MINERS MAKE DEMANDS
"YOU go on about your business. You do not belong with this committee," snapped Cavard as the Iron Boy joined them at the entrance to the superintendent's office, where the meeting was to take place.
"If the superintendent doesn't wish to see me I will leave. You have no business to give me orders, so attend to your own affairs, if you will be so good."
The lad slipped in behind the others and stood near the door of the private office, where, with the others, he was awaiting the arrival of Mr. Penton. The latter entered very shortly afterwards.
"Well, gentlemen, what can I do for you this evening?" questioned the executive smilingly.
Cavard cleared his throat, assuming his most suave air.
"In the first place, Mr. Penton, we are a duly authorized committee with power to wait upon you. This boy Rush is not a member of the committee. We represent the newly formed union. Will you kindly ask the boy to withdraw?"
The superintendent elevated his eyebrows in mild surprise.
"Is he not a member of the union?"
"Yes," admitted Cavard with evident reluctance.
"And you are here in the interests of the union?"
"Certainly, sir."
"Then I see no objection to his remaining. If you are here in the interest, as you say, or in behalf of the men of our own mines, any one of the other men is free to be present and to hear all that takes place between us. Rush, sit down, if you wish."
Steve, without showing either triumph or satisfaction in his face, quietly seated himself against the wall. Cavard's face was dark, but he made no reply to the superintendent's word in the matter.
"As I already have said, we represent the new union," continued the Russian. "At a meeting last night certain grievances that have long existed in the mine—that is, you understand, it is the union speaking, not myself personally?"
"Oh, certainly. Go on," smiled the superintendent.
"Certain grievances were taken up and discussed. The result of that discussion was thedrawing up of certain demands, which the miners believe you will not hesitate to grant. It had been understood that these concessions already had been under consideration by the mine officials."
"I am not aware that any particular concessions to the miners have been contemplated. What are your demands?"
"The demands of the union are for an eight-hour day and an increase in the scale of wages. Neither demand is at all unreasonable——"
"Let me see your papers," interrupted Mr. Penton.
The walking delegate and president handed the paper containing the miners' demands to the superintendent. Mr. Penton read the document through quickly, then went over it again.
"These are very radical demands, Mr. Cavard," he said, glancing up at the walking delegate.
"We think not, sir."
"And in the event of these demands being refused, may I ask what it is the purpose of the members of the union to do?"
"That is a matter for future consideration. I have no doubt, however, that a satisfactory arrangement can be made between us."
"What mines are included in the union?"
"All of the mines belonging to this company,both surface and underground, together with the independent mines on the range. The other and independent mines have been represented by delegates at the meetings thus far."
"You say this was decided upon at the meeting last night?"
"Yes, sir."
"And it was a wholly representative meeting?"
"It was, sir. The delegates from the various shafts were on hand, though many were unable to attend."
"May I say something, sir?" asked Steve.
"Certainly. What is it, Rush?"
"I merely wish to present for your consideration the fact that I believe the meeting at which these demands were drawn up was not a representative one. Many of us did not receive our notifications until this morning."
"That was your own fault," interjected Cavard.
"I beg to differ with you. The notifications advising us that the meeting was to be held last night were not mailed until midnight last night, after the meeting had taken place, Mr. Cavard, and you know that is the truth. It was a 'fixed' meeting and I am willing to go before a representative gathering of the union and prove that fact."
"I object!" shouted the Duke. "I did not come here to be insulted by a young loafer like you."
Mr. Penton hammered on the table with his fist.
"Gentlemen, that will do. Mr. Rush is not a loafer. I consider him a young gentleman and an honest man. If his point is correct, I have but one thing to say."
Cavard's face worked nervously. He was making a violent effort to control himself. Mr. Penton was eyeing the man keenly.
"If you can show me that these demands have been approved by a full and representative gathering of the men in our employ, then I will not only take your grievances into consideration, but will transmit them to the officers of the company for their decision. You no doubt know that it is not within my power to grant such sweeping demands as these. Unless it is the expression of a majority of the men, I decline to give the matter any attention whatever."
"Are you going to take the word of an irresponsible boy against that of a man of experience and recognized standing among the men in your employ?" almost shouted Cavard, who was rapidly losing his self-control.
"I am of the opinion that Rush's standing is equally as high as your own. You thoughtenough of him to make him the secretary of your organization. As such, he surely should be entitled to attention and——"
"He is not the secretary of the union. The men fired him out last night. He was——"
Cavard checked himself suddenly. His face flushed. He had said something that he had not intended to say at all, but his temper had gotten the better of him, leading him into an unwitting admission.
Steve Rush grinned sarcastically.
"Is this true, Rush?" demanded the superintendent, turning toward Steve.
"I am told that it is," replied the boy politely. "I have not yet learned why, but I have a fairly good idea."
"And what do you propose to do about it, my lad?"
"I am going to see to it that the men understand the trick that has been played on them. I am going to let the majority of them know how they were fooled as to the meeting. I think they will be rather surprised. But I beg your pardon; I have said too much."
"I should say you had," muttered Cavard.
"The interview is closed, gentlemen," announced Mr. Penton. "You have my ultimatum in the matter. When you can come to me properly authorized, I will give your demands consideration,and not until then. I have nothing to do with your differences in your organization. I do know, however, that Mr. Rush is a young man whose word I would take as far as that of any man I know. Good evening, gentlemen."
The superintendent rose, indicating that the interview need not be prolonged.
Very much crestfallen, the delegates turned toward the door, followed by Steve.
"You will hear from us again, Mr. Penton," announced Cavard, speaking with emotion.
"Very good, sir."
"You young whelp, you'll suffer for this evening's work," raged the walking delegate when the callers had regained the street. "I'll see to it that your path isn't one of roses hereafter. I give you fair warning. I am the master here, and you will find that out to your sorrow."
"It has been my experience," answered Steve, "that men who make the loudest threats are the least to be feared. Let me tell you, while I have the opportunity, that the best thing you can do is to carry on the affairs of the union honestly. Otherwise you will go down, and the union will go down with you."
Steve turned away. Once more he had defeated the walking delegate and president of the union by a masterful move.
A WARNING NOT HEEDED
THE word that was spread by Cavard and his associates during the next few days acted as a torch to the minds of the miners. That the superintendent had almost turned them out of his office was the information that reached the miners from various sources.
In the meantime the organization was being perfected, not from any regular meetings that were being held, for Cavard did not propose to move again until he was fully prepared. At the same time Steve Rush began to realize that the men were looking upon him with disapproving eyes. He had been a traitor to their cause, according to the information that had been subtly instilled into the miners' minds. At first he did not understand what this new attitude meant, but gradually the truth began to dawn upon him.
Rush held many conversations with the men who, in the past, had been friendly to him. He saw, however, that their minds had been poisoned against him, and he well knew the source from which the poison had come.
Bob Jarvis had shared in the dislike that wasgrowing for Steve Rush, but Bob did not care particularly. He was a self-reliant boy, well used to looking out for himself and battling his way through the world. Steve, on the other hand, felt that there was a greater principle involved—the welfare of the men themselves, who, he believed, were being misled. And still, beyond this, was the duty of the Iron Boys to their employers. Steve had not seen Mr. Penton since the meeting in the latter's office.
Before the end of the week notices were sent out for a meeting of the union. This time every man in the organization received a notice, this reaching all the miners of the Red Rock, Cousin Jack and the independent mines.
There was an activity on the part of all hands, never before observable on the iron range. Cavard, in the short time that the union had been organized, had formed such a combination that his power and influence were far-reaching. His lieutenants were working everywhere. The plot he had formed was now ready to be put into effect.
A definite refusal to accede to the demands of the miners had been received from the main offices of the company, no matter whether the demands were endorsed by every man on the range or not. The company announced that it proposed to run its own business.
While Mr. Penton did not wholly approve of the attitude of the company, believing in more pacific measures, he had no alternative in the matter. Cavard had been notified of the decision of the officials, and had been told that no farther conferences could be had, at least for the present.
When Steve heard this he shook his head doubtfully.
"That means trouble, Bob," he said.
"It strikes me that there has been nothing but trouble for a long time," answered Jarvis. "What do you think the men will do?"
"I don't know."
"Are you going to the meeting to-night?"
"Yes. We shall both go. I have an idea that it will be a lively meeting. We may not be welcome, but we shall be there, just the same."
That night, as Steve was hurrying to his boarding place, he met Cavard's sister Marie, who kept house now for the walking delegate. She was a pretty young woman, and though Steve never had known her well, she had taken a great liking to the young miner, having urged him, on various occasions, to call and see them. Rush never had done so because he did not like her brother.
Miss Cavard stopped squarely in front of Steve, barring his way.
"Good evening, Mr. Rush," she greeted, extending a friendly hand. "You were in such a great hurry that I thought you were going to run over me."
"I beg your pardon, I didn't see you," answered the lad apologetically. "I am in something of a hurry to get home and dress for the meeting to-night, after I have had my supper."
"Just like your name, sir; always in a rush. You haven't even time to come and see us. I am beginning to think you do not care to have us for your friends."
Steve did not answer.
"Tell me frankly why you have always refused my invitations to visit us."
"Frankly, Miss Cavard, your brother and myself are not very friendly."
"Is that the reason? He thinks that you have not been loyal to the union."
The Iron Boy drew himself up proudly.
"We will not discuss that subject, Miss Cavard."
"Come, I will walk along with you, since you are in such a great hurry. Because you and my brother are not friendly is no reason why you and I should not be friends, is it?"
"Perhaps not, but it is better that we should not be friends under the circumstances."
Miss Cavard laughed softly.
"You are a very out-spoken boy, I must say. You tell me you are going to the meeting to-night?"
"Yes; of course."
They had been walking along side by side. Miss Cavard halted suddenly.
"Why should you go?"
"I am a member of the union and I must do my duty whether I accomplish anything or not."
"Don'tgo!" she said almost sharply.
"Don't go?" repeated Steve slowly. "Why not, pray?"
"My dear boy, I am some years older than you. I have had more experience with the world, and perhaps I am better able to understand some things than you are. You are young and impulsive, and——"
"But why do you advise me not to go to the meeting?" persisted the lad.
"I cannot answer that question. I was in hopes you would not ask. You must not press me for an explanation, for I cannot give it. But please stay away from that meeting to-night. You can do no good. Everything is settled. The temper of the men has been aroused, and I fear there will be trouble."
"Trouble for whom?" demanded Steve, bending suspicious eyes upon her.
"Ah, that I cannot say. Ask me no questions,for I shall not answer them. Don't you see what a risk I am running in saying as much as I have said?"
"I beg your pardon, Miss Cavard; it was very thoughtless of me. I——"
"And you will remain away?" she asked eagerly.
"I cannot."
"Why not?"
"I already have answered that question. It is my duty to be there, and no one shall ever say that Steve Rush shirked his duty as he saw it. I am not afraid of anything the men may do there. No one will harm me. I——"
"Do not be too sure of that," interjected the girl quickly.
"I thank you, but I must go. I am not afraid."
"I am sorry." She laid a hand on the Iron Boy's arm. "I am sorry you will not be warned by me, for trouble surely will follow. You will treat what I have told you as an absolute confidence?"
"That goes without saying, Miss Cavard. I thank you very much. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your kindness. I should not have expected it from Mr. Cavard's sister."
"Mr. Cavard's sister is not——" The girl checked herself sharply. "Good night, Mr.Rush. If you will not accept my warning, be careful," was the young woman's parting injunction.
Steve pondered over the interview while eating his supper. Then while he was dressing for the meeting, Bob demanded to know what was on his mind.
"Have you heard anything about expected trouble at the meeting to-night, Bob?"
"Nothing except what you said. You told me there was going to be trouble, didn't you?"
"I guess I did, at that. Well, perhaps I wasn't so far wrong. I want you to stick pretty close to me to-night, for I have had a warning that something is in the wind."
Bob gazed at his companion keenly.
"What have you heard?"
"Nothing more than I have just told you."
"Who gave you the tip?"
"I am not at liberty to say. Perhaps it is a false alarm, but it is just as well to be prepared. The miners are very much excited. Have you heard anything else of interest to-day?"
"No; nothing but what you have heard. The men are all down on the bosses, and are making all sorts of threats."
"Yes, I know that," nodded Rush. "It's too bad. If anything serious comes of this it will be due to one man."
"The Duke?"
"You have guessed it. Little does he care for the welfare of the men. He is working for Cavard, and for no one else. The man craves notoriety and power, and he is having more than his share of both just now. Did you ever meet his sister?"
"Once. She seems to be a mighty fine woman."
"So she impressed me."
"Why did you ask about the sister?" demanded Jarvis, his eyes narrowing as he squinted suspiciously at his companion.
"You ask too many questions. Hurry up, or we shall be late. It is nearly eight o'clock now, and the meeting is called for eight."
"Which means nine. None of them ever gets there on time, except the fellows who don't spruce up as much as we do."
A few minutes later the Iron Boys were on their way to the meeting place. Before they reached the hall—the meeting this time taking place in the town hall, which was much larger than the place where they had first met—the lads found themselves in a great crowd. Voices were pitched high, and loud conversations were being carried on in many languages.
"This is something like what I imagine the Tower of Babel must have been," laughed Rush."What a mob! Poor, misled fellows! They believe they have been greatly wronged. If they only knew how well they are treated there would be few to attend a meeting of this sort."
No one appeared to pay any attention to the Iron Boys as they made their way through the crowd and up the stairs into the big room, where a couple of hundred men had already assembled.
Everyone in the room was talking and gesticulating excitedly. The boys were thankful that they had been able to gain their seats without attracting any marked attention.
Cavard had already taken his place on the platform, where, with his new secretary, he was going over some papers spread out on a table before them.
Inside of twenty minutes after the arrival of the Iron Boys the hall was packed, every seat being taken, while rows of men four or five deep lined the sides of the room and the aisles.
Cavard rose, swept the assemblage with a half-triumphant glance, then rapped for order.
"The meeting will please come to order," he said quietly, standing motionless for a moment after perfect stillness had settled over the big room. The effect of his attitude was not lost on the miners. They were already deeply impressed with the importance of the occasion.
"The secretary will please read the minutesof the last meeting," directed the chairman, resuming his seat.
Mike Caldert, the new secretary, rose awkwardly to his feet, and, in a halting voice, read the minutes that, it was evident to many, had not been penned by him. He stumbled over the unfamiliar words, mispronouncing, running sentences together, completely ignoring all punctuation marks.
Rush and Jarvis were deeply interested in the reading of these minutes, especially the part that dealt with the deposing of Rush from office and putting another man in his place. This part the chairman read after having taken the book from the hands of the secretary in order to give the reading more emphasis.
During the reading Steve's face was pale but calm, while Bob sat opening and closing his fingers nervously.
"Now look out for happenings," whispered Steve, smiling grimly.
THE VENGEANCE OF THE MOB
"IT'S an outrage!" exclaimed Jarvis in a loud tone, causing those about him to look sharply in his direction.
Steve gripped his companion's arm.
"Be quiet," he whispered.
Bob subsided, but it was with difficulty that he restrained himself from giving vent to his wrath. Both lads remained silent until the reading of the minutes had been completed.
"If there are no objections to the minutes of the last meeting, as just read, they will stand approved," announced the chairman. "There being no objection, they are ap——"
Steve Rush rose slowly to his feet in an impressive stillness. Every eye in the room was turned in his direction.
"I object to the adoption of the minutes as read," said the Iron Boy in a steady voice which, while not loud, carried to every part of the room.
Cavard's face darkened.
"On what ground?" he demanded sharply.
"On the ground that the last meeting was illegal—that it was no meeting at all. The last meeting was a secret meeting, attended only bythose whom certain persons in this organization wished to have present——"
"You are wrong!" said the chairman. "The meeting was perfectly regular, as you and every other man here well knows. You are insinuating that the members of this union have acted dishonestly. You are casting a slur on every man here."
"Sit down!" yelled a chorus of voices.
"Shut up, or get out!"
"Men, I haven't finished yet. I——"
"Yes, you have!Sit down!"
Some one jerked the lad back into his seat, but whether it was a hostile or a friendly act Rush was unable to determine. He could not even tell who had done it.
"The minutes stand approved," announced the presiding officer, smiting the table a resounding whack with his gavel. "What is the further pleasure of the meeting?"
There was no reply at once. Finally a man in the rear of the hall spoke.
"What about the company's treatment of our demands for more wages and less work?" he asked.
"That is the matter that we have come here to discuss," said Cavard. "In view of the fact that I acted as the chairman of the committee that called upon Mr. Penton it will be properfor me to speak on the subject before this meeting. We presented our petition, which the superintendent agreed to consider after it had been endorsed by a full meeting of the union. Instead of giving it proper consideration, however, we have received notice that our committee will not be welcome; that the company will run its own business. In other words, the company has broken faith with us. The remedy lies with you. I am your servant. But let me ask you, are you going to submit to the tyranny of the bosses? Are you going to let them trample you under their feet?"
"No, no!" roared the miners.
"Then assert your manhood! Show them that you are men; that you are determined to fight for your liberty and your homes."
In his subtle, unscrupulous manner, Cavard was working up his hearers to a high pitch of excitement.
"This is anarchy!" cried Steve, but his voice was lost in the uproar.
"Your brothers in the independent mines are in the same situation. They are ready to join with you in any action you see fit to take. Their delegates are here with us to-night to tell you so," continued Cavard glibly.
"Yes!" cried a man in the centre of the hall whom Rush remembered to have seen in companywith the walking delegate on various occasions. "We are among the downtrodden. We are ready to fight, shoulder to shoulder, with you, for our rights."
"It's a put-up job," whispered Jarvis in his companion's ear.
Steve nodded. "It is a crime," he added. "Those poor, ignorant fellows are being led as if they were dogs at the end of a leash."
"Where are our friends?"
"I am afraid there are not many of them left—not enough to do any good. I see few of them here to-night. Perhaps they understood what was going to happen even better than we did, and decided to remain away."
"It is for you to act," urged the chairman insistently. "Now is your time to assert yourselves."
"I move that we send an ultimatum to the bosses, saying that unless they meet our demands by the sixth of the month we will strike."
"They won't agree to your demands, men," urged the chairman. "They have already told you that. Any delay is so much more money in the pockets of the bosses. I do not wish to influence you; I merely want to point out the facts to you."
"Then we'll strike here and now!" yelled a miner, springing to his feet.
Steve recognized in him another of the walking delegate's lieutenants.
"Yes! Strike, strike, strike!" howled a hundred voices. Men leaped to their feet, yelling madly, beside themselves with excitement.
The walking delegate, by skilful manipulation, had stirred the men to a dangerous pitch. They were ready to do and dare anything. The mob spirit had taken possession of them. A few moments more and they would be past all control. Cavard saw this. Such a situation he did not desire. His must be the master hand.
The chairman pounded on the table with his gavel until it broke, the head shooting over among the excited miners.
Little by little quiet was restored.
"You are accomplishing nothing. Did I hear someone make a motion a short time ago?" asked the presiding officer suggestively.
The miner who had called for a strike rose to his feet.
"Mr. Chairman," he began, "I make a motion that this union declare itself opposed to the rule of the bosses, and that we call a strike, beginning at midnight to-night, in all the mines on the range, both those belonging to the company and the independent owners, as well."
"Hear, hear!" yelled the audience.
A gleam of satisfaction lighted up the faceof the chairman for the moment, after which the expression in his eyes grew steely.
"Second the motion," shouted a chorus of voices.
"You have heard the motion, gentlemen. It has been moved and seconded that the Amalgamated Mine Workers call a strike in all of the mines, beginning at midnight to-night. Are you ready for the question?"
"Question, question, question!"
"Stop!"
Steve Rush sprang to his feet. He waved his hat to attract the attention of the miners.
"Stop, men! You are about to make a great mistake. Do you know what a strike means? It means that your families will suffer; it means starvation for your wives and children. You have been led into this by soft words and false promises. That man," pointing to the chairman, "is using you to serve his own selfish purposes. The Duke isn't your friend. He is your worst enemy, and I will prove it to you before I have done with him."
"Throw the boy out!"
"Order! You are out of order!" shouted Cavard. "I shall have you ejected from the hall unless you cease this tirade. Men, there is a motion before the house and the question has been put."
"I insist upon being heard," shouted Steve Rush. "I accuse that man of base trickery. I demand that you give me a chance to say what I have to say. Then I will leave the hall if you wish, but I'm going to speak."
"Put that man out! He is a traitor to the union!" thundered the presiding officer. "He is the mouthpiece of the bosses."
A wave of hissing swept over the room, as if all the serpents of the jungle had suddenly been let loose.
"He is the tool of the bosses! What shall we do with him?" yelled a man, leaping to the bench on which he had been sitting.
"Throw him out!"
"There's two of them," yelled another.
"Throw them both out! They're traitors!"
"Traitors, traitors!" thundered the mob.
"All in favor of the motion to strike say 'aye,'" roared the chairman.
"Aye!" was the response from hundreds of throats.
"Carried. We strike at midnight," announced the chairman.
The diversion of voting on the motion had, for the moment, drawn the attention of the men from the Iron Boys. Steve was still standing. His face was flushed and he was gazing at the excited faces about him intently.
"Traitor, traitor!" screamed the mob once more, turning their attention to the slim young fellow who was facing them so calmly.
"There is the Traitor!" Cried Rush.
"There is the Traitor!" Cried Rush.
"There is the traitor!" cried Rush, pointing to the triumphant Cavard. "That is the man who has brought this about, and all for his own gain. He is as crooked as the tram road on the sixteenth level in the Red Rock Mine."
With a yell, the mob surged toward the spot where Steve was standing. Bob Jarvis slowly rose to his feet.
"We're in for it, Steve," he said.
"It looks that way. Stand fast!"
"You bet I will. I am just spoiling to crack a few of those wooden heads."
"Back up toward the wall. There is an opening there now," directed Rush, stepping out into the aisle and moving a few paces away from the place where they had been sitting.
"Men, you're making a mistake!" called Steve. "I am your friend, and one of these days you'll learn that I am. I have been your friend all the way through, but that man has poisoned your minds against me."
"Throw him out!"
"Killthe traitor!"
The words were repeated in several different language. Huns, Finns, Italians and others made a wild rush. There were those in the audiencewho were on the side of the Iron Boys; there were those who would have taken their part had they had the courage to do so. The rage of the mob frightened the timid friends and they quickly made their way from the hall that they, too, might not fall victims to the anger of the miners.
Steve saw some of his supposed friends sneaking away and his lips curled scornfully.
A Finn made a vicious pass at Rush's head.
Steve planted a powerful blow between the fellow's eyes, the man toppling over backwards into the arms of his companions. Ere the victim had been pushed out of the way two other men had shared the same fate.
"Look behind you, Bob," cried the Iron Boy, as he began striking right and left.
Bob turned just in time to avoid a blow that had been aimed at his head. He ducked and saved himself. As he came up he planted a blow on his assailant's jaw, sending the man to the floor and rendering him unconscious.
"Come on, you miserable cowards!" bellowed Jarvis. "We can't thrash all of the people all of the time, but we can thrash some of the people some of the time."
At this moment Steve had grabbed a fallen miner by the heels. The man was slight. Steve picked the fellow up and hurled him right intothe face of the mob that was pressing in on him. Several men went down, but they were up again in a twinkling and charging the slender lads with redoubled fury.
During the tumult Cavard had made no effort to restore order. He stood calmly on the platform at the end of the hall, a grim smile of satisfaction on his face. He had known full well that this was coming, for he had skilfully brought it about. Little did he care if the Iron Boys were killed. There could be no responsibility on his part. He fervently hoped that they would at least be so thoroughly beaten that they would trouble him no further.
Thus far the lads had held their own. They were cool and collected, while those opposing them had lost all control of themselves. This gave the boys a slight advantage, but the lads knew they could not expect to hold out very long against those hundreds of angry men, who were fighting each other in their mad efforts to get at the "traitors," as they called the Iron Boys.
Steve was fighting with as much coolness as if he were in a friendly boxing match, except that his blows were delivered with considerably more force. Bob was proving himself a whirlwind, charging this way and that, using both feet and fists, all to equally good advantage. Many a shin felt the sting of his heavy boot andmany a face bore the marks of his heavy fists for days afterward.
"Come down here, you coward, and I'll give you a dose of the same medicine!" yelled Jarvis, chancing to catch the eye of the presiding officer in a brief lull in the fighting. "It's coming to you, and you're going to get it some time, even if you don't to-night."
Suddenly Steve slipped and fell to the floor. Bob sprang to his assistance, jerking his companion to his feet. But the move was fatal.
A kick from a heavy boot laid Bob Jarvis unconscious on the floor.
With a yell Steve Rush hit the man who had delivered the kick, knocking him clear over two benches that had not yet been smashed in the scrimmage. In doing so Rush had turned his back on the most persistent of his enemies. They were not slow to take advantage of the opportunity thus offered, and leaped upon him.
Steve went down under the weight that had been suddenly put upon him, fighting, struggling, wriggling desperately to free himself. But the odds were too great, and besides he was exhausted by his exertions. He realized that the fight was ended so far as he was concerned.
"Kill the traitors!"
"No—throw them out! Beat them up!"
"Yes, throw them out! That will settle them.It isn't our fault if they fall out of the window," yelled Cavard.
"Out with them both!"
Someone jerked Rush to his feet, and as he did so, another planted a blow on the boy's jaw. Steve's head drooped to one side and his face turned suddenly pale. He would give them no further trouble, for he had been rendered unconscious by the cowardly blow.
"The window!" yelled a voice.
"Yes, out with him!"
Cavard's suggestion of a moment before had taken root. Instantly the miners began dragging the unconscious Steve toward the nearest window. It was closed, but that made no difference.
"Now, he-o-hee!"
There followed the sound of crashing glass and breaking woodwork as the form the Iron Boy went hurtling through the window, taking the sash with him in his flight.
"Now the other!"
Two men grabbed Jarvis, one at his feet, the other at his head. Bob followed in the wake of his companion, turning a complete somersault as he shot through the window. Bob had the advantage of Steve in that he had no window to break through. His was a clean flight, but his fall was none the less a serious one.
The drop that the boys had taken was all of twenty feet. What was below not one of the strikers cared.
Cavard pounded on the table for order.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," he cried. "You are forgetting yourselves! Now that you have removed the disturbing elements, you will please come to order and we will proceed to finish the business of our meeting. You should not have handled them so roughly, though I am forced to admit that your anger was justified. What is the further pleasure of the meeting?"
"I move we notify the mines and tell the night shifts to knock off," suggested a man with a cooler head, who had taken no part in the uprising.
Slowly the men resumed their places, and the meeting settled down to business again.
FACING THEIR ASSAILANTS
JARVIS was the first to recover himself. He found himself lying half on the body of his companion.
"Steve, Steve!" he cried. "Are you much hurt."
Rush did not answer.
Bob, as soon as he could pull himself together sufficiently to do so, began shaking his companion.
"Wake up, wake up!"
"Huh?" muttered Steve, twisting and trying to raise himself.
"Thank goodness, they didn't kill you," exclaimed Jarvis, hugging his companion delightedly. "Where are you hurt?"
"I—I thought the house fell on me. What was it?"
"Nothing much. I just landed on you from a second story window—that's all. It's a wonder I didn't break every bone in your body."
A pile of rubbish had been thrown out that afternoon, in cleaning up the hall for the evening meeting. There were papers, excelsior, burlap and other soft substances in the heap. Itwas on this heap that the Iron Boys had fallen in their plunge from the second story, and to that heap of rubbish they no doubt owed their lives. As it was, however, they were badly bruised and shaken.
"They must have thrown us out," said Rush, sitting up and rubbing the bruised spots on his body. "The hounds! But no, I shouldn't blame them so much. Cavard is the man who incited them to violence. Bob, I believe he planned, before the meeting, to do that very thing. I was warned not to come here to-night, and the person who warned me was in a position to know what plans Cavard had in mind."
"Who warned you?"
"You asked that once before, and I told you I could not tell you. I wouldn't under any circumstances give the name of the person who warned me."
"Let me help you up."
Steve was painfully getting to his feet.
"No; I am able to take care of myself."
"Came pretty near having a fight, didn't we?" grinned Jarvis.
"Almost," admitted Rush. "The ones I most wanted to hit weren't in that mix-up. That is my greatest regret. Another is that we had to damage some of the men who were once our friends."
"Served them right! They don't deserve sympathy," growled Jarvis. "We didn't give it to them hard enough. I guess some of them won't forget the walloping they got for many days to come."
"How about ourselves?" questioned Rush, laughing mirthlessly. "It occurs to me that you and I are pretty well banged up. I can't see how you look, but I think I must resemble the last rose of summer, with all the petals blown off. My, but my head aches!"
"Never mind," soothed Bob. "You are not the only one. There are others, and there are other headaches just as bad as yours. What shall we do now?"
"Is the meeting still going on?"
"Yes; I hear them up there. They are finishing up the business that we interrupted, I reckon."
"I'm going up there," announced Rush with decision.
"I wouldn't, if I were in your place. You are in no sort of shape to get into any more trouble to-night," advised Jarvis.
"I do not intend to get into trouble. Bob. But I am going back for a moment, just the same."
"Then I'll go with you."
"Very well; but don't stir up any more trouble. We have had enough, and I am notsure that we are entirely blameless, but I could not sit there and see that man leading the men into trouble, urging them on to their own destruction, as it were."
"You might as well have kept still, for all the good it did."
"Yes, I guess that's so. You and I seem fated to get into trouble. Somehow we can't keep out of it."
"Unless we are thrown out," suggested Jarvis, at which both boys laughed as heartily as was possible with their aching bodies. The laugh did more to restore them to a better frame of mind than anything else could have done at that moment.
"Come on, then; we will go up as far as the door."
"What are you going to do?"
"I just want to say something, that's all; then we will go home, where we might better have stayed in the beginning."
The Iron Boys approached the front of the building and started to enter. They found their way barred by a guard at the foot of the stairs.
"You can't go in here," warned the man.
"Who says we can't?" demanded Bob.
"Isay so."
"Well, you don't count. We're going in, just the same, and if you get funny I'll throw youout into the street. If you follow us up and raise a disturbance I'll kick you down stairs. I feel just like kicking somebody real hard," growled Jarvis savagely, thrusting a belligerent chin close to the other man's face. "Go on, Steve; he won't bite."
"No, I hardly think he will," smiled Rush, as he started up the stairs, followed by his companion, the latter turning every few moments to see if the guard were following them. The fellow had prudently remained at the foot of the stairs. Perhaps he had seen something of the hitting powers of the Iron Boys.
Steve Rush stepped into the meeting room and came to a halt about even with the chairman's platform.
Every eye in the room was instantly focused on the lad. He did not present a prepossessing appearance. His clothes were torn and covered with dirt, his face was streaked with blood where it had been cut when he crashed through the window in his flight from the hall, while his hands were in a similar condition.
Cavard discovered him about this time.
"Young man, haven't you caused enough trouble for one night, without coming back looking for more?" demanded the chairman.
"I have not returned to look for trouble. I have come for one thing, to warn you."
"Against what?"
"Against trouble. I presume you have voted for a strike?"
"The members of the union have done so."
"Then let me tell you that that action, which you brought about by underhand scheming, marks the beginning of your downfall, Mr. Cavard. I believe you to be a scheming scoundrel, and I shall make it my business to expose you to the men who are following you so blindly now. Look out, Mr. Walking Delegate and President. It's a pretty long level that doesn't bring up against a hard rock heading sooner or later. I wish my name taken from the roll of the union. I do not wish to belong to any organization that you are connected with. That is all I have to say to you."
"Out with you, before I order you thrown downstairs!" shouted the head of the union. "You can't resign, because you've been bounced. The men fired you out of the window; then they fired you from the union, you and your handy-fisted friend there."
"Thank you. Good night. When you men and your families are suffering from hunger and cold, perhaps you may remember the warning I have given you."
Steve turned on his heel and limped down the stairs, with Bob as a rear guard.
"Hey, Steve!" called Jarvis, halting at the door.
"What is it?" demanded Rush, halting outside the door.
"Shall I hand this guard one for luck? Shall I punch him, just once, good and hard?"
"Certainly not. He hasn't done anything to you. We have had enough fighting for one night. Besides, I am lame and sore, and I want to get home. Come along."
Jarvis followed, but reluctantly. He could hardly restrain himself from thrashing the grinning guard at the foot of the stairs.
When the Iron Boys removed their clothes and took their bath they realized, for the first time, how roughly they had been handled. Their bodies were covered with bruises, but their faces were unmarked, save where Steve had been cut by the glass when he was hurled through the window. There were many other men, however, whose faces had not fared so well, and they would bear the marks of the Iron Boys' fists for days to come.
The boys were in bed soon after. On the morrow they were to awaken to new experiences. Ahead of them was a great strike, in which the Iron Boys were to play a tremendously important part, and during which they were to win new laurels.
PROMOTED BY THE PRESIDENT
AT midnight every mine on the range shut down.
Ten thousand men were out for the time being. Not all of these were in sympathy with the strike, of course. Many were loyal to their employers, and would have continued at their work, but the superintendents of the various shafts gave orders to shut down the mines until the following day, when other plans would be made.
At daylight on the following morning the private car of the president of the mining company entered the town. Mr. Carrhart and Mr. Penton were in consultation in the latter's office half an hour later. The president had been through strikes before. He knew what they meant, and his face wore a serious expression.
"I don't care so much on our own account, Penton. We have a million tons of ore on the dumps at the mines now, enough to keep us going until navigation on the lakes shuts down. I feel sorry for the men, and for their innocent families. Who is this man Cavard?"
"I always have considered him a bright, capable man. He is an inspector, as you know. I never saw anything wrong about him until this matter came up. But I believe he has been organizing the men for some time. Rush accused the fellow, in my presence, of carrying this thing through from dishonest motives."
"Ah, Rush! What about these boys? Then they are not in sympathy with the strikers?" questioned the president.
"No. They both joined the union, not, I believe, because of any sympathy that they felt for the movement, but in the light of after events, it is plain to me that Rush saw what was coming, and thought he might be able to stem the tide. It was too big a task for him. He did not fully appreciate the magnitude of the task that he had set for himself."
"They are splendid boys," continued Mr. Carrhart, the lines of his face softening perceptibly. "Splendid boys. Tell me about their part in this affair."
Mr. Penton did so. He related to the president the incidents connected with the Iron Boys joining the union. Of their having pitted themselves against the man Cavard, of Steve Rush's speeches and of the fight in the meeting on the previous night, when the boys had been handled so roughly.
"The cowards!" exclaimed Mr. Carrhart, thumping the superintendent's desk with a powerful fist. "They deserve no sympathy, and——"
"You mean the leaders deserve no sympathy?" corrected Mr. Penton.
"Yes. Do you know how the boys are this morning—whether they were seriously hurt or not?"
"They went home after the meeting—after they had reëntered the meeting room and withdrawn from the organization. I have not heard from them this morning, of course."
"Please send over to their boarding place and find out as soon as you think the people there are up. I should like to see the boys some time this morning if they are able to get out. If not, we will go to them," announced the president with emphasis. "How many of our men will stand by us?"
"I have no idea. Not very many."
"While there is no necessity for our turning a wheel for the rest of the season, we must do so for the moral effect it will have on the strikers. We must not give way for a moment. We already are paying our men better wages than almost any other mine in the country. It is not the principle of this corporation to grind its men down, but to pay them all they can earn.Yet there is a limit beyond which we cannot go. Have you any suggestions to make, Penton?"
"Yes. I should notify the men that if they wish to declare the strike off and go to work within twenty-four hours, all will be taken back without prejudice and given work all winter. Otherwise the mines will be manned by others when we get ready to work them. I should get into communication with our mine captains and find out if our engineers, pump-men, electricians and other practical men are to be depended upon."
"It shall be done at once."
"And we must not forget about our young friends, Rush and Jarvis," continued Penton. "I fear we shall have violence before this strike is ended. The union has plenty of money for a long fight, but I do not believe a large amount of it will get to the men themselves, from what I know about their leaders."
"I should imagine not. I will go back to my car for breakfast and you can make your reports to me there. That, perhaps, will be best. Better have your notices gotten out at once."
"I will do so."
When the miners went out on the street that morning they found the town placarded with the notices, as directed by President Carrhart. Groups quickly gathered about these notices,those who could read translating the notices to those of the foreigners whose knowledge of English was limited.
Soon these groups were engaged in excited discussions. The word went out that a meeting of the union would be called for nine o'clock. This meeting was of the briefest nature, lasting not more than twenty minutes. A stirring address by Cavard was the final argument necessary to clinch the matter. The strike was on, and the men were going to stand fast until the bosses should yield, which the walking delegate assured the men the former would soon do. That owners could not afford to hold out for more than a month at the longest was the promise made to the striking miners.
The meeting ended amid wild enthusiasm, after which the men strolled about the streets, well satisfied with themselves and thoroughly enjoying the liberty and freedom of their new situation.
No overtures were made to the mine owners by the leaders of the strike that day. Cavard proceeded exactly as if the mine officials did not exist. Word of what had been done at the morning meeting had been quickly carried to Mr. Carrhart. The president smiled grimly.
The latter had just finished his breakfast when Steve Rush and Bob Jarvis presented themselvesat the private car and were quickly admitted. Mr. Carrhart greeted them warmly, bidding them be seated.
"I will talk with you while I look over my mail and telegrams. Rush, you look as if you had been pretty roughly handled."
Rush colored.
"I guess I must have been."
"But we gave them something to remember us by," retorted Jarvis. "There are some sore heads in that crowd to-day. I saw a few of them on our way here this morning."
"Rush, I want to thank you for your efforts in our behalf. It was a brave thing to do, in the face of the excitement of the men. The company will not forget what both of you have done. It is unnecessary for me to ask whether you two are going to stand by the company."
"No, sir; it should not be necessary for you to ask. There never was a moment when there was any doubt about it. Are you going to operate the mines just the same, if I may ask?"
"Yes," answered Mr. Carrhart, after brief reflection. "Of course we shall not be able to get out much ore, but we shall do the best we can to show the men that we are independent."
"When do you wish us to go to work?"
"Probably at one this afternoon, though this depends upon whether the superintendent isable to operate the machinery. I hear you have doubts of the honesty of the man Cavard. What do you know about him?"
"Not very much, sir. I know that he did a very crooked thing in mailing most of his notifications for a meeting after the meeting had taken place. Evidently he had privately notified those whom he wished to be present."
"Hm-m-m! What was Cavard's motive?"
"I do not know, but I do know that I consider him a dangerous man. He has a remarkable influence over the men. He can lead them into anything he wishes. Is there no way that he could be arrested and checked?"
Mr. Carrhart laughed.
"That would be making a martyr of the man. No; we cannot have him arrested until he has done something that makes him liable to arrest. Even then it would not do unless the men could be convinced that he was working solely for his own selfish interests and against theirs."
"Then we'll prove it," announced Steve Rush with emphasis.
"Yes, we will!" agreed Jarvis.
Mr. Carrhart gazed at them quizzically.
"You boys almost make me believe that you will do what you say. I am half inclined to believe you will prove it, if you say so. Rush, I am going to give you Cavard's position. Iam going to make you a general inspector in the mines. It is a sort of roving commission, but it will give you authority to do pretty much what you like, of course acting under the instructions of the superintendent."
"What do you wish me to do especially?"
"Keep the mines going, or help to do so. See to it, so far as possible, that the company's property is protected. I do not apprehend any violence just yet, but it will come unless we are able to break the backbone of the strike before cold weather sets in. Do not be headstrong, but work with caution. You will be in danger before we have done this. I hope you will both be careful, for we can't afford to lose you boys just yet, and now we need the services of every loyal man in our employ. Report to Mr. Penton when you leave here, and he will give you your directions for the work of the day. You will act as inspector for both the Cousin Jack and the Red Rock Mines. And, Jarvis, I think I will have you act as assistant to the mining captain of the Red Rock. Curb your temper and keep your head level."
"Yes, sir; I'll try," answered Bob, smiling happily. He was delighted at his promotion.
The interview being ended, the boys bade the president good morning and hastened to the office of the superintendent. Angry looks weredirected at them as they passed along the street, but the Iron Boys gave no heed. They went on about their business as usual.
Mr. Penton was not in when they arrived. He came in soon after, and the lads told him what Mr. Carrhart had said.
"That's good," said Mr. Penton, rubbing his palms together. "I have arranged to have the machinery working at one o'clock to-day. All the engineers are loyal and I have assurance that quite a number of the men are willing to stand by us. We shall have quite a respectable force at work this afternoon."
"Then we will go over now and start in," said Steve.
The boys found fully a hundred men about the shafts of the two mines. When the strikers saw that the boys were going down into the mine they set up an angry shout. Jeers filled the air.
"Scab! Scab! Scab!" howled a hundred voices. But the Iron Boys held themselves steady, and, entering the cage, were shot down into the mine.