The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-10-06

keep 9 cat alive. but at that be pushed
bis chair back and reached for his
hat
~Come on Jimmie" he snapped
We've got 20 get busy. And there
isn't going 20 be any receiYership."
We reached the railroad headquar-
ters-which were as dead and quiet as
a graveynrd-a little before Mr.. Rip
ley and Bllloughby got down. But
Mr. Editor Cantrell Was there, waiting
20 shoot an anxious question al the
boss.
"well. Soreross, are you ready to
talk nowr'
mot Just yet; tomorrow. maybe"
was the good-natured reJoinder.
IAN right; then perhaps you viii
tell me this DO you. yourself. believe
that four or i've thousand railroad
men have gone on strike out Of sheer
sympathy for few hundred q. 5.
a w. employees, most Of whom are
merely common lAborersf Can you
look me Ia the eye and tell me that
you haven't fomented this eruption on
the quiet to get the better Of the Red
Tower crowd In some wsyT de-
manded the editor.
Il can, indeed" was the smiling an
swer.
Cantrell looked as II he didn't more
than half believe H.
Being a newspaper man, I'm nat
urally suspicious" he put In. There
are big doings down underneath all
this that / can smell. but can't dig
up. Everything about this strike is too
blamed good-natured. I've talked with
half a dozen of the leaders. and with
any number OF the rank and file. They
all grin and give me the wink as II
It were the best joke that was ever
pulled on"
Again Mr.. Norcross smiled hand
somely 'If you push me 20 It, Can't
rell, may say that this is exactly
their attitude toward ew
WELL" said the editor, getting up
TO go; '1t's doing one thing to you,
good and proper Your railroad stock
is tumbling downstairs so fast that II |
can't keep up with itself"
II hope II will tumble still MORE"
said the boss ples gantly. with another
sort Of enigmatle smile; and with that
Mr. Cantrell had to be content.
AS the editor went out, Fred May |
brought in the bunch OF forenoon tele-
grams and laid them on the desk. They |
were quickly glanced at and tossed
over 10 me as fast as they were read.
Most of them were plaintive little yips |
from strike-stricken lot OF people |
along the Short Line who seemed to |
think that the world had come 10 an |
end but there were three bearing the !
New York date line and signed Dun /
ton" The earliest had been sent short
ly after tire opening OF the Stock er-
change, and II ran thus:
Morning papers announce strike
and complete ue-up on p. 5. L. Why
no report from you of labor troubles
threatening1 Compromise at any cost
and wire emphatic denial Of strike.
Answer quick"
The second OF the series had been
filed for transmission an hour later
and II was still more saw-toothed.
Later reports confirm newspaper
story. Your failure to compromise In
stantly with employees will break
stock market and subject you TO in
yestigation for criminal incompetency.
Answer"
The third message had been sent
still later.
"Your continued silence Is inercus-
able II no favorable report from you
by six O'Clock you may consider your
self discharged from the company's
service and criminal proceedings on
charge OF conspiracy will be instituted
at once"
thought things were beginning to
look pretty serious for us IL Mr. Dun
ton was going TO try 20 drag us into
the courts. but Mr. Norcross was still
smiling when he handed me the last
and latest telegram In the bunch II
was from Mr.. Chadwick. and was good.
laconIc.
ITO @. Norcross. @. NJ,
Portal City.
"Just returned from trip 70 Seattle
What's doing on the Short Linei
Chadwick"
"A couple OF kilograms. Jimmie" said
the chief. as he passed this last wire
over, and got my notebook ready.
ITO b. Dunton. New York Strike is
and not subject 10 com
promise. Mails moving regularly, but
all other traffic suspended indefinitely.
Ny Office closes today, and my resig-
nation, effective al once. goes 20 you
1n Past Mail tonight IA
Snow one 70 Mr.. Chadwick. and you
nay send Il In code" he directed
srisply Then he dictated:
'.see newspapers for account strike.
Hatch and eight Of his associates we're
sHled last night IN railroad wreck. !
Duuton has demanded my resignation
md have gwen a. Have plan for
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