Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-20

"Hn:;1tiv En; IT'S q = fight se meanT'
The Irishman leered at him cum
ningly.
that stuf-puttin' you wit the right
on yer side. We're aftber sheddin' no
blood here, Misther Nichols. We're on
this Job for peace an justice fer ALL"
Then you're afraid to fight7"
No. But I'm not a-goin' To-"
mot If I tell you you're q sneak.
liar and a coward"
Flynn's jaw worked and his glance
pnssed from Jacobi to Wells.
"I'll make ye eat them names back
wards one day, Misther Nichols, but
not now. I'm here for bigger cause.
Stand away from the door"
I'm moment. But first let me tell
you this, and Shad Wells, too.
You're going out of this door and
out, Of this camp-all three Of you.
And II any one of you shows himself
inside the limits of this property he'll
have to ia Ike the consequences.
.Meanin' what?' asked Wells.
Meaning me-" said Peter, "and
after me, the law. Now CO."
He stood aside and swung the door
open with one hand, but he didn't take
They laughed In his face. but they
obeyed him, filing out into the open,
and strolled away.
Peter had hoped to coax a fight out
OF Flynn, thinking that the Irish blood
In him couldn't resist his taunts and
challenge. But Flynn had been too
clever for him. A defeat for Flynn
meant loss Of prestige, victory pos
sible prosecution. Either way he had
nothing to gain. Perhaps he was just a
coward like Jacobi or q beaten bully
like Shad. Whatever he was Flynn
seemed very sure of himself and Peter,
though apparently master Of the situa.
of sense Of defeat.
But he breathed more freely now that
he had made his decision with regard to
Shad Wells. He spent a large part
OF the morning going over the mills.
getting tho men together and giving
them little talk, then went up to the
camp In search of Jesse Brown. The
news Of his encounter with Shad and
the Reds had preceded him and he
saw that trouble was brewing. Jesse
Brown wagged his head in deprecat-
ing way and tried to sidestep the entire
situation. But Peter had reached
point where he was tired of equivoca-
ton.
II say, jesse" he said at last,
you've let things get into pretty
bad mess down here"
I'm peaceable man, Mr.. Nichols"
said Jesse. I've tried to steer this
camp along easy-like. til this bit of
woods is cleared up, and here you go
stirrin' up a hornets nest about our
ears"
Peter frowned. "You know as we'll
as do that the men are doing just
as they please. At the rate they re
going they wouldn't have this section
finished by Christmas. I'm paying
them, for work they don't do. and
you know it. I put you in here to
ing for. You haven't done it..
I've done the best l could" NUT
tered Jesse.
That isn't the best I want. You
knew Flynn and jacob We're back in
camp yesterday. Why didn't you tell
II can't do nothin'. They've got
friends here"
And haven't you got friends here.
too? sent those men out Of camp.
If they're here again I'll find the
power to arrest them"
"Why2"
They're stronger than you think"
III take my chances on that. But
l want to know where you stand. Are
you with me or against me?"
"Well,' said Jesse, rubbing his head
obviously, "I'l do what can"
'All right. Well make q fresh start.
Round up all hands. I'm going to talk
to them at dinner time"
Jesse glanced at him. shrugged and
went out, and Peter went into the
office, where he spent the intervening
time going over the books. 1t was
there that one of the clerks. a man
named Briefly, brought forth from the
drawer of his desk a small pamphlet
the bunk house. Peter opened and
read it.
1t was a copy Of the new manifest Of
the Union of Russian Workers and |
though written in English, gave every
mark of origin in the Lenin -Trotzky
regime and was cleverly written In
catch phrases meant to trap the ignor-
ant. 1t proposed to destroy the
churches and erect in their stead places
Of amusement for the working people.
He read at random. Beyond the blood
covered barricades, beyond all terrors
of civil war, there already shines for US
The magnificent, beautiful form of man.
without n God. without q master, and
'ull of authority" Fine doctrine this
The pamphlet derided the law and the
state, and urged the complete destruc-
lion Of private ownership. 1t predicted
he coming of the revolution in a few
weeks, naming the day, Of a general
strike of all industries which would
)aralyze all the functions of commerce.
= II IL L. noln L.
Inspiration and it opened Peters eyes
he black mustache. Briefly also told
lin that whisky had been smuggled into
he camp the night before and that
ire in the woods had luckily been put
,ut before it had become menacing.
Briefly was a discharged soldier who
lad learned something Of the value of
obedience and made no effort to con-
zeal his anxiety and his sympathies. He
yoiced the opinion that either Flynn or
Iacobi had brought In the liquor. Peter
rowned. Jesse Brown had said moth
ng of this. The inference was obvious.
At the dinner shed. Peter was to be
made aware Immediately OF the diff
ulty Of the task that confronted him,
or dour looks met him on all sides.
There were few men who sat near
i'm whom he thought he might count
N at n venture, but they were very few
nd their positions difficult Some of
hem still showed the effects OF their
rink and hurled epithets about the
DOM, obviously meant for Peters ear,
ut he sat through the meal patiently
nd then got to his feet and demanded
heir attention.
As he began he was interrupted by
oots and cat calls but he waited calm
L. Ill nxal ..nninn tLnt iLnI.