Evening star., 1923-12-16

a story with fairies in 1
nowadays is very different from th'
jolly sort of the times when fairie!
had everything their own way. Yor
see, fairies, though you may not know
it, do their wonders through the
hearts OF people, and 1 don't know
why it is. but the hearts Of people
have hardened to such an extent OF
recent years that fairies absolutely
can't do anything with them. Abso-
lutely not a thing.
But there still are fairies. and il
they can get into a heart where they
can operate-well, listen.
The Fairy Queen was away having
her wings ironed, and an elderly fairy
with a grim, sharp look was taking
her place and giving out the orders
Henry. Bassett,'' said the elderly
fairy to a new small fairy with a
rosy mouth. Henry Bassett for you,
OFF you go"'
Henry Bassett!'' cried the new
small fairy. Henry Bass! But
tcrcups and bulls eyes!'
No swearing. please" said the
elderly fairy very sharply.
So off the staggered little fairy
went to see about 1t.
At five minutes past or an after
noon very shortly afterward the eN-
press from London was awaited at
Tidborough station by a. great crowd
OF the kind called IAN ugly crowd,
sullen, sinister, threatening, 1t emit
10
meath it's own pressure, a hostile and
4 deep murmuring that swelled to the
station roof and there reveroerated
as mutters distant thunder. A fort
night before, similarly assembled. IT
would have temporized the violent
strength that manifestly lay within
Il by coarse chaff and banter, and
by CHEEKY hailings, one to another.
But not now. Bassett's strikers were
past that stage. They were hungry.
At the outset of the strike they had
been noisy; they paraded the streets
and sang songs; and. touching the
matter of food, joked OF frightening
YOUR belt up a couple OF holes Now
they were no longer noisy. They
stood silently about the bakers shops,
and the bakers were anxious and
asked for and got police.
The strikers had been genial. then
iovial, then irritable. then angfy.
They were now ferocious, and the
immediate object OF their ferocity was
approaching them, assembled at the
station, in the 4:05 pm. from Lon
don: Tug Sanders ''the strike
breaker"
Reading OF the prolonged strike at
Bassetts paper mills Tidborough.
Mr. Tug Sanders had communicated
with Mr.. Henry Bassett. their pro-
prietor. Henry Bassett, stubborn.
determined knowing public opinion
m Tidboroueh unanimously against
him and steeled by that knowl edge.
had replied to Nj. Tug Sanders COM
munication. Mr. Sanders had tri-
Imphantly announced to the press
that he was proceeding to Tidbor-
ough with a view to arranging to
break the strike at Bassett's paper
mills; and the employees of Bassetts
paper mills were assembled at It'd
borough station with view TO
breaking the neck of Mr.. Tug Sand
ers and kicking his remains across
the market place.
She's signaled, A sharper note
ran through the murmur Of the
crowd.
Here she comes.
EAR up the line. superbiy round the
bend, gloriously down the straight
with roaring brakes and. DINING
valves, the 4:05 came on Tidborough.
Immediately the mass upon the
platform convulsed, in mighty surg
ings, shouting, fist-tossing, upon the
train.
Threatening faces pressed against
the windows and surged along them.
''where is he?'
Throw him out! Throw him out"
I'VE want Tug Sanders"'
And suddenly there was taken up
by every voice crashing chant.
We want Tug Sanders"
I'VE want Tug Sanders"
The crowded masses trod out the
measure with hobnailed boots crash
ing in unison with vibrant throats.
ant-Tug-Sanders"
Observation-Disclosures"
1t was rather frightening to hear.
Mr.. Tug Sanders heard it. At the
junction forty miles up the line there
had been handed to him a telegram
from the Tidborough superintendent
OF police:
VERY hostile crowd assembled at
station.
"You are advised to leave train by
upside door,"
The 4:o5 Vas not come to complete
stop before the famous strike-breaker
was nimbly out of the further door
Of his compartment and fleeting across
the rails.
Tho :05 drew out. Very quickly
tho platform cleared. The mob took
counsel with itself, and presently an
nounced it's Judgment In loud shouts
of ITO the Old Mans! To the Old
Mans" At 6 o'clock the Old Man
Mr.. Bassett-was to receive a deputa-
ton. Any hopes concerning 1t had
been dissolved when II became known
that he would first receive Mr.. Tug
Sanders, and the famous strike
breaker. 1t was now rumored. had ar
rived. given them the slip. and was
we'll on his way to the Old Mans
house.
Tho strikers shambled into a march
ing formation and moved away,
silent, dangerous.
The 4:05.> when it drew out, left
upon the platform a little girl. Her
hair was bobbed, her face was pale,
her eyes We're large. She carried a
large satchel; and she stood there.
Inn oeil, L..