The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-13
CHAPTER XVII.


in agreement. Each was bent upon
saving life. Tommy told Celestia OF
the fighting temper the strikers were
in, and Celestia told Tommy Of Kehr's
preparations for making the defense
Of the stockade a shambles of those
who should attack it. She told him,
too how she had made beginning OF
softened hearts, but seeing that she
had been locked up she feared that
the softened hearts had owned up to-
Kehr and been put where they could
do no mercy.
"But Tommy" she said, they
wouldn't be such fools as to attack In
broad day, would they?"
"They are very strong numerically,
and very weak in the head. Their
cause is just enough, but they always
present 1t to notice in unjust ways.
Their every passion seems to them an
argument. Labor Is its own worst
enemy. What labor needs is friends,
friends Of education and experience,
dispassionate men and women with
no AK to grind. If they succeed In
rushing this stockade and massacring
everybody in 1t, what earthly good
will it do them? None. And they
don't see 1t. They think capital will
be so frightened that it will simply
curl up its toes and yield to their
every demand. Why, Celestia, there
are men in that town SO ignorant
you wouldn't believe 1t! There are
grown men over there who think
that all the forces of American capital
are impounded in this stockade, and
that II these forces are scotched cap
ital will no longer have anyone to-
take up the glove for 1t. Gunsdorfs a.
wise old fellow. But he's not in this
game because he loves labor, but be-
cause he loves Gunsdorf. Carson is.
a Jamaican honest fanatic. Craco-l
WITT is an out-and-out anarchist. It's
a pity, because fundamentally theirs
is the side of justice. / wish | could
hear what they are saying to old man
Kehr I'm afraid it won't be sooth-,
ing interview for anyone
"They came with you?"
Tommy nodded.
81 begged them not to come, but
Gunsdorf would do 1t. think"
"What?"
81 think that If there is an attack
on the stockade Gunsdorf doesn't want
to be mixed up in it-technically.
think he intends to make Kehr so an
cry that Kehr will throw him and his
| companions into the lookup, white
flag and all. Gunsdorf's not return
ing at the given time, eleven o'clock
will be the signal for the attack; and
good Lord how the poor fools will be
slaughtered"
"If you could get to them. and tell
them about Gunsdorf."
"They might not believe me, but
If / could get to them I'd certainly
| try it."
"He has no right to lock US up,
said Celestia. 81 wonder how many
men are guarding this house?'
1t was only a matter of moments to
ascertain that there were only two.
1--WE got an idea," she said, 'but
don't like it. That woman put 1t
into my head"
What woman?
You know"
Mrs. Gunsdorf?"
Celestia nodded.
| "That man out in 'front.'" she said,
'is human being. If he heard a
woman screaming for help, he would
try to help her, wouldn't he?'
Celestial"
"Oh, you mustn't be frightened
said Celestia coldly. You Will be
hiding behind that door. When he
rushes in to save me, you will have to
seize him and keep him quiet until we
can get away. But you mustn't hurt
! him"
Suppose the other sentry comes,
too?"
He won't hear. I'll only scream
in moderation"
Tommy laughed aloud, and Celestia,
forgetting about the Gunsdorf woman,
1
laughed, too.
The sentry who guarded the front
Of the house heard sound of shades
being drawn, and found that tho room
| to the left of the front door. had, as 1t
were, closed its eyes. For a moment
the sentry smiled cynically. Then re-
membering the one glimpse he had
had OF Celestia, and her wonderful
look of candor and innocence, the
smile faded from his face, and its
place was taken by an expression OF
anxiety Just at that moment the
door knob was turned violently this
way and that. and as suddenly was
still again. Then the sentry heard a
voice-a woman's voice-a half
choked voice, full Of fear and horror
that half moaned and half said:
Don't! DON'T"
Then there was sound of heavy