Alma record., 1916-11-30

honesty. They willingly showed him
their quartz samples and retailed the
hardsbips they had suffered.
Gray listened impatiently and once
or twice undertook 10 interpolate some
question. but az glance from his
chief he desisted Nevertheless his
long fingers itched 10 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 full belief In
their words
Now that the news is out and my
men are determined to quit ! want ev-
erybody 10 have an equal chance"
O'Neil announced as they rose 10 go.
There's bound 10 be "A 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 ana Baker agreed and depart
ed. AS the door closed behind them
Gray exploded but Murray checked
him quickly, saying with an abrupt
change OF mSaner: Watt Those fell
lows are lyingr'
Selling the telephone, he rang up
Dan Appleton and swiftly made known
the situation. Stanley could hear the
engineers startled exclamation.
Get the cable 10 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, IL
so. who they are and what they've
been doing lately. Get ii quick. under.
stand. Then phone me. lie slammed
the receiver upon its hook That's
not Alaskan quartz, he 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
81 don't know But we've got rock
men on this job who'll recognize ore
out of any mine they ever worked IN.
Go find them. then come back here and
hold the line open for Dan
suppose he can't locate these fel-
lows I'm CortcZt'
Then Lets NOT think about that.
The news OF O'Neils attitude spread
quickly. and excitement grew among
the workmcn 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
boistcrous good humor
These men. be il said. were not those
who had struck earlier in the season
at the behest of Gordon's enlssary.
Linn. but fellows whose loyalty and
industry were unquestloned. Their re
fusal 10 stampede at the first news was
proof Of their devotion. Yet any one
who has lived in 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'Nen
appeared the low rooted messhouse
was crowded
Natalie and Eliza knowing the i'm
portance Of this crisis. refused 10 20
home and begged Murray 10 let them
attend the meeting Mr. Blaine. who
also felt the 6eenest concern in the
outcome offered 10 escort them. and
at last with some difficulty he man
aged 10 wedge them inside the door
where they apprehensivcly scanned the
gathering
Murray had no skill as public
speaker In the ordinary sense: he at
tempted no oratorical tricks and ad-
dressed bis workmen in "A matter OF
fact tone
Boys" he began. there has been a
gold strike az the head OF the White
river and You want 10 20. don't
blame you. ia ike to 20 myself If
there's any chance TO make money.
You're all right. boss" shouted some
one. and general laugh atteSted the
crowds relief at this acceptance OF the
inevitable. They had expected argu
ment. despite the contrary assurances
they had received.
Now we all want an even break
We want TO know all there is TO know
so that few fellows won't have the
advantage OF the rest The strike is
800 miles away It's winter and-you
know what that means. | talked with
Baker AMI Thorn this afternoon
want them 10 tell you just what they
told me.