CHAPTER XV
A WARNING NOT HEEDED
THE word that was spread by Cavard and his associates during the nextfew days acted as a torch to the minds of the miners. That thesuperintendent had almost turned them out of his office was theinformation that reached the miners from various sources.
In the meantime the organization was being perfected, not from anyregular meetings that were being held, for Cavard did not propose tomove again until he was fully prepared. At the same time Steve Rushbegan to realize that the men were looking upon him with disapprovingeyes. He had been a traitor to their cause, according to the informationthat had been subtly instilled into the miners' minds. At first he didnot understand what this new attitude meant, but gradually the truthbegan to dawn upon him.
Rush held many conversations with the men who, in the past, had beenfriendly to him. He saw, however, that their minds had been poisonedagainst him, and he well knew the source from which the poison had come.
Bob Jarvis had shared in the dislike that was growing for Steve Rush,but Bob did not care particularly. He was a self-reliant boy, well usedto looking out for himself and battling his way through the world.Steve, on the other hand, felt that there was a greater principleinvolved--the welfare of the men themselves, who, he believed, werebeing misled. And still, beyond this, was the duty of the Iron Boys totheir employers. Steve had not seen Mr. Penton since the meeting in thelatter's office.
Before the end of the week notices were sent out for a meeting of theunion. This time every man in the organization received a notice, thisreaching all the miners of the Red Rock, Cousin Jack and the independentmines.
There was an activity on the part of all hands, never before observableon the iron range. Cavard, in the short time that the union had beenorganized, had formed such a combination that his power and influencewere far-reaching. His lieutenants were working everywhere. The plot hehad formed was now ready to be put into effect.
A definite refusal to accede to the demands of the miners had beenreceived from the main offices of the company, no matter whether thedemands were endorsed by every man on the range or not. The companyannounced 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 beentold 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'ssister Marie, who kept house now for the walking delegate. She was apretty young woman, and though Steve never had known her well, she hadtaken a great liking to the young miner, having urged him, on variousoccasions, to call and see them. Rush never had done so because he didnot like her brother.
Miss Cavard stopped squarely in front of Steve, barring his way.
"Good evening, Mr. Rush," she greeted, extending a friendly hand. "Youwere in such a great hurry that I thought you were going to run overme."
"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 meetingto-night, after I have had my supper."
"Just like your name, sir; always in a rush. You haven't even time tocome and see us. I am beginning to think you do not care to have us foryour friends."
Steve did not answer.
"Tell me frankly why you have always refused my invitations to visitus."
"Frankly, Miss Cavard, your brother and myself are not very friendly."
"Is that the reason? He thinks that you have not been loyal to theunion."
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 Ishould not be friends, is it?"
"Perhaps not, but it is better that we should not be friends under thecircumstances."
Miss Cavard laughed softly.
"You are a very out-spoken boy, I must say. You tell me you are going tothe 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 accomplishanything or not."
"_Don't_ go!" 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 experiencewith the world, and perhaps I am better able to understand some thingsthan 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. Youmust not press me for an explanation, for I cannot give it. But pleasestay away from that meeting to-night. You can do no good. Everything issettled. The temper of the men has been aroused, and I fear there willbe trouble."
"Trouble for whom?" demanded Steve, bending suspicious eyes upon her.
"Ah, that I cannot say. Ask me no questions, for I shall not answerthem. Don't you see what a risk I am running in saying as much as I havesaid?"
"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, andno one shall ever say that Steve Rush shirked his duty as he saw it. Iam 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 youwill not be warned by me, for trouble surely will follow. You will treatwhat I have told you as an absolute confidence?"
"That goes without saying, Miss Cavard. I thank you very much. I cannottell you how grateful I am for your kindness. I should not have expectedit from Mr. Cavard's sister."
"Mr. Cavard's sister is not----" The girl checked herself sharply. "Goodnight, Mr. Rush. If you will not accept my warning, be careful," was theyoung woman's parting injunction.
Steve pondered over the interview while eating his supper. Then while hewas 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 betrouble, didn't you?"
"I guess I did, at that. Well, perhaps I wasn't so far wrong. I want youto stick pretty close to me to-night, for I have had a warning thatsomething 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 justas well to be prepared. The miners are very much excited. Have you heardanything else of interest to-day?"
"No; nothing but what you have heard. The men are all down on thebosses, and are making all sorts of threats."
"Yes, I know that," nodded Rush. "It's too bad. If anything seriouscomes 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. Heis working for Cavard, and for no one else. The man craves notoriety andpower, and he is having more than his share of both just now. Did youever 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 narrowingas he squinted suspiciously at his companion.
"You ask too many questions. Hurry up, or we shall be late. It is nearlyeight o'clock now, and the meeting is called for eight."
"Which means nine. None of them ever gets there on time, except thefellows who don't spruce up as much as we do."
A few minutes later the Iron Boys were on their way to the meetingplace. Before they reached the hall--the meeting this time taking placein the town hall, which was much larger than the place where they hadfirst met--the lads found themselves in a great crowd. Voices werepitched high, and loud conversations were being carried on in manylanguages.
"This is something like what I imagine the Tower of Babel must havebeen," laughed Rush. "What a mob! Poor, misled fellows! They believethey have been greatly wronged. If they only knew how well they aretreated 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 theirway through the crowd and up the stairs into the big room, where acouple of hundred men had already assembled.
Everyone in the room was talking and gesticulating excitedly. The boyswere thankful that they had been able to gain their seats withoutattracting any marked attention.
Cavard had already taken his place on the platform, where, with his newsecretary, he was going over some papers spread out on a table beforethem.
Inside of twenty minutes after the arrival of the Iron Boys the hall waspacked, every seat being taken, while rows of men four or five deeplined the sides of the room and the aisles.
Cavard rose, swept the assemblage with a half-triumphant glance, thenrapped for order.
"The meeting will please come to order," he said quietly, standingmotionless for a moment after perfect stillness had settled over the bigroom. The effect of his attitude was not lost on the miners. They werealready deeply impressed with the importance of the occasion.
"The secretary will please read the minutes of the last meeting,"directed the chairman, resuming his seat.
Mike Caldert, the new secretary, rose awkwardly to his feet, and, in ahalting voice, read the minutes that, it was evident to many, had notbeen penned by him. He stumbled over the unfamiliar words,mispronouncing, running sentences together, completely ignoring allpunctuation 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 andputting another man in his place. This part the chairman read afterhaving taken the book from the hands of the secretary in order to givethe reading more emphasis.
During the reading Steve's face was pale but calm, while Bob sat openingand closing his fingers nervously.
"Now look out for happenings," whispered Steve, smiling grimly.
The Iron Boys as Foremen; or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift Page 15