THE LABOR LEADER'S LURE
"WHY, Rush, this is, indeed, a surprise," exclaimed the newcomer, who was none other than the Russian, Cavard. "How are you, Driscold? But I fear I am intruding."
"Not at all. Take a seat. We were discussing matters in which you are interested, I know."
"Well, I'm listening," laughed the Russian. "What is the nature of this interesting discussion?"
"We were talking of improving the condition of the miners by organization. My young friend Rush rather misunderstood the purport of my remarks. I was about to show him wherein he was wrong when you entered."
"Yes; I am in thorough sympathy with organization," nodded the Duke. "It is the one needful thing in the mines here, and it is bound to come at no distant day. I am glad we three are alone here, so we can talk the matter over. You know, most of our men lack the intelligence to appreciate fully the kind of argument we are making."
"Do you mean that the miners in our mines are thinking of organizing?" asked Steve, without appearing to take any great interest in the announcement.
"Well, I might say that such a thing is within the range of possibility."
"Form a union?"
"Oh, yes; that would be the natural result. 'In union there is strength,' you know."
"So I have read," replied the lad, with a faint smile. "Then you are unionizing the mines? Is that it?"
"I should hardly want to go so far as to say that, my dear, young friend," answered the Duke. "But I will say that the men have been considering the matter for some time. I am placing implicit confidence in you. This information is not mine to give at the present moment, so I shall have to ask you to consider all that I may say as being confidential."
Steve did not reply to this directly. He sat thoughtful and silent for a few seconds.
"Are you a union man, Mr. Driscold?" he asked suddenly.
"Mr. Driscold is the president of the Central Iron Miners' Association," said Cavard, speaking for the red-haired man.
"Indeed."
Steve regarded the president curiously.
"Then you represent all of the unions in the country, sir?"
"No; not quite that. I am the state president only. The national body is represented by another man. Then, in case a union is organized here, there will be a local president and other officers, all playing a prominent part in the organization. Believe me, my dear young friend, there is a great chance for bright young men. We want young men to hold our offices, young men of brains, like yourself. It is the history of our organization that such young men, almost from the moment that they assume office in the union, make rapid strides in their work. They are sure to earn rapid promotion. We see to that; we push them along. Why, I know of a young man about your age who, like yourself, was a foreman before joining the union. In less than a year after doing so he was promoted to be a superintendent. That happened right in this state, not more than a hundred miles from where we are sitting at this very moment. Stand by the union, and work for its interests, and you will be well taken care of at all times."
"Who are the gainers by the organization of a union?"
"The rank and file of the men, of course."
"But how are the officers paid? Surely they do not work for nothing."
"They are paid very moderate salaries," Mr. Driscold hastened to explain, after which he returned to his original subject. "Are there any other questions that you would like to ask?"
"Yes; I should like to know how all that you promise is brought about. You say that the men will get better wages and shorter hours. How do you expect to accomplish that?"
"I will explain. I see that you do not understand. That is not surprising, since you have had no experience."
"No, sir; I have not."
"I will be very frank with you. Corporations are grasping. They get all they can out of their men, and when those men are no longer useful to them, they cast the men aside as they would a piece of worn-out machinery. They care nothing for you; they would discharge you to-morrow were it not for the fact that you are useful to them."
"I think you are wrong, sir," retorted Steve sharply. "I have never worked for a corporation before. The corporation I am now working for is interested in me to the same extent that I am interested in my work. I believe all of these great industrial organizations are looking for young men who are in earnest. I believe that they are willing to advance such young men just as fast as they are fitted for advancement.At least I have found that to be so in my own case. Of course we have to work long hours and work hard. But what do you expect? Surely you do not look for pay for doing nothing?"
"No, no; you misunderstand me entirely."
"I beg your pardon. You were starting to tell me how you brought about the conditions you mentioned a few moments ago."
"Yes. In the first place, the corporations like to have their men organized. It makes for better service all around. Well, to proceed, I will explain that, having organized, we should appoint a committee to wait upon the official who is in charge of the mines. This committee would lay before the superintendent, if he were the man called upon, such grievances as we might think existed. There would be a friendly discussion, and he, seeing the wisdom of what our committee demanded, would no doubt grant the request made."
"What if he refused?" interjected Steve.
"I presume it would go before the president of the mining company. At least, we should see that the grievances were carried to him."
"And if he refused to grant your demands, what then?" persisted Steve Rush, his keen eyes fixed upon the red-headed president of the Association.
"Well, we should find a way to compel them to grant our demands," answered Mr. Driscold significantly.
"It seems to come back to the point of throttling a man," said Rush. "I never could become enthusiastic over the profession of highwayman, and it strikes me that this is about what the proposition amounts to."
The Iron Boy was pitting his wits against those of two shrewd and experienced men, who were seeking to lure him on by offering him sugar-coated pills. But Steve Rush knew full well, young as he was in the world's ways, that the inside of the pill was bitter and unpalatable. The lad was holding his own to such an extent that the man Driscold had adopted a sharp, incisive tone at several points in the discussion.
"You are wrong, Rush," interrupted Cavard. "You are altogether wrong."
"Perhaps I am, but I am trying to get to the bottom of the question. You spoke, Mr. Driscold, a moment ago, of finding a way to compel the officials of the company to agree to your demands. How would you go about it?"
The president hesitated a moment before replying.
"Why, our only recourse then—our only remedy, in that event—would be to call a strike."
"Ah!"
The exclamation escaped young Rush almost before he realized it. He bit his lips, and his face flushed slightly.
"And while the strike was on your men and their families would go hungry?"
"Oh, no; we look out for that. We give them money."
"How much?"
"Enough."
"How much?" persisted Steve.
"A few dollars a week, perhaps, so long as the money holds out."
"Who gets the money that the men who join pay in?"
"The dues go to the union, of course. The initiation fee naturally goes to recompense the walking delegate who, you must understand, works without pay."
"It strikes me that he is pretty well paid. I have not had much experience in the world, gentlemen, but I am satisfied that your whole scheme is wrong. It is a hold-up game from start to finish——"
"You're a fool!" exploded Driscold. "You're a——"
"Never mind the trimmings. I may be all you accuse me of, but I pride myself on possessing common sense. That, sometimes, isworth more than knowledge. Mr. Cavard, are you helping to unionize the mines here?"
"Whatever I am doing is done wholly in the interest of the rank and file of the mines," snapped Cavard. "You are making a mistake in antagonizing us in this way. We had hoped that you would see the matter in its true light, and that you might prove a valuable aid to us."
"In what way?" demanded Steve.
"You are popular with the men; you have a great deal of influence with them, even though you are a boy. We had hoped that you might enter into the plan and accept an important office in the union."
"So that's it, eh?"
"That is what we had hoped. Think it over. Say nothing to anyone, but go over the matter carefully, and I am sure you will change your mind. Meet us here to-morrow night at eight o'clock and give us your answer. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose."
"Gentlemen, there is no necessity of waiting until to-morrow night. I can give you my answer now. I want nothing to do with such crooked business as you have proposed to me to-night. I bid you good night, gentlemen."
Steve Rush rose and left the room without another word.
THE GENTLEMAN IN THE WOODPILE
"BOB, I've torn down the woodpile," announced Steve, as he entered their room at the boarding house half an hour later.
"What woodpile?" demanded Jarvis blankly.
"The one we have been guessing about; and I've found the black gentleman who has been in hiding there."
"You don't mean that you have solved the mystery?"
"I have."
"Well, you are a wonder. Tell me about it."
"They are trying to unionize the mines."
"You don't say! Who is trying to do it?"
"Cavard is at the bottom of the whole business, I believe. He has with him the president of the Central Iron Miners' Association and they are putting up this job together, though I believe the Duke is the real man."
"So that's the game, is it?"
"It is."
"How did you chance to learn all this?"
Steve related what had occurred in the reading room of the hotel, telling his companion howhe had been lured to Driscold's room on the pretext of looking over some samples of ore, and where they were soon joined by the Duke.
"What did they want of you?" questioned Jarvis.
"They wanted me to join the union, of course. They wanted me to use my influence with the men, promising me quick promotion if I did join in and help them to organize."
"What did you tell them?"
"I don't remember all I said, but I made it clear that I wanted none of it. I am satisfied that this union business is a delusion and a snare. Mr. Carrhart talked with me quite a little on that subject when he was up here some months ago. He gave me a lot of points about the methods followed by some of these union organizers, and he showed me what miserable things strikes are."
"Yes; I guess they are pretty bad," agreed Jarvis. "I have never seen one."
"And I hope you never will. I don't believe a strike could ever benefit either employé or employer. Don't you get mixed up with them, Bob."
"Not I," answered Jarvis with emphasis. "I'm pretty well satisfied with the way I am being used. I've learned a lot of things in the past year, and most of them I have learned fromyou. I'm very much obliged for the licking you gave me. You hammered some sense into my head and I haven't lost all of it yet. When I do, you may give me another walloping."
"I'm afraid I should not be able to do it now. You have grown since then, Bob."
"So have you."
"Then we are in good shape to thrash somebody else, if the occasion demands, eh?"
"You bet! We'll do that, all right. Do you think there is going to be trouble?"
"I should not be surprised. I do not know, of course, how far this thing has gone, but the organizers have been working for a long time, as you and I both know. I am inclined to believe that the Duke has gotten a strong hold on the men. You observed how our fellows acted after they returned from their outing on Sunday?"
"Yes; I noticed it. They all acted as if they had lost their week's wages. So that's what was going on, eh?"
"Yes; they must have had a meeting out at the lake. I wish I knew whether they have organized or not. I am inclined to believe that they have not, though. But, if not, they are getting perilously close to doing so."
"Should we not tell Mr. Penton?"
"I had thought of that, but we talked thismatter over once before and decided not to do so. He probably knows more about what is going on than we do. However, if we see it is going on to a finish, perhaps it would be our duty to give him a hint of what we know. I dislike to carry tales of any kind. Again, I doubt if this is any of our business. We know what we shall do; we'll fight the proposed union at every opportunity if the men are going to strike. I believe it would be the worst thing that could happen to the men, short of a mine disaster, and the company, to which we owe full allegiance, would suffer greatly."
"What are the men going to do when they become organized?" asked Bob.
"Judging from what the two men said, I should judge they would demand higher wages and shorter hours."
Bob uttered a grunt of disapproval.
"Next thing we know they'll be wanting the bosses to lay them off and pay them double wages while they are off. I never saw anything like the cheek of some people."
"The laboring man is entitled to some consideration," mused Steve. "But there is a limit. We will lie low and attend to our own business until something else develops."
Something did develop later in the week. The word had been passed quietly about that therewas to be a meeting of the miners of the day shift to take up the question of organizing. The meeting was to be held in a bowling alley over the only livery stable in the place. Only those were invited of whom the organizers were sure.
Bob Jarvis got wind of the meeting through overhearing two of the men in his shift discussing it. He told Steve at the first opportunity. The latter thought over the matter all the rest of the day.
"Bob," he said, that night, "I am going to attend that meeting. Will you come along?"
"Where you go, I go," answered Jarvis, laughingly. "But won't they put us out?"
"I guess not. If they do, it won't help their cause any. They will be glad to have us there if they think they can convert us. At least, we shall know what is going on, and we may be able to do something for the company."
"Do what?"
"I don't know. We shall see," Steve replied enigmatically. "Leave it to me. Don't do anything rash, but let me engineer this thing. I may bring trouble down upon my head, but I have an idea."
Bob agreed to "be good." The meeting was scheduled to be held that night, and nine o'clock was the appointed hour.
The boys delayed their walk that evening.They did not leave the house until long after eight o'clock, by which time nearly all the men from the boarding house had dressed themselves in their best and hurried away.
"You see, they are all going to attend the meeting," nodded Rush. "That shows you how far this thing has advanced."
"It certainly looks that way. I didn't think it was anything like this, did you, Steve?"
"No; I did not. We had better be starting now."
On the way the lads were hailed by Mr. Penton.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, lads?" he called.
"We are going out for the evening," answered Steve. "I have been thinking about labor unions to-day, Mr. Penton. Are you opposed to them? Are they a factor for good or otherwise?"
The superintendent laughed.
"Older heads than yours have disagreed on that subject. I hold rather pronounced views. There are unions that are ably managed by upright, intelligent men. Such unions are a good thing. The difficulty is that many others are managed by unscrupulous men, working to serve only their own ends, no matter what the cost to the employer. Such unions are a menace,both to the men and to their employers. That is my position."
"Then, Mr. Penton, if you were to have a union, say in your mines here, honestly managed and directed by upright men, you would not object to it?"
"Most assuredly not."
This was a new point of view for Steve Rush. It gave him a broader insight into the question.
"Are you thinking of organizing a union, my boy?" asked the superintendent, with a smile.
"Well, not exactly, sir. If I were to join a union would it prejudice you against me?"
"Not at all. I know you—know your honesty too well. It would be a good thing for any union to have such men as yourself and Jarvis with it."
"Thank you, sir," answered Steve.
The boys bade the superintendent good-bye and went on their way to the meeting place.
"What in the world did all those questions of yours mean?" demanded Bob after they had gotten out of ear shot of the superintendent.
Steve did not answer. He was thinking deeply.
"You have something in mind, Steve Rush."
"Yes, I have, Bob. In fact, I have partially changed my mind."
"About what have you changed your mind?"
"I will tell you later."
Reaching the hall where the meeting was to be held, the chums found the place packed with miners. As the boys made their way to the rear of the room, where they saw an unoccupied window seat, the miners recognized them and set up a loud cheer.
Driscold and Cavard occupied seats on the platform. The men exchanged significant glances when they saw the boys enter the hall. They were not quite sure whether they approved the presence of the Iron Boys. But, in view of the attitude taken by the miners, the two men could not well object to Steve and Bob remaining.
Mr. Driscold soon after called the meeting to order. He stated very briefly the purpose of the organization, which was, in short, he said, to guard the men from oppression and to look out for their general welfare. He gave figures to show how many of the miners of the country already belonged to unions, and urged the men to form a union before leaving the hall.
"How many of you are in favor of doing this?" he demanded. "All in favor will rise."
Nearly every man in the hall rose to his feet, though the Iron Boys sat quietly in their places.
Next Mr. Driscold proposed Mr. Cavard for president of the local union, which was to includeall the mines on the range, and from all of which representatives were present. Cavard was elected unanimously. Steve caught the faint flicker of a smile as it swept over the face of the Duke. Rush nudged his companion.
"The next thing," continued Mr. Driscold, "will be the election of a secretary. This should be done before any other business is transacted. After that you will all sign your names to the roll. I have a charter already made out for you. Who will you have for your secretary?"
"Steve Rush!" shouted a voice.
"Rush, Rush, Rush!" shouted voices from all parts of the hall, until the demand became one insistent roar.
"I move we elect Steve Rush our secretary," cried a man, springing to a chair.
"Second the motion!"
Driscold, rather red of face, rapped for order.
"It has been moved and seconded that Stephen Rush be elected as secretary of this organization. I will not attempt to advise you. It is for you to say whom you desire to fill your offices. But be sure that you make no mistake. Rush may be a most estimable young man, but you must remember that he is young."
"Not so young that he didn't save the lives of a lot of the men," cried one.
"Rush, Rush, Rush!" roared the miners.
"All in favor will rise," announced Driscold.
He plainly showed his irritation, as did Cavard. The meeting had taken a turn that they did not like. Still, the organizers had won. Affairs were practically in their own hands.
Every man in the room sprang to his feet, shouting for the Iron Boy.
"Young Rush is unanimously elected," announced Driscold. "The newly elected officers will take their places."
Cavard took the chair. At that moment several men swooped down toward the place where the boys were sitting.
Bob Jarvis was so amazed that for a moment he did not speak.
"What are you going to do, Steve?" he stammered.
"I am going to accept," announced the lad in a determined tone.
"You—you are going to join the union?"
"Yes; I am going to join the union. I would suggest that you do the same. I have changed my mind, old chap, and I'll tell you why later."
The miners grabbed Steve, hoisted him to their shoulders and bore him to the platform, where they set him down in a chair at the table placed for the secretary.
RUSH SCORES HEAVILY
"I AM glad you have thought better of it, young man," said Cavard, leaning over and shaking Rush by the hand.
Steve did not reply. His face was flushed, his lips compressed. He had evidently decided upon some course of action that was not wholly pleasing to him. He glanced up sharply. Driscold was speaking.
"It is not usual for one man to hold two offices, but you will agree with me that there is one man among us who is peculiarly fitted for the office of walking delegate. He will always work in our interest, if you choose him to fill the second office. I refer to Mr. Cavard, your new president."
The Duke was elected walking delegate with great enthusiasm, Steve Rush and Bob Jarvis being the only men in the room to vote against the proposition. Cavard was smiling to cover his annoyance at the marked way in which the boys had opposed him. He flashed a malignant glance at them, which both lads pretended not to observe. But they knew that they had made an enemy of the new walking delegate.
Other officers were elected; men in every instance who could be easily handled by the one at the head of the new organization. This having been done, the president asked if any member had anything to say, or a suggestion to make, before they proceeded to the signing of the roll.
No one spoke. Each was waiting for the other. In fact, none of the men in the hall had a very definite idea as to what he did want. They were already in the hands of their leaders.
Steve Rush rose slowly to his feet. Every eye was instantly fixed upon him.
"Great Cæsar, he's going to spout!" muttered Bob Jarvis. "Well, if this doesn't beat anything I ever heard of in my life! A few hours ago Steve was roasting the union, and now he's a red-hot member of one. I wonder what he's got up his sleeve? He's up to something, that's sure."
"My friends," began the lad, with perfect confidence in himself, for he had been the prize orator of his class in the high school, "I am only a boy——"
"No you ain't; you're a full-grown man!" shouted several voices at once.
"As I said, I am only a boy, but you know I am your friend, and all of you are my friends. I had not intended to join this organization,but after thinking the matter over I decided that it was my duty to do so. I had a feeling that I might be able to help you, though perhaps not in the way that some of your leaders might suggest——"
Cavard rapped loudly with his fist on the table.
"You are out of order, Mr. Secretary. I am sorry, but we have too much business ahead of us to permit of our wasting time in idle talk. The hour is getting late, and as it is the first duty of your presiding officer to look out for your well being, I would suggest that we finish our business so that you may all get home to your needed rest."
Steve was standing, half turned toward Cavard, holding the latter with a steady gaze.
"No, no; let him talk. We want to hear what he has to say. Go on, Rush; we're going to hear you out, even if we don't get home till morning."
"You may speak for two minutes," announced Cavard. There was no smile on his face now. Matters were taking an unexpected turn, and one that he did not like at all. This boy was having things too much his own way, and the Duke made a mental resolve to check Steve effectually before another meeting was called.
"Go on, Rush; go on!"
The lad turned facing his audience again, undisturbed by the interruption.
"As I was saying, I am your friend and you are mine. I have had no experience with unions. Perhaps others of you have. But I want to warn you not to be carried away by promises. Use your own best judgment on all matters. Let your union mean your uplifting. Don't use the power of your union for any wrong purpose. If you have a grievance at any time, talk it over calmly; look on both sides of every question. Do not let your leaders influence you against your better judgment——"
"I protest against this line of talk," cried Cavard angrily, rising and pounding on the table. "It is treason, men."
"Men, it isnottreason! I am your friend," answered Steve, addressing the audience. "Hear me out, then I will sit down. I believe that our employers have our best interests at heart. That I believe to be true so far as our own mines are concerned. Of course I am not so familiar with conditions in the independent mines represented here. Those of you who represent other mines will have to be the judges of that. You will find your employers are willing, at all times, to meet you half way and discuss any grievance, fancied or real, that you mayhave. Consult them freely; take them into your confidence and be guided by their advice and your own good sense. As for myself, I shall stand shoulder to shoulder with you when I believe you are in the right, but against you if I believe you are not. I want to thank you for electing me to the office of secretary. If, at any time, you think I am not the man for the place, I shall take no offence if you select someone else. That is all I have to say at present."
When he sat down there was silence in the room for a moment; then the miners broke out in a loud cheer.
"You're all right, Steve. You bet we don't want anyone else. You've got a head on your shoulders. You——"
Cavard rapped for order.
"I am afraid you men are being carried away by schoolboy eloquence. You must listen to the reason, born of long experience, of your leaders. They will guide you in the right path."
"I move that we proceed to the signing of the roll and adjourn," said Steve, rising quickly.
Bob seconded the motion and it was carried without waiting for the formality of having it put by the chairman.
Cavard was thoroughly angry. He tried hard to conceal his displeasure, but the threatening expression of his face betrayed his inward rage.He had been outdone by a boy. His well-laid plans had been turned until they were as a sharp knife against his own throat. He was perfectly willing that the meeting should be adjourned, for there was no telling what this keen, resourceful lad might propose next.
The moment the meeting was ended the two lads slipped from the room, for the hour was late and they were anxious to get home and to bed. They had reached the street when a hand was laid roughly on Steve's shoulder, turning the boy half way about.
"What do you mean, you young whelp?" demanded Cavard. "You came here to-night to make trouble. You wanted to break up the meeting, but your plan didn't work, did it?"
"You are mistaken, sir; I wanted to do nothing of the sort."
"You did; youknowyou did. You had it all fixed to be put in as secretary and——"
"If there was any fixing, Mr. Cavard, it was not on my side of the house," retorted Rush sharply.
"Do you mean to insinuate that I——"
"Oh, no; I am not insinuating. I was merely stating a fact."
The Duke's face was distorted with rage. He was making a great effort to control himself, but was only partially successful. It was not advisableto have an open rupture with Steve, for the latter might do his cause serious harm, considering the boy's influence over the miners, which appeared to be almost equal to that of the walking delegate and president of the union.
"You are a traitor to the union!"
"Be careful, sir," warned the lad.
"See here, Mister Man, don't you go to handing out any loose language around here," spoke up Bob Jarvis in a belligerent tone. "We don't stand for any of that kind of talk, you know."
"Then be careful that you don't do something that you will be sorry for," retorted the Duke. "I know a thing or two about what you fellows are up to, and let me tell you that the union won't stand for it by a long shot! First thing you know you will be out in the cold; you'll lose your jobs and you will find that it will be rather difficult to get others in these parts."
"Is that a threat?" demanded Rush.
"You may construe it as you wish."
"Very well——"
"Tut, tut; what's this?" demanded the man Driscold, who had come up in time to overhear the last remarks. "This won't do at all. Harmony is what we want in the union, and harmony is what we must have. What is the difficulty here?"
"There is no difficulty so far as we are concerned,replied Rush. "Mr. Cavard is a little excited, that's all. He will feel better to-morrow. Good night."
The boys turned away abruptly and started for home.
"Now, Steve Rush, will you please tell me what all this means?" demanded Jarvis after they had reached their room. "What on earth ever possessed you to join the union after you had been roasting it so hard?"
"I had my reasons, Bob."
"Yes; I suppose you had."
"I joined the union because I believed I could be useful to it, and to our employers as well, and that is the purpose thatyoumust have in view."
"You don't mean that you and I are going to be spies and report everything to Mr. Penton, do you? If that's the case, you may count me out."
"Certainly not. You ought to know me better than that. What sort of speech did I make?"
"Say, it was a dandy! I didn't think it was in you. You ought to have seen how those fellows hung on every word. They were sitting forward on the edges of their seats, every man of them."
"Except Cavard and Driscold," laughed Steve. "I rather thinktheywere on the anxiousseat. Well, we shall see. But be careful that Cavard does not draw you into an argument that will cause you to lose your temper. I have an idea he will try to do so, unless he thinks better of it and tries some other plan. I believe that man is a crook, Bob Jarvis. I may be doing him a wrong. If so, time will tell. In the meantime, we shall do what we can for the union. I hope Mr. Penton will not lose confidence in us. He may misunderstand our motive. If he does, we shall have to stand it; that's all."
"It may be the means of losing our jobs," suggested Jarvis.
Steve was thoughtful.
"I may have done wrong, but I did what I believed to be best. Out of the union we should not have so much influence with the men. In it we shall be able to do many things for both sides, being loyal to each."
"We're going to try to please everyone—is that it?" grinned Bob.
"If we are able to do it," replied Steve earnestly.
"How are we going to explain our action to Mr. Penton?"
"I shall not try to do so."
"But if he asks?" persisted Bob.
"I can't answer that beforehand. My answers must depend upon circumstances."
The boys turned in soon after that, but Steve Rush lay awake for a long time, thinking over the events of the evening. He was wondering whether he had done right; wondering whether the officials of the company, who had been so kind to him, would misconstrue his motives and no longer take their former keen interest in him.
"I've done the best I know how, and I'm not done yet," muttered the boy, as he turned over, buried his head in the pillow and tried to go to sleep.
MINERS MEET IN SECRET
"WELL, Steve, I hear you joined the new union last night," said Mr. Penton, halting in the drift where Rush was directing some changes in the work of his shift.
The Iron Boy flushed.
"Yes, sir. I hope you have no objection to my having done so."
"Not in the least. We have nothing to fear from such upright men as you in the union. I wish they were all of the same calibre. I want to thank you for the speech you made last night. Such words do much toward steering the men in the right direction. I may say that I am very glad you decided to join."
"I had decided not to do so, until I met and talked with you before going to the meeting last evening."
"How so?"
"You gave me a new point of view. I decided that it was my duty to join and I did so. Do you think Mr. Carrhart will mind when he hears of it?"
"He knows all about it now. He knew that the meeting was going to take place, perhapseven before you learned of it," answered the superintendent, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Of course that is confidential, you understand."
"Certainly, sir."
"You may be sure that when he understands the circumstances he will offer no objections. I know all about what took place last night, and I heartily approve of your part in it. We have means of knowing what is going on in our mines. We have to do these things for our own protection."
"Yes, sir."
Steve felt much more light of heart after this conversation. That his superiors approved of his action in joining the union relieved him of a great weight.
By this time the mine had been whipped into working condition once more, and the work was going on with renewed vigor. The men, too, with the promises of the labor leaders still fresh in their minds, went about their duties much more cheerfully than before.
However, there were, if anything, more meetings than before. There were conferences outside of the mine that the Iron Boys knew nothing about. Neither did Mr. Penton have knowledge of these secret meetings, in spite of the detective organization that existed in the mines unknown to the miners themselves. Cavard himself didnot appear to be active, but there were others who were active for him.
Ten days had passed, then another meeting of the union was held. There were not more than twenty of the members present. The young secretary was among the absentees.
Cavard called the meeting to order, commenting upon the small attendance. Then he made a speech in which he indulged in some plain talk regarding the purpose of the union. After he had done so he said:
"There is another matter that I wish to bring before the members. That is the question of our secretary. He is a most estimable young man, but you—those of you who listened to his remarks the other night—will agree with me that he is too young, too inexperienced to be entrusted with so important an office. It should be quite plain to you that he is not in thorough sympathy with our great work. In other words, I believe that he is the tool of the bosses. I have good reason for saying this, though for obvious reasons I hope my words will not be repeated. One of our members saw the boy, Rush, in earnest conversation with the superintendent down in the Red Rock Mine to-day, and overheard something that aroused his suspicion. Rush was reporting some of our private business. What do you think of that?"
A murmur arose from the audience. Cavard waited that the full force of his words might take effect.
"He's a traitor!" shouted a voice.
"I should not want to say that, men. I should call him an irresponsible boy, who is serving the purposes of the bosses without being fully aware that he is doing so. Of course the matter is in your hands to dispose of as you may see fit."
"Put him out!" shouted one of the members.
"Down with all traitors!" cried another.
"Mr. President, this is a serious charge that you have made against our secretary," said an elderly miner. "You are quite sure that he is a traitor to the union?"
"Quite sure."
"Then what would you suggest?"
"As I have already said, I do not believe the boy is so much to blame, but the effect is the same as if he were a traitor in reality."
"What shall we do?"
"You might, if you saw fit, choose another secretary," purred the Russian.
"Yes; that is what should be done under the circumstances. But is such an act in order?"
"Oh, yes. Charges can be preferred against him. We have as yet no by-laws. Some one might make a motion to depose him, if you thinkbest, embodying the charges in that motion; then we can proceed to choose another secretary," urged the chairman. "The matter is in your hands, gentlemen," he added, rubbing his palms together. "It is not for me to suggest."
"Who would you put in his place?"
"It is not for me to say, but some such man as Mike Caldert might make an excellent secretary."
The motion, as suggested by Cavard, who would not suggest, was made and quickly carried. Then Mike Caldert was duly elected as the permanent secretary of the organization.
A gleam of satisfaction shone in the eyes of the Russian. He had triumphed over the Iron Boy, thus effectually disposing of him, as he believed. Cavard was a shrewd and unscrupulous man, and one who would stop at nothing to accomplish his ends, as Steve was presently to learn.
This matter having been disposed of, the president and walking delegate cleared his throat and began on a new subject that claimed the attention of the men at once.
"There is another matter, and one of great importance to every man in every mine on the range," he began. "That is the question of pay and of hours. We are working ten hoursa day and we are getting less money than is paid by the other mines in the country."
This statement was not true, but the members present were not aware of the fact. They took all that Cavard said as the truth.
"It is time," he continued, "for us to take action in the matter. You should formulate your demands and present them to the owners for their consideration. The bosses are making money. There never has been a time in the history of the mines when they were making so much money. Your tonnage is increasing day by day, and day by day you are doing more work. But let me ask you, do your wages increase proportionately? Do you work fewer hours than before?"
"No!" shouted a voice.
"Do you share in the profits that you are piling up for the money kings?"
"No! You're right, we don't."
"Then if that is so, why is it so? It is because those who employ you are squeezing the lemon until it is dry, in order that their bank accounts may grow fat. Take the matter into your own hands——"
"We will, we will! How shall we do it?"
The men had become worked up to a high pitch of excitement over their leader's words, which had been skilfully chosen. He hadtouched the men in a spot where he knew they were the weakest. He had sown the seed that was destined to produce a bountiful crop of bitter weeds, and Cavard, president and walking delegate, smiled complacently behind the hand that he drew across his mouth after having delivered himself of the words.
"How shall we go about it?" repeated one of the men.
"I have here a few notes that I drew up hastily. They form a demand upon our employers for an eight-hour day and a fifty-cent rise for full miners, and twenty-five cents for miners' helpers and all grades below that. It is a most moderate demand. The owners will grant it, you will find, knowing as they do that the power of the union is behind you. I will appoint a committee to formulate the demands set down here. Then we will name a further committee to call upon the superintendent and present these demands."
Cavard named a committee of three, to whom he passed over, not merely notes, as he had said, but a formal paper drawn up in detail, embodying the facts as stated by him.
The committee went through the form of touching up the document, making a mark here and there with a pen and discussing the paper. Finally they announced their task finished.
"When shall we present our demands to the superintendent?" asked the president.
"Right away," answered the members.
"Then I will appoint five of our number to call upon the superintendent to-morrow. Your chairman, of course, will head the committee as its leader. We will make an appointment to see Mr. Penton at his office to-morrow evening at eight o'clock, if he will see us, and I think he will," added Cavard. "I want all of those present to bear witness that this has been a regular meeting. You all received your notices to be present this evening, did you not?"
"We did."
"And you are prepared to give evidence, if necessary, that everything has been done in due form?"
"We are."
"Then, if there is nothing more to come before the members, a motion to adjourn will be in order."
A motion to adjourn was made and carried, and the members left the meeting place, Cavard retaining the papers embodying the demands to be made on the company.
Steve Rush, all unconscious of what had been done, was sound asleep in his bed. But a surprise was awaiting him on the following day that would set him thinking harder than ever.
STEVE'S SUSPICIONS AROUSED
"ARE you going to the meeting to-night?" asked a foreman of a shift, pausing at Steve Rush's main drift.
"Why, yes, of course; aren't you!"
"I guess so. I hear there will be something doing to-night."
This conversation took place on the day following the meeting at which Cavard had so successfully outwitted his young opponents and had carried the meeting through in accordance with his own ideas. As yet neither Steve nor Bob had heard of the meeting. They, with others of their fellows, had received cards that morning saying, "There will be a special meeting of the union this evening at the usual time and place."
The cards were undated and they had not thought to look at the post mark, taking for granted that the meeting was to be held on the evening of that day.
"There ain't going to be any meeting to-night," volunteered a miner who had overheard the conversation.
"Yes, there is. Here is the card saying thatthere will be," answered Rush, exhibiting the card he had received that morning.
"Naw; no such thing. The meeting waslastnight," continued the miner. "Ain't you heard about it?"
Steve looked at the fellow to see if he were joking. He saw that the man was in earnest.
"There was a meeting of the union last night?"
"Sure there was."
"How do you know?"
"Friend of mine was there and told me about it. And you ain't heard about it?"
"I certainly have not. What was done?"
"A lot of things was done."
"That's queer. My postal notifying me of the meeting did not reach me until this morning. When did you get yours?" asked the lad of the foreman with whom he had been talking.
"I got mine this morning, too."
"That explains it, then; but it is odd that no one said anything about it yesterday."
"Probably didn't get their cards till after supper last night. Well, I guess we didn't miss much," added the foreman, with a grin.
"You haven't told us what was done," said Steve.
"Well, for one thing, they elected a new secretary. Didn't you know about that?"
Rush peered at the man keenly.
"See here, Abe, are you joking?"
"Naw, I ain't joking. They bounced you and elected another man in your place."
Steve could scarcely believe his own ears.
"Why did they do that?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask. But they bounced you, all right, all right."
"May I ask who my successor is?" inquired the lad, with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
"I don't know. I didn't ask that, either."
"What do you think of that?" demanded the boy, turning to the foreman.
"I don't believe it. They wouldn't be such fools as to do a thing like that."
"I am of the opinion that something was done there, and it seems mighty queer to me. Have you seen Cavard to-day?"
"Yes; I passed him when I was coming over here. He must be somewhere hereabouts now. We'll walk out, and maybe we shall meet him," said the foreman.
The two men made their way out of the drift together. Steve was silent and thoughtful. He did not like this thing that he had heard, nor did he know what to make of it.
They did not find the Duke at once, but half an hour later Steve came across the walking delegate near the ore rise on the twentieth level.
"Oh, Mr. Cavard," he called.
"Yes, Rush; what is it?"
"I hear you had a meeting last night."
"We did. Why were you not there?"
"Because I knew nothing about it."
"But you received a notice, did you not?"
"This morning, yes. I supposed from the card that the meeting was to be held to-night. I understand others did not receive theirs until to-day, either."
"Then that accounts for the small attendance," answered Cavard smoothly. "The cards were mailed rather late, but it was quite important to hold a meeting last night. I wondered why so few were present. It was most unfortunate, for very important business was transacted."
"So I heard. May I ask what was done?"
"Several things were attended to," replied the man evasively.
"Including the election of a new secretary?"
"Well, yes; I believe so."
Cavard showed some slight irritation under the sharp questioning of the Iron Boy.
"Why?"
The question came out with a snap.
"You should have attended the meeting if you want to know what was done. We are not supposed to talk about it on the outside."
"Yes; no doubt I should have attended, but I did not for the reason I have just given. Why was I deposed and another put in my place?"
"Well, to be candid with you, since you insist, the members did not think you were old enough, nor that you had had experience enough to warrant keeping you in such an important position. You see, they chose you in a moment of intense enthusiasm. After they had thought the matter over more calmly they came to the conclusion that it would be better to have an older man for the place, so they elected another."
"Who?"
"Mr. Caldert."
"Mike Caldert?"
"Yes."
Steve laughed uproariously.
"Why, that man can barely write his name. I'll wager he cannot write correctly the name of the state in which he lives."
"I think you are mistaken," replied the walking delegate, drawing himself up frigidly. "At least I have nothing to do with that. It was the will of the meeting, and there was nothing for me to do but to put to vote the motions that were offered."
Steve surveyed the walking delegate with a sarcastic look on his face.
"Has Caldert the minutes of the meeting, or have you?"
"I believe he has them."
"Then I shall demand to see them to-night. I want to know what was done at that meeting, and I think I have a right to know. I shall bring the matter before the next meeting and find out whether you have the right to railroad through a piece of business like this. It's not that I care a rap about holding the office, but I don't propose to be done out of it in any such way without finding out what it all means."
Cavard saw possibilities of trouble.
"Don't be a baby. Take your medicine like a man. You are proving that you are not fitted for an office in the union yet. When you get older and have had more experience, then perhaps you may do."
There was an implied sneer in the man's tone, which his smiling face failed to mask.
"Indeed! I shall bring the subject before the next full meeting of the union, just the same, and we shall see whether it will stand or not."
"Look here, young man!"
The walking delegate dropped his mask of assumed politeness. His chin was thrust forward and his eyes gleamed with anger.
"I've been too easy with you—easy because you are a boy. Now I'm done with this foolishness.This is a man's game, and men are going to play it. You can get out of the union if you want to; we don't need you. But let me tell you one thing: you mind your own business after this, if you know what's good for you! I'm running this union just now, and I'm running it in the way that suits me best—that means the right way. If you don't like it, you get out and shut up—that's all."
Steve laughed in the delegate's face.
"Now you are beginning to show yourself in your true colors, Mister Man. I don't want your office. I did not care in the first place to have anything to do with an organization that you were interested in, but I thought possibly it might be run by honest men, so I joined the union."
"What's that? You throw that at me—you accuse me of being dishonest, you young whelp?" shouted Cavard in a rage.
"Take what I said for what it's worth, and I repeat your own words: 'If you don't like it, get out and shut up.' That's my answer."
Steve snapped his fingers in the face of the walking delegate and turned on his heel. Cavard was at his side in a few quick, long strides. He gripped the collar of the Iron Boy and was about to spin him about when Steve turned on him.
"Unless you are looking for trouble, I wouldn't put hands on the other man in this instance, if I were you. If you do that again, you will answer for it."
"Indeed! And may I ask you if you are in authority here?" sneered Cavard.
"Well, all I have to say is, if you want to know who's boss on this shift, just start something. You'll find out mighty quick, and the knowledge may not be particularly pleasant to you, either. That's all I have to say to you to-day. I may have something further to say later. Good afternoon."
Rush left the walking delegate fuming in the drift as he walked away. The Iron Boy made it his business to ask every man he met whether or not he had received a notification of the meeting of the previous evening. Some of them had received their notices that morning, others had received no notice whatever. Not one of the miners had gotten his card on the previous day, so far as the lad could learn.
Steve was determined to get to the bottom of the matter. He consulted with Bob Jarvis and the latter proposed looking up the walking delegate at once and giving him a sound thrashing.
"No, Bob, we don't know that he is to blame in this matter at all, though I have my suspicions. Even if we were sure, we should gainnothing by following that course. There, I forgot to ask him what else was done at the meeting. After we get off duty to-night we must find out what has been going on. I'll see you and talk it over later."
As soon as he had finished his work in the mine Rush went directly over to the post-office, where he waited until the postmaster was at leisure, when he called him aside.
"I received a postal card to-day that I should have had last night," said the lad, producing the notification of the meeting and handing it to the postmaster.
"What did you say?" exclaimed the postmaster.
"I said I should have received this post card last night," repeated Steve. "You see it is quite important. It is a notification of a meeting and the meeting was held last night."
"I don't see how you could very well have received this postal last night, when it wasn't mailed until this morning."
"Not mailed until this morning?" demanded the lad, in well-feigned surprise.
"No, sir."
"Are you sure of that?"
"I ought to be. These postals—there were a lot of them—were stuffed in through the slot in the door some time during the night. It musthave been late, for we didn't close until nearly twelve o'clock. The postals were all on the floor when I opened up the place this morning."
"Did you read any of the postals?" asked Steve innocently.
"Oh, yes, I always read postals. Don't have much of anything else to do part of the day, you know," replied the postmaster in a matter-of-fact tone. "Why, what's in the wind? No trouble about it, is there?"
"There may be," replied the lad mysteriously. "But if you will state the facts when called upon to do so, there will be no trouble so far as you are concerned. Will you do that?"
"Yes; I'll do that, all right. It won't violate any regulation of the department that I know of."
"Thank you. Say nothing to anyone of what I have asked you to-night, please."
"I think I have got something on our friend, the walking delegate, now," muttered the lad triumphantly, as he made his way toward home. He had gone but a short distance when he met five of the members of the union, all dressed in their best, hurrying along the street.
Steve halted and peered at them suspiciously.
"Hello, where are you fellows going?" he demanded.
"To the superintendent's office."
"What for?"
"We are going to present our demands. You know the document we decided to present to him to-day?"
Steve did not know, but he did not say so.
"You are going there now?"
"Yes; Mr. Cavard is going to meet us there at eight o'clock. We are the committee. You lost your secretary job last night. That's what comes of being too fresh," jeered the speaker.
"So that's the game, is it?" muttered Steve. "I should like to be present at that committee meeting. And I'm going to be there, too," he added, after a moment's reflection. "They can do no more than put me out."