Down the Slope

by James Otis

  CHAPTER V

  THE MOB

  Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in thedirection of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and oneach occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if inwonderment. They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving theshaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact ofhis remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.

  One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happenedwhich caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.

  The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the ordersthat every laborer should return home without delay.

  No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outsidethey stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this verystrange state of affairs.

  "I never knew anything like this to happen at Farley's before," an oldminer said.

  "And they don't even tell us why we are cheated out of a day's work."

  "The engineer says there is nothing the matter with the machinery."

  "Yes, an' he, like us, has been ordered to go home."

  These and a dozen other remarks Fred heard as he left the breaker, andwhile loitering for an instant to learn if any one suspected the truestate of affairs he became conscious that Skip and his friends wereregarding him with mingled anger and consternation written on theirfaces.

  "You'd better get out of here, or there may be trouble," Chunkywhispered.

  "Why?"

  "'Cause Skip has got plenty of time now to serve you out, an' he lookslike somethin' was goin' to be done."

  "He'd better not try any more games. I can take care of myself in thedaylight."

  "What do you mean? Did he do somethin' last night?"

  Before Fred could reply the captain of the regulators came up, andChunky lost no time in moving away from this very important personage.

  "Say," Skip began, as he stepped threateningly in front of Fred, "what'sthe meanin' of all this?"

  "Do you mean the shutting down of the machinery?"

  "Of course I do."

  "Why should I know anything about it?"

  "Don't try to play off innocent to me. You've been blowin' about whatthe regulators did, an' that's why all hands can suck their thumbsto-day."

  "Don't you think that is a foolish idea?" Fred asked, with a feebleeffort at a smile. "Do you fancy you, the regulators, or I, are soimportant that the whole force is laid off because of anything whichmay have happened between us?"

  Skip was staggered by this reply, and after thinking the matter over fora moment, he said in a surly tone:

  "All I've got to say is that things will be too hot for you in thistown, if a word is told about what was done last night."

  "You said pretty near the same before throwing me down the shaft."

  "Well, I'm sayin' it again, for it stands you in hand to remember it."

  "I won't forget."

  Skip turned quickly as if the tone offended him, and after glaringfiercely at the breaker boy, walked slowly toward his friends.

  "What's in the wind now? Is he making any more threats?"

  Looking around quickly Fred saw Sam Thorpe, who had just come up theslope with Bill Thomas.

  "Skip is afraid the shutting down has some connection with the doings ofthe regulators. Isn't it queer to stop the machinery so soon when Mr.Wright was anxious to keep everything a secret?"

  "I heard him say that the pumps were out of order. One set got chokedthis morning, and it wouldn't be safe for the miners to stay in thelower level till they were repaired."

  Sam winked meaningly as if he thought the matter had been arranged veryskillfully; but Fred was yet at a loss to understand how anything couldbe gained by this move.

  "Why were all hands thrown out?"

  "There are some general repairs to be made, and it was better to do thewhole at the same time."

  "Then there's no reason why Brace should hide any longer."

  "He mustn't so much as show his nose. Come over by the slope and watchBillings and his crowd. They are in a peck of trouble, expecting thatBrace will be found, and since no one is allowed to enter the minematters begin to look tough for them."

  Fred followed his friend and saw those who had intended to cause aterrible disaster clustered around the mouth of the slope in a feverishstate of excitement.

  "This is a nice way to treat honest men," Billings was saying as the twoapproached. "We work for starvation wages, an' then get laid offwhenever the bosses like, without so much as a notice. It's time we didsomething to show we're men."

  "I'm told the pumps are choked," an old miner said, "an' if that's thecase Mr. Wright oughter shut down. Farley's never has had a very goodname; but one or two stoppages like this'll show it's worked on thesquare."

  "What a fool you are!" Billings cried angrily. "Haven't you got senseenough to see that this thing has been done so's we'll run deeper indebt at the store, an' have to submit to a cut down when Wright getsready to put the screws on?"

  Several of the bystanders loudly expressed their belief in thecorrectness of Billings' theory, and instantly the greatest excitementprevailed. The group increased in numbers each moment, and Billings tookupon himself the office of spokesman.

  One proposed they march in a body to the superintendent's house anddemand that the machinery be started again. Another insisted on forcingtheir way into the mine to ascertain the true cause of the stoppage, andin this last speaker Fred recognized one of the men who had helped makeJoe Brace a prisoner.

  "They want to find him before Mr. Wright orders an examination," hewhispered to Sam, and the latter replied:

  "In less than an hour they'll have force enough to do as they please.It's time we were out of this; you go home to tell Joe, and I'll see Mr.Wright if possible."

  Fred was all the more willing to follow this advice because Skip and hisparty were in the immediate vicinity, and the lawlessness of the menmight render them bold enough to administer the promised flogging thenand there.

  The streets of the little town were crowded with knots of miners, someof whom seemed to think the superintendent had acted for their good,while others were indulging in the most extravagant threats.

  Mrs. Byram was standing in the doorway when her son arrived, and itcould readily be seen by her face how relieved she was to have him withher once more.

  "You mustn't leave the house again to-day," she said in a tremulousvoice. "Go up stairs and tell Mr. Brace what has happened."

  The miner was impatient to learn the cause of the excitement, for hecould hear the hum of voices on the street; but did not care to look outof the window for fear of being seen.

  Fred's story was not a long one, and he had to repeat it several timesbefore Brace was satisfied.

  "I s'pose Wright knows his own business best; but it looks mightydangerous to shut down so sudden."

  "Perhaps it was the only course to pursue," Fred suggested. "Billings'crowd may have been so near carrying their plot into operation thatthere was no time for anything different."

  "That might be; but take my word for it, there's going to be trouble atFarley's before this fuss is settled."

  "Do you think Billings would dare to force his way into the mine?"

  "He'd dare do anything with men enough at his back."

  "Suppose they got in and didn't find you?"

  "I ain't thinkin' of myself, for it would be easy to get out of town."

  "If they have an idea you've escaped from the drift all hands will be onthe watch, knowing you could expose their plot."

  "Everything is correct so long as they don't find out where I am, an'when it's time to move I'll agree to give 'em the slip. Go down stairsso you can see if the trouble is about to begin."

  Before Fred could obey, Sam Thorpe burst into the room.

  "There's a regular mob on the way to Mr. Wright's house. They threatento burn it if the works are not opened in an
hour."

  "Where is the superintendent?" Brace asked.

  "In the mine I think; he's not at home, for I just came from there."

  "Is Billings leadin' them?"

  "Yes."

  "How many of the company's men are on guard at the slope?"

  "About a dozen."

  "Who are they?"

  Sam repeated the names, and Brace said musingly:

  "There are one or two that I'm doubtful of. They've been too thicklately with Billings."

  "It can't be helped now, for Mr. Wright wouldn't dare show himself longenough to make any change."

  At this moment a loud cry from the street caused the boys to run quicklydown the stairs, and Brace ventured to look out from between the foldsof the curtain.

  The mob, in a spirit of bravado and to gain recruits, were parading thestreets before making their demands, and had halted in front of thecompany's store that Billings might harangue those near by. He wasdilating upon the wrongs inflicted on honest workingmen, and calling foreveryone to join in the struggle for their rights, when, to theastonishment of all, Mr. Wright appeared, coming from the direction ofthe slope.

  The superintendent would have passed the mob and entered the store, butthat the men barred his way, forcing him to halt directly in front ofMrs. Byram's home.

  "We was lookin' for you," Billings said insolently, as he stepped closeto Mr. Wright.

  "Well, now that you have found me speak quickly, for there is very muchthat I must do before night."

  "Open the works!" a voice shouted.

  "Give us a chance at the bosses!"

  "Tell us what's the matter. Why are we thrown out of a job?"

  "Hold on!" Billings cried, "I'll do the talking."

  It was several moments before the tumult ceased sufficiently for theleader to make himself understood, and meanwhile the superintendentstepped on the threshold as Mrs. Byram opened the door.

  "In the first place," Billings began, "we want to know why the workshave been shut down?"

  "Because the pumps in the lower level are choked, and there is everydanger that portion will be flooded."

  "But why are us miners barred out?"

  "It is evident someone has been trying to work mischief, and I do notcare to run the risk of allowing the same party free access to the placeuntil all the damage is repaired."

  "Do you mean to accuse us of tryin to drown each other?" one of thethrong asked.

  "I shall make no accusations until everything can be proven; butmeanwhile all must remain out of the works that the guilty parties maynot be able to do worse mischief."

  "That is only a trick to keep us idle so the store bills put us morecompletely in your power," Billings cried insolently.

  "You know the company must lose a great deal of money by taking the menout."

  It was impossible for Mr. Wright to make himself heard further. Theminers began to speak, each one for himself, and little could bedistinguished save the threats to burn the houses belonging to theofficers of the works, if the machinery was not started immediately.

  After this threat had been made the men grew more bold, and before thosein the cottage had time to screen themselves a shower of stones wereflung at the superintendent, who barely succeeded in protecting himselfby jumping behind the door.

  Fred and Sam, the latter of whom had an ugly cut on the cheek, closedthe door quickly, bolting and barricading it with the furniture nearestat hand, and the riot had begun.

  The angry men pelted the house with such missiles as could be mosteasily procured, and during two or three minutes it seemed as if thebuilding must be wrecked.

  Mr. Wright would have run into the street as the only way by which thewidow's property could be saved; but Fred and Sam prevented him byforce, and Brace, who came down stairs at the first alarm, saiddecidedly:

  "You mustn't think of such a thing. Your life would be taken."

  "It is cowardly to remain here."

  "It is foolhardy to face, single handed, two or three hundred bruteslike those who are yelling."

  "But the widow's property?"

  "The building belongs to the company, and you can easily pay her forwhat may be destroyed."

  During this brief conversation the front windows had been shattered, andthe mob appeared to be on the point of carrying the place by storm whena voice cried:

  "I ain't here to fight agin women who are in the same box withourselves. What's to prevent our smashin' the windows of his own house?"

  "That's the way to talk," another replied. "Come on; we'll attend to hiscase later."

  As if by magic the mob vanished; but the hoots and yells told of thedirection in which they had gone.

  "Something must be done at once, or there is no knowing where this thingwill end. Fred, you and Sam get some boards up at these windows, andI'll learn how many of the men can be trusted to stand by us. Keep outof sight a while longer Brace."

  Mr. Wright left the building by the rear entrance, the boys watchinguntil he disappeared within the company's store, and then Sam proceededto obey the orders.

  Nearly every pane of glass in the front of the house had been broken,and there was not lumber enough to close more than one.

  "We shall have to go to the yard for boards; do you dare to try it,Fred?"

  "Why not? Skip's crowd are most likely with the men."

  Mrs. Byram was afraid to have her son leave the house at such a time;but Joe Brace made light of her fears, and she gave a reluctant consent.

  "We sha'nt be away more than half an hour, and the mob will pay noattention to us while they have so much mischief on hand," Fred said ashe followed Sam.