The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-31

| ton must he improved and that immed-
| lately. If only he could gain little
| time.
| As the whistle summoned the men
| from their work he waited for them in
the shack. watching them being seated
at the long ia bile. noting the furrowed
| hroWs. the somper eyes. the significance
| Of their steady scrutiny of Brown Joe.
seated next himself. That there was
something afoot he could not doubt.
What that something was he had no
means of knowing or guarding against.
| Tat Grady at the opposite side of the
! able wInked significantly as he caught
his eye. winked and then resumed his
steady glare AT Brown Joe.
The cook entered. heavily laden with
a couple Of stesming plates. There was
something savoTy looking about that
steam. but the look was diSpeled Amos [
instantly ny the rancid odOr that per-
"olated through it. As that smell sfted
through tn. room there came no answer
ing sign of Indignation from the men.
Only their eyes glowed bit more an
grill, and the frightened lips of them dug
little burrows that spclt danger down
the sides of their faces Payne followed
the direction of their silent steady gaze
and Shivered bit. despite himself. as
he caught the sneering, venomous express
sion on the face of Brown Joe-Brown Joe
to whom they ali evidently looked 10 as
their leader?
None Of the customary rattle Of plates
and cutlery. the harsh crunching of teeth
in mastication; none of the signs and
srunts Of voracious men piling into the
fuel that would replenish the heavy fires
that must need keep burning within them
to keep the furnace going for the days
work: none of the satisfaction of men
well fed: nothing but a steady. menacing
silence. silence that got upon his nerves
and made him want to grapple with the
, situation he felt was inevitably upon
him.
As the cook placed a steaminE plate
before Brown Joe. the young superln-
tendent strained forward. every muscle
ieNed to anticipate the trouble he
knew instinctiveIy had reached a
crisis But even as his fists balled.
even as a horse cry of rage broke
from Pat Grady's throat. the swarthy.
evil-eyed fellow looked at the unsav-
ory mess before him. lifted the plate
as though TO sniff its contents. then
hurled it squarely in the cooks face.
As the fellow staggered back. dig
ping wildly AT eyes and ears and nose
to wipe the stuff away. Brown Joe
Iuneed forward. But not so quickly
swing of the foreman Grady. quick
to take advantage of the mans stag
ger back was instantly upon him.
For second Payne felt himself
glued To the spot, unable to gasp the
fun significance of what had hap
pened AS he threw himself beside
his foreman. swinging with both fists.
the men lunged forward en- masse. In
= second the mess hall was a sham
bles chairs. dishes. tables were hurl-
ed aside like strawS before the brutal
ferocity Of the enraged crew. Wild
with the delight of combat. Grady
followed up his advantage. inflicting
fearful punishment upon Brown Joe.
regardless of the fact that he was
getting into the open. where the fell
lows supporters would make easy
work of him.
Slipping upon the messes of food.
stumbling over the wreck of the hall,
they threw themselves upon him.
swallowing him up as in a whirlpool.
Payne tried to fight his way through
that jam only finding each effort sent
him further away. There was muir
derous note in the hoarse gutterals of
the men.
CONTINUED TOMORROW