The Monte Vista journal., 1915-06-19

had promised that they would find the
food there which they were entitled
to, instead OF which-this mess.
Before he had time to even talk the
| situation over, to reach any conclu-
! sion. burly form hurtled in the door
way, followed by another. another
| and then another. Monroe met the
startled, iucredulous eyes Of the work
men. Then he lowered his own.
Well, I'm damn"
| He lifted his head quickly at the
threat in the angry voice. II the men
were in this mood already. then. under
full Roadway, there was no telling to
what extent their rage would take
them He lifted his hand. his power
full shoulders lunged forward.
Men. I'm sorry he said, simply.
You know | sent the superintendent
to town to remedy this condition. I'm
going to the phone now and see what
can be done
! The growl that went up showed that
his declaration had far from notified.
| He flushed darkly, his iron jaw creep
ing out.
It's the first time I've ever had to
| apologize to you men," he snapped.
I'm going to do my best for
you now. l said I'm sorry and I'll
phone the city Immediately. Now.
! you can take It or get your time.
! That's all"
Without side glance he shouldered
his way through and stamped angrily
into the office, snatching the receiver
from the hook. Swiftly he clicked, his
powerful finger gripping and I'M
| gripping over the little bit Of iron that
! spelled so much to him. A step sound
ed from the door He turned to meet
the eyes OF his foreman, then shrugged
his shoulders.
The phone won't work" he an
nounced. slowly putting the receiver
back in place.
Pat Grady did not answer. For just
a moment the two men stared at one
another. Then Grady quietly put his
shoulder against big cupboard at
one side the room and hauled 1t be-
fore the window, 30 that just a mere
slant Of light showed through.
Bolt the door double. boss" he
said softly. THE DEVILS In those men
at the best. But he's got 80 much
room to locate in their stomachs this
day, I'm thinking we'll have q bit Of
scrimmage."
| Monroe stared at him irresolutely a
second, then moved decisively to tho
door Outside the men waited eagerly.
their brows still lowering their faces
dark and sullen. yet expectant
Men, cried the oil king. 4 slight
tremor in his voice despite the effort
made at control. 1--we just tried the
phone and It's out Of or"
A hoarse laugh that had nothing Of
mirth in 1t halted him. Then he
| leaped back into the office, hurriedly
tossing the bolts into place, as the
laugh grew into a roar, a roar Of such
menace as even he had never heard
before. A roar and then a wild, In
sane rush forward.
Came the crack Of a revolver. He
shuddered at the sound. Never be-
fore had he heard the sound OF gun
in fields within his dominion He
,
chuckling silently to himself, as he
squinted through the aperture beside
the cupboard which concealed the win
dow. his right hand firmly gripping
! the revolver he had found in Payne's
room-Payne, whose delinquence was
the cause OF all this.
~.
Brown Joe laughed aloud as he
stuck the pliers in the waistband OF
( his trousers and clambered laborious-
( ly down the telegraph pole. Above
him dangled the wires to the city, the
wires along which the message of
Monroe was futilely seeking way.
He had seen his opportunity for re-
venge when. peering furtively through
the mess hall window he saw there
was no chance for the promised sup
per.
! Quick thinking had 1t been that led
him to the phone wires. thinking In
spired within his cunning brain by the
master OF evil himself. And now he
would go back and complete the work.
AS he rushed toward the group
about the office door he caught the
laugh that greeted Monroes an
nouncement OF his inability to get Los
Angeles on the wire. He knew that
laugh might be turned in either d.
rection. He took II up instantly,
I wild veil NJ hatrad opd ,oR,p,o h,r,,