The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-07-16
Chapter XXXIX.
In the Mines.

in going from one mining camp to
another getting work, starting agita-
tion, and being fired discharged, b,
They managed to do just work enough
to keep themselves supplied with food
and shelter while they preached the
doctrine of industrial solidarity to the
workers in various mining camps. One
of their first stops was at Wardner
of "bull pen fame Here Collins, who
was among other things an experienced
miner, got work under ground with
Jack for a helper.
As was their custom they immediate
ly began to talk the need Of organ
ization to their fellow workers, with
the expected result that they were
summarily discharged.
From Wardner they went to Kellogg,
near by town Of equally odOriferous
reputation. News of their coming
had evidently preceded them, for
I when they applied at the superintend
ent's office for work, he told them
curtly that their kind was not wanted
in Kellog, and he advised them, "to
beat it, and beat it fast He inform
ed them that there had been enough
discomfort sown among the workers,
and that he for one. would
see to it that no anarchists and trouble
makers came to, or remained in the
camp. "The employers are the best
friends the laboring man has" the
mine chief roared 81 believe in
American freedom; in the personal
liberty of every man to choose the
condition under which he will work,
SO take warning and get out. -
While the superintendent spoke, Col
Inns looked at him with a CLINT Of
malice in his steel grey eyes 1t was
evident that mere words would not
frighten the big man, for he made
no reply to the superntent's implied
threats but simply advised him to take
swift passage to lower region ana
higher temperature After leaving
the superintent S office the two went
to a hotel where they rested until the
evening.
At seven thirty they picked up a
box in an alley, and setting it up in
front of a boarding house, Collins be-
gan to talk to a group of miners who
were cOngregated on the porch. They
did not succeed in getting very much
of a crowd, for the well known reason
that every man with a cent S worth
of manhood, and intelligence above
that of Digger Indian had been run
out OF the district by the militia and
the Pinkerton thugs during the strike
of 1903. The men who worked there
now, were nearly all "Missourians, "
that is to say, hopelessly scabby and
ignorant lot. AT least that is what the
word MissOurian signified to the few
intelligent miners who were still there
working on private prospects.
While a few men stayed and listen,
ed to what Collins had to say others
went away to tell their boss that there
were couple of agitators in town, q
thing that could not then, or cannot
now be tolerated in either Kellogg or
Wardner.
lust as Collins was warming up to
lis subject, and Jack had unpacked a
bunch of international Socialist Re.
views six men drove up with ear
and invited them to take ride, max.
ing their invitation urgent by the
use of couple of full grown revolvers.
Jack looked at the small crowd of
miners to whom his partner had been
speaking, but they showed as little
concern for what might happen 20
them, as if they were group of
female moose watching a battle of
bucks for the right of herd suprem.
acy
1t surely looked to the boy as if they
were hopelessly out numbered and that
to resist would be useless But Collins
took an entirely different view of the
matter. care you officers?" he asked
! the men in the machine.
"Tt is none of your damned business
what we are, said one of their
number, square faced red headed,
plug ugly, as he jumped out of the ear
and came toward them, as if to take
them by force.
"We are here to enforce law and
order, and to do it either by stringing
you up or running YOU ont of town. We
have not decided what we will do,
explained another, who was now hold.
ing gun near the big man 5 stomach.
"Wcll," answered Collins coldly,
off we are to die, one place is as good
as the other, and YOU will be as good
company in hell as any I know" So
saying from his vantage point on his
soap box, he kicked the fellow who
had him covered with the gun under
the chin, while initiating his companion
Jack, kicked the one who covered him
in an even more sensitive part Of his
anatomy, causing his adversary to
fling up his hands, thereby looSng his
weapon, which Jack caught as il flew
out of the gun man s hand. Quick as n
flash he fired n shot into the rear
tire Of the machine and before the
| other gunner realized what had hap.
pened, both he and Collins had darted
into an alley and running over a mine
dump, they entered the woods, dodging
several bullets fired after them by the
men who had been in the ear, but who
now gave chase on foot.
I When the two had reached the woods
Collins hurriedly told Jack that the
best thing they could do would be to
climb one Of the second growth frs
and hide among the branches. This
they did as soon IA they had suf.
ficiently outdistaneed their pursuers.
This did not take them long for both
were in splendid physical condition and
the approaching darkness was friendly
to them. In less than ten minutes after
they had left the box they were up
among the evergreen branches of the
trees. while their pursuers nassej nj.