
muscles tense waiting for the first move.
Mstaking the ominous silence for fear or friend
softly "Give-a da whiskey, pease?"
The short. buetheaded man back of the bar
watched HIM closely as he set out brown bottle and
was there as Mike filled and raised his glass
As his lips touched the liquor the door was
slammed shut. the glass knocked from his hand
and he staggered sidewise from blow the neck
Before he could recover himself they upon him
. Two OF them he caught in his great hands and
many for him fierce brutal lighters they swarmed
over him like pack of wolves battered and bore
him to the floor amid the wreck Of the bar and
He fell fighting his back against the overturned
bar A hoarse voice called a harsh command and
tine man cnging to his throat loosened his hold and
was dragged back At the same time boot-hcel
raked Mikes forehead, sending the blood streaming
into his eyes Pulling his head forward to avoid the
next kick, he jerked his right arm free and slid his
hand down inside his wide old-country belt His
hand came out with upward twist, and the man
on his waist, striking him foul groaned and rolled
Again he lodged the boot-heel, at the same tms
fraklne upward with his hand. scream of agon,
on the floor, trying to close with his hands the
gaping knife-wound.
Sashing right and LETT Mike regained his fee
roaring for vengeance The lust Of the killer wal
upon him, he lunged at the lodging Farley missed
and went crashing through the Ansy door into th1
street
On the sidewalk he paused to wipe his eyes ciex
and looked wildly about him. From the saloon CANT
cries. curses and eroans; bullet whizzed close Il
his head, another scored red streak across his
throat, and he began running toward the canal
Children scattered and bawled, women screamed
dogs howled and followed, swapping and barking al
his heels, OF these things he took no heed His ons
thought was to run, to get away far as possible
from what he had done, and. as he ran he sobbed
and cried, calling on the Virgin to help him.
Behind him the sound OF pursuers sweed and
grew into the sury of mob tirsting for blood
Timothy O'Rourke newly appointed policeman,
respondent in uniform and brass buttons his
soul burning for an opportunity to achieve a reputa-
ton, was standing at the far end of the canal bridge
when he saw Mike Drawing his pistol. he stepped
behind truss beam and waited
AS the big Italian reached the bridge, O'Rourke
stepped out and commanded him to stop. Mike did
not seem to hear, but, knife in hand, blood
spattered, he rushed straight on.
Suddenly. near the centre of the bridge he
stopped. and flung out his arm, sending the knife
spinning. One hand clutched his breast the other
was extended pleading toward O'Rourke's smoking
pistol.