The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-03-10

into the air, over the lumber yard,
and on toward the city.
It was time for quick action, and
Hurd was equal to the emergency.
With a new strength born of his mo-
mentary respite. Karl gathered him
self together for spring. and muir
muring q prayer for safety. he hurled
himself fiercely from the swiftly
moving trolley and landed on top of
a towering lumber pile. AS he lay
winded and painting on top of the
rude skyscraper, he saw Jake car
ried swiftly past him on the dashing
trolley, shaking his fist at his escaped
quarry in impotent rage.
Slowly, his fingers gripping des-
perately at the projecting boards. his
feet unsteady and his head swim
ming. Hurd climbed down the side
of the lumber pile that had been his
temporary haven. It seemed ages
before he reached the ground.
And then he came face to face with
Snyder.
Like wild beasts the men glared at
each other
Slowly, cautiously they approached.
Snyder's attitude was eager, expect
ant, Hurd's was desperate. Snyder
swung his rude weapon easily, hold.
ing it ready. Hurd's fists were
doubled. The two men closed.
Snyder, his intended blow blocked
for the moment, found himself borne
backward by the fierce rush Of the
other He struggled with determine
ton worthy OF a better cause. And
his superior strength soon told.
Straining and painting he slowly
forced Hurd to release his grip, and
showing his opponent from him, he
suddenly, with the swiftness of man
trained to such warfare, raised his
club and sent it crashing down upon
the skull of the underfed and poorly
nourished stevedore.
Hurd dropped like a stone. He was
done.
"Wait until my birthday, Perry-it's
only four months-and then per
haps-"
Laura Powers had gently withdrawn
her soft white hand from the more
masculine ones Of Perry Travis and
had gazed dreamily out across the
we'll trimmed lawns and beautiful gar.
dens>
She was happy and pampered and
INDUCED She had reveled in father
love-a love that amounted almost to
worship. And now she knew that she
had gained another mans love - the
love of a man who was worthy and
had her fathers approval.
Small wonder that the days had
flown swiftly. Small wonder that time
had taken unto itself wings. And now
her birthday was here. Already the
guests we're assembling. Already Per
ry was at the house, eager and impa
tient for his answer. And even yet
Laura sometimes wondered just what
that answer would be.
And Laura, while entering into the
gayety about her. yet found her mind
frequently wandering away from her
surroundings; found herself constant
ly trying to concentrate on the answer
she was so soon to give Perry.
And then he came to greet her. Long
and fondly he gazed into her eyes and
unconscious of her surroundings she
let him hold her hand longer than
was strictly necessary.
Quietly her father stepped up to
where they stood.
Friends" he said, II wish to an.
nounce the engagement of my daugh.
ter Laura to Perry Travis"
The confused laugh and the pretty
bushes that mantled her cheek, chas.
ing themselves in telltale profusion up
to the very roots of her wavy hair,
we're enough to tell those present that
her fathers words had not displeased
her. Perry had his answer.
Just then, as If the fates were 10th
that happiness should reign supreme,
there came an interruption. While the
guests were crowding up and about
Laura, the women kissing her and the
men showering congratulations upon
her, the servants were trying to keep
committee of workmen from enter.
ing at the gate.
Tim Shand was at their head-Tim
the fiery-Tim the eloquent. For
weeks now the men had been on
strike. For weeks there had been tur.
MOL and strife. For weeks there had
been starvation in the homes of the
strikers and restitution among the
children of the workingmen. Ever
since the trouble between Snyder and
Hurd the discomfort of the men had
grown. And then had come the last
straw-the order given by Powers and
enforced by Snyder-an order, work.
ing the men an hour longer each day
and all day Sunday without extra pay.
Even Snyder, tyrannical as he was
known to be, had protested slightly
at the latest outrage.
''The men1l never stand It," he had
said.
Times are hard and 1t must be
DONE" Powers had answered.
8 1.-THE men will strike" Snyder had
ventured.
"Then we will get Others" the mil.
lionaire had answered.
And so, going from group to group,
Snyder had driven them harder, had
shouted the new orders at them, had
sought to coerce them into submission
by volley Of filthy oaths.
Even the worm will turn, they say,
and hungry, underpaid stevedores are
less patient than the earth,grubbing
insect. There were murmurs at Sny-
der's orders and open rebellion at his
language. Just how 1t started nobody