Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-19
By
REX
BEACH


lost. but the cataract isn't frozen over
and there's only one sled trail past it
We don't need more than six good men
to do the trick
I'VE can't stop a stampede that
way"
DR.. Gray's face fell into harsh lines.
I'm bend Winchester over the first
man who tries TO pass. Appleton held
the place last summer: I'll guarantee
to do it now"
mo. The men have a right to quit.
Stanley. We can't force them to work.
We can't build this bridge with a chain
gang
"Humph. I can beat up these two
prospectOrs and ship 'em In to the hos
pital until things cool down.
That won't do. either. I'll talk with
them and if their story is right-wen,
I'll throw open the commissary and
outfit every one
Eliza gasped: Gray stammered.
You're crazy" exclaimed the doctor.
IF it's a real stampede they'll go
anyhow, so we may as we'll take our
medicine with a good grace. The loss
of even a hundred men would Grip
pie u.s.
The camp is seething, It's all Mel
len can do to keep the day shift at
work. II you talk to 'em maybe they'll
listen TO you
Argument won't sway them. This
isn't a strike; it's a gold rush" He
turned toward the town.
Eliza was speechless with dismay as
she hurried along beside him: Gray was
scowling darkly and muttering anathe-
mas: ONeil himself was lost in
thought. The gravity of this final ca
tsstrophe left nothing to be said
Stanley lost little time in bringing
the two miners to the office, and there
for a half hour Murray talked with
them. When they perceived that ne
was disposed to treat them courteous
~ they told their story in detail and
answered his questions with apparent
honesty. They willingly showed him
their quartz samples and retailed the
hardships they had suffered.
Gray listened impatiently and once
or twice undertook TO interpolate some
question. but at a glance from his
chief he desisted. Nevert heleSs his
long fingers itched to lay hold of the
strangers and put an end to this tale
which threatened ruin. His anger
grew when Murray dismissed them
with every evidence Of a full belief in
their words.
Now that the news is out and my
men are determined TO quit want ev-
erybody to have an equal chance"
O'Neil announced as they rose TO go.
There's bound 70 he great rush and
lot of suffering. maybe some deaths.
so I'm going to call the boys together
and have you talk to them
Thorn and Baker agreed and depart
ed As the door closed behind them
Gray exploded. but Murray checked
him quickly. saying with an abrupt
change of manner: Wait! Those fell
lows are lying
Selling the telephone. he rang up
Dan Appleton and swiftly made known
the situation. Stanley could hear the
engineers startled exclamation.
Get the cable to Cortez as quickly
as you can" O'Neil was saying. You
have friends there. haven't you? Good.
He's just the man. for he'll have Cor
don's payroll Find out if Joe Thorn
and Henry Baker are known and. if
so, who they are and what they've
been doing lately. Get ii quick, under
stand. Then phone me" He slammed
the receiver upon its hook. That's
not Alaskan quartz" be said shortly.
1T came from Nevada, or I'm greatly
mistaken. Every hard rock miner car
ries specimens like those in his kit
You think Gordon
Il don't know. But we've got rock
men on this job who'll recognize ore
out of any mine they ever worked Ia.
Go find them, then come back here and
hold the line open for Dan
Suppose he can't locate these fell
lows in Cortez?'
Then Let's not think about that"
The news Of O'Neil's attitude spread
quickly. and excitement grew among
the workmen. Up through the chill
darkness of early evening they came
charging They were noisy and eager.
and when the gong summoned them to
supper they rushed the messhouse in
boisterous good humor-
These men. be IL said. were not those
who had struck earlier in the season
at the behest of Gordon's emissary.
Linn, but fellows whose loyalty and
industry were unquestioned. Their re-
fusal TO stampede Mt the first news was
proof OF their devotion. yet any one
who has lived In a mining community
knows that no loyalty of employee to
employer is strong enough to with
stand for long the feverish excitement
OF gold rush.
Long before the hour when O'Neil
appeared the low rooted messhouse
was crowded.
Natalie and Eliza, knowing the i'm
pOrtance OF this crisis, refused to go
home and begged Murray to let them
attend the meeting. Mr.. Blaine, who
also felt the keenest concern IN the
outcome. offered to escort them. and
at last with some difficulty he man