Book + 

III + 

The Henchmen of King Coal + 

I + 

It was Hal’s intention to get to Western City as quickly as possible to call upon the newspaper editors. But first he must have money to travel, and the best way he could think of to get it was to find John Edstrom. He left the train, followed by Pete Hanun; after some inquiry, he came upon the undertaker who had buried Edstrom’s wife, and who told him where the old Swede was staying, in the home of a labouring-man nearby. + 

Edstrom greeted him with eager questions: Who had been killed? What was the situation? Hal told in brief sentences what had happened. When he mentioned his need of money, Edstrom answered that he had a little, and would lend it, but it was not enough for a ticket to Western City. Hal asked about the twenty-five dollars which Mary Burke had sent by registered mail; the old man had heard nothing about it, he had not been to the post-office. “Let’s go now!” said Hal, at once; but as they were starting downstairs, a fresh difficulty occurred to him. Pete Hanun was on the street outside, and it was likely that he had heard about this money from Jeff Cotton; he might hold Edstrom up and take it away. + 

“Let me suggest something,” put in the old man. “Come and see my friend Ed MacKellar. He may be able to give us some advice⁠—even to think of some way to get the mine open.” Edstrom explained that MacKellar, an old Scotchman, had been a miner, but was now crippled, and held some petty office in Pedro. He was a persistent opponent of “Alf” Raymond’s machine, and they had almost killed him on one occasion. His home was not far away, and it would take little time to consult him. + 

“All right,” said Hal, and they set out at once. Pete Hanun followed them, not more than a dozen yards behind, but did not interfere, and they turned in at the gate of a little cottage. A woman opened the door for them, and asked them into the dining-room where MacKellar was sitting⁠—a grey-haired old man, twisted up with rheumatism and obliged to go about on crutches. + 

Hal told his story. As the Scotchman had been brought up in the mines, it was not necessary to go into details about the situation. When Hal told his idea of appealing to the newspapers, the other responded at once, “You won’t have to go to Western City. There’s a man right here who’ll do the business for you; Keating, of the Gazette.” + 

“The Western City Gazette?” exclaimed Hal. He knew this paper; an evening journal selling for a cent, and read by workingmen. Persons of culture who referred to it disposed of it with the adjective “yellow.” + 

“I know,” said MacKellar, noting Hal’s tone. “But it’s the only paper that will publish your story anyway.” + 

“Where is this Keating?” + 

“He’s been up at the mine. It’s too bad you didn’t meet him.” + 

“Can we get hold of him now?” + 

“He might be in Pedro. Try the American Hotel.” + 

Hal went to the telephone, and in a minute was hearing for the first time the cheery voice of his friend and lieutenant-to-be, “Billy” Keating. In a couple of minutes more the owner of the voice was at MacKellar’s door, wiping the perspiration from his half-bald forehead. He was round-faced, like a full moon, and as jolly as Falstaff; when you got to know him better, you discovered that he was loyal as a Newfoundland dog. For all his bulk, Keating was a newspaper man, every inch of him “on the job.” + 

He started to question the young miner as soon as he was introduced, and it quickly became clear to Hal that here was the man he was looking for. Keating knew exactly what questions to ask, and had the whole story in a few minutes. “By thunder!” he cried. “My last edition!” And he pulled out his watch, and sprang to the telephone. “Long distance,” he called; then, “I want the city editor of the Western City Gazette. And, operator, please see if you can’t rush it through. It’s very urgent, and last time I had to wait nearly half an hour.” + 

He turned back to Hal, and proceeded to ask more questions, at the same time pulling a bunch of copy-paper from his pocket and making notes. He got all Hal’s statements about the lack of sprinkling, the absence of escape-ways, the delay in starting the fan, the concealing of the number of men in the mine. “I knew things were crooked up there!” he exclaimed. “But I couldn’t get a lead! They kept a man with me every minute of the time. You know a fellow named Predovich?” + 

“I do,” said Hal. “The company store-clerk; he once went through my pockets.” + 

Keating made a face of disgust. “Well, he was my chaperon. Imagine trying to get the miners to talk to you with that sneak at your heels! I said to the superintendent, ‘I don’t need anybody to escort me around your place.’ And he looked at me with a nasty little smile. ‘We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you while you’re in this camp, Mr. Keating.’ ‘You don’t consider it necessary to protect the lives of the other reporters,’ I said. ‘No,’ said he; ‘but the Gazette has made a great many enemies, you know.’ ‘Drop your fooling, Mr. Cartwright,’ I said. ‘You propose to have me shadowed while I’m working on this assignment?’ ‘You can put it that way,’ he answered, ‘if you think it’ll please the readers of the Gazette.’ ” + 

“Too bad we didn’t meet!” said Hal. “Or if you’d run into any of our check-weighman crowd!” + 

“Oh! You know about that check-weighman business!” exclaimed the reporter. “I got a hint of it⁠—that’s how I happened to be down here today. I heard there was a man named Edstrom, who’d been shut out for making trouble; and I thought if I could find him, I might get a lead.” + 

Hal and MacKellar looked at the old Swede, and the three of them began to laugh. “Here’s your man!” said MacKellar. + 

“And here’s your check-weighman!” added Edstrom, pointing to Hal. + 

Instantly the reporter was on his job again; he began to fire another series of questions. He would use that check-weighman story as a “followup” for the next day, to keep the subject of North Valley alive. The story had a direct bearing on the disaster, because it showed what the North Valley bosses were doing when they should have been looking after the safety of their mine. “I’ll write it out this afternoon and send it by mail,” said Keating; he added, with a smile, “That’s one advantage of handling news the other papers won’t touch⁠—you don’t have to worry about losing your ‘scoops’!” + 

II + 

Keating went to the telephone again, to worry “long distance”; then, grumbling about his last edition, he came back to ask more questions about Hal’s experiences. Before long he drew out the story of the young man’s first effort in the publicity game; at which he sank back in his chair, and laughed until he shook, as the nursery-rhyme describes it, “like a bowlful of jelly.” + 

“Graham!” he exclaimed. “Fancy, MacKellar, he took that story to Graham!” + 

The Scotchman seemed to find it equally funny; together they explained that Graham was the political reporter of the Eagle, the paper in Pedro which was owned by the Sheriff-emperor. One might call him Alf Raymond’s journalistic jackal; there was no job too dirty for him. + 

“But,” cried Hal, “he told me he was correspondent for the Western press association!” + 

“He’s that, too,” replied Billy. + 

“But does the press association employ spies for the ‘G.F.C.’?” + 

The reporter answered, drily, “When you understand the news game better, you’ll realise that the one thing the press association cares about in a correspondent is that he should have respect for property. If respect for property is the backbone of his being, he can learn what news is, and the right way to handle it.” + 

Keating turned to the Scotchman. “Do you happen to have a typewriter in the house, Mr. MacKellar?” + 

“An old one,” said the other⁠—“lame, like myself.” + 

“I’ll make out with it. I’d ask this young man over to my hotel, but I think he’d better keep off the streets as much as possible.” + 

“You’re right. If you take my advice, you’ll take the typewriter upstairs, where there’s no chance of a shot through the window.” + 

“Great heavens!” exclaimed Hal. “Is this America, or medieval Italy?” + 

“It’s the Empire of Raymond,” replied MacKellar. “They shot my friend Tom Burton dead while he stood on the steps of his home. He was opposing the machine, and had evidence about ballot-frauds he was going to put before the Grand Jury.” + 

While Keating continued to fret with “long distance,” the old Scotchman went on trying to impress upon Hal the danger of his position. Quite recently an organiser of the miners’ union had been beaten up in broad daylight and left insensible on the sidewalk; MacKellar had watched the trial and acquittal of the two thugs who had committed this crime⁠—the foreman of the jury being a saloon-keeper one of Raymond’s heelers, and the other jurymen being Mexicans, unable to comprehend a word of the court proceedings. + 

“Exactly such a jury as Jeff Cotton promised me!” remarked Hal, with a feeble attempt at a smile. + 

“Yes,” answered the other; “and don’t make any mistake about it, if they want to put you away, they can do it. They run the whole machine here. I know how it is, for I had a political job myself, until they found they couldn’t use me.” + 

The old Scotchman went on to explain that he had been elected justice of peace, and had tried to break up the business of policemen taking money from the women of the town; he had been forced to resign, and his enemies had made his life a torment. Recently he had been candidate for district judge on the Progressive ticket, and told of his efforts to carry on a campaign in the coal-camps⁠—how his circulars had been confiscated, his posters torn down, his supporters “kangarooed.” It was exactly as Alec Stone, the pit-boss, had explained to Hal. In some of the camps the meeting-halls belonged to the company; in others they belonged to saloon-keepers whose credit depended upon Alf Raymond. In the few places where there were halls that could be hired, the machine had gone to the extreme of sending in rival entertainments, furnishing free music and free beer in order to keep the crowds away from MacKellar. + 

All this time Billy Keating had been chafing and scolding at “long distance.” Now at last he managed to get his call, and silence fell in the room. “Hello, Pringle, that you? This is Keating. Got a big story on the North Valley disaster. Last edition put to bed yet? Put Jim on the wire. Hello, Jim! Got your book?” And then Billy, evidently talking to a stenographer, began to tell the story he had got from Hal. Now and then he would stop to repeat or spell a word; once or twice Hal corrected him on details. So, in about a quarter of an hour, they put the job through; and Keating turned to Hal. + 

“There you are, son,” said he. “Your story’ll be on the street in Western City in a little over an hour; it’ll be down here as soon thereafter as they can get telephone connections. And take my advice, if you want to keep a whole skin, you’ll be out of Pedro when that happens!” + 

III + 

When Hal spoke, he did not answer Billy Keating’s last remark. He had been listening to a retelling of the North Valley disaster over the telephone; so he was not thinking about his skin, but about a hundred and seven men and boys buried inside a mine. + 

“Mr. Keating,” said he, “are you sure the Gazette will print that story?” + 

“Good Lord!” exclaimed the other. “What am I here for?” + 

“Well, I’ve been disappointed once, you know.” + 

“Yes, but you got into the wrong camp. We’re a poor man’s paper, and this is what we live on.” + 

“There’s no chance of its being ‘toned down’?” + 

“Not the slightest, I assure you.” + 

“There’s no chance of Peter Harrigan’s suppressing it?” + 

“Peter Harrigan made his attempts on the Gazette long ago, my boy.” + 

“Well,” said Hal, “and now tell me this⁠—will it do the work?” + 

“In what way?” + 

“I mean⁠—in making them open the mine.” + 

Keating considered for a moment. “I’m afraid it won’t do much.” + 

Hal looked at him blankly. He had taken it for granted the publication of the facts would force the company to move. But Keating explained that the Gazette read mainly by working-people, and so had comparatively little influence. “We’re an afternoon paper,” he said; “and when people have been reading lies all morning, it’s not easy to make them believe the truth in the afternoon.” + 

“But won’t the story go to other papers⁠—over the country, I mean?” + 

“Yes, we have a press service; but the papers are all like the Gazette⁠—poor man’s papers. If there’s something very raw, and we keep pounding away for a long time, we can make an impression; at least we limit the amount of news the Western press association can suppress. But when it comes to a small matter like sealing up workingmen in a mine, all we can do is to worry the ‘G.F.C.’ a little.” + 

So Hal was just where he had begun! “I must find some other plan,” he exclaimed. + 

“I don’t see what you can do,” replied the other. + 

There was a pause, while the young miner pondered. “I had thought of going up to Western City and appealing to the editors,” he said, a little uncertainly. + 

“Well, I can tell you about that⁠—you might as well save your carfare. They wouldn’t touch your story.” + 

“And if I appealed to the Governor?” + 

“In the first place, he probably wouldn’t see you. And if he did, he wouldn’t do anything. He’s not really the Governor, you know; he’s a puppet put up there to fool you. He only moves when Harrigan pulls a string.” + 

“Of course I knew he was Old Peter’s man,” said Hal. “But then”⁠—and he concluded, somewhat lamely, “What can I do?” + 

A smile of pity came upon the reporter’s face. “I can see this is the first time you’ve been up against ‘big business.’ ” And then he added, “You’re young! When you’ve had more experience, you’ll leave these problems to older heads!” But Hal failed to get the reporter’s sarcasm. He had heard these exact words in such deadly seriousness from his brother! Besides, he had just come from scenes of horror. + 

“But don’t you see, Mr. Keating?” he exclaimed. “It’s impossible for me to sit still while those men die?” + 

“I don’t know about your sitting still,” said the other. “All I know is that all your moving about isn’t going to do them any good.” + 

Hal turned to Edstrom and MacKellar. “Gentlemen,” he said, “listen to me for a minute.” And there was a note of pleading in his voice⁠—as if he thought they were deliberately refusing to help him! “We’ve got to do something about this. We’ve got to do something! I’m new at the game, as Mr. Keating says; but you aren’t. Put your minds on it, gentlemen, and help me work out a plan!” + 

There was a long silence. “God knows,” said Edstrom, at last. “I’d suggest something if I could.” + 

“And I, too,” said MacKellar. “You’re up against a stonewall, my boy. The government here is simply a department of the ‘G.F.C.’ The officials are crooks⁠—company servants, all of them.” + 

“Just a moment now,” said Hal. “Let’s consider. Suppose we had a real government⁠—what steps would we take? We’d carry such a case to the District Attorney, wouldn’t we?” + 

“Yes, no doubt of it,” said MacKellar. + 

“You mentioned him before,” said Hal. “He threatened to prosecute some mine-superintendents for ballot-frauds, you said.” + 

“That was while he was running for election,” said MacKellar. + 

“Oh! I remember what Jeff Cotton said⁠—that he was friendly to the miners in his speeches, and to the companies in his acts.” + 

“That’s the man,” said the other, drily. + 

“Well,” argued Hal, “oughtn’t I go to him, to give him a chance, at least? You can’t tell, he might have a heart inside him.” + 

“It isn’t a heart he needs,” replied MacKellar; “it’s a backbone.” + 

“But surely I ought to put it up to him! If he won’t do anything, at least I’ll put him on record, and it’ll make another story for you, won’t it, Mr. Keating?” + 

“Yes, that’s true,” admitted the reporter. “What would you ask him to do?” + 

“Why, to lay the matter before the Grand Jury; to bring indictments against the North Valley bosses.” + 

“But that would take a long time; it wouldn’t save the men in the mine.” + 

“What might save them would be the threat of it.” MacKellar put in. “I don’t think any threat of Dick Barker’s would count for that much. The bosses know they could stop him.” + 

“Well, isn’t there somebody else? Shouldn’t I try the courts?” + 

“What courts?” + 

“I don’t know. You tell me.” + 

“Well,” said the Scotchman, “to begin at the bottom, there’s a justice of the peace.” + 

“Who’s he?” + 

“Jim Anderson, a horse-doctor. He’s like any other J.P. you ever knew⁠—he lives on petty graft.” + 

“Is there a higher court?” + 

“Yes, the district court; Judge Denton. He’s the law-partner of Vagleman, counsel for the ‘G.F.C.’ How far would you expect to get with him?” + 

“I suppose I’m clutching at straws,” said Hal. “But they say that’s what a drowning man does. Anyway, I’m going to see these people, and maybe out of the lot of them I can find one who’ll act. It can’t do any harm!” + 

The three men thought of some harm it might do; they tried to make Hal consider the danger of being slugged or shot. “They’ll do it!” exclaimed MacKellar. “And no trouble for them⁠—they’ll prove you were stabbed by a drunken Dago, quarrelling over some woman.” + 

But Hal had got his head set; he believed he could put this job through before his enemies had time to lay any plans. Nor would he let any of his friends accompany him; he had something more important for both Edstrom and Keating to do⁠—and as for MacKellar, he could not get about rapidly enough. Hal bade Edstrom go to the post-office and get the registered letter, and proceed at once to change the bills. It was his plan to make out affidavits, and if the officials here would not act, to take the affidavits to the Governor. And for this he would need money. Meantime, he said, let Billy Keating write out the check-weighman story, and in a couple of hours meet him at the American Hotel, to get copies of the affidavits for the Gazette. + 

Hal was still wearing the miner’s clothes he had worn on the night of his arrest in Edstrom’s cabin. But he declined MacKellar’s offer to lend him a business-suit; the old Scotchman’s clothes would not fit him, he knew, and it would be better to make his appeal as a real miner than as a misfit gentleman. + 

These matters being settled, Hal went out upon the street, where Pete Hanun, the breaker of teeth, fell in behind him. The young miner at once broke into a run, and the other followed suit, and so the two of them sped down the street, to the wonder of people on the way. As Hal had had practice as a sprinter, no doubt Pete was glad that the District Attorney’s office was not far away! + 

IV + 

Mr. Richard Parker was busy, said the clerk in toe outer office; for which Hal was not sorry, as it gave him a chance to get his breath. Seeing a young man flushed and panting, the clerk stared with curiosity; but Hal offered no explanation, and the breaker of teeth waited on the street outside. + 

Mr. Parker received his caller in a couple of minutes. He was a well-fed gentleman with generous neck and chin, freshly shaved and rubbed with talcum powder. His clothing was handsome, his linen immaculate; one got the impression of a person who “did himself well.” There were papers on his desk, and he looked preoccupied. + 

“Well?” said he, with a swift glance at the young miner. + 

“I understand that I am speaking to the District Attorney of Pedro County?” + 

“That’s right.” + 

“Mr. Parker, have you given any attention to the circumstances of the North Valley disaster?” + 

“No,” said Mr. Parker. “Why?” + 

“I have just come from North Valley, and I can give you information which may be of interest to you. There are a hundred and seven people entombed in the mine, and the company officials have sealed it, and are sacrificing those lives.” + 

The other put down the correspondence, and made an examination of his caller from under his heavy eyelids. “How do you know this?” + 

“I left there only a few hours ago. The facts are known to all the workers in the camp.” + 

“You are speaking from what you heard?” + 

“I am speaking from what I know at first hand. I saw the disaster, I saw the pit-mouth boarded over and covered with canvas. I know a man who was driven out of camp this morning for complaining about the delay in starting the fan. It has been over three days since the explosion, and still nothing has been done.” + 

Mr. Parker proceeded to fire a series of questions, in the sharp, suspicious manner customary to prosecuting officials. But Hal did not mind that; it was the man’s business to make sure. + 

Presently he demanded to know how he could get corroboration of Hal’s statements. + 

“You’ll have to go up there,” was the reply. + 

“You say the facts are known to the men. Give me the names of some of them.” + 

“I have no authority to give their names, Mr. Parker.” + 

“What authority do you need? They will tell me, won’t they?” + 

“They may, and they may not. One man has already lost his job; not every man cares to lose his job.” + 

“You expect me to go up there on your bare say-so?” + 

“I offer you more than my say-so. I offer an affidavit.” + 

“But what do I know about you?” + 

“You know that I worked in North Valley⁠—or you can verify the fact by using the telephone. My name is Joe Smith, and I was a miner’s helper in Number Two.” + 

But that was not sufficient, said Mr. Parker; his time was valuable, and before he took a trip to North Valley he must have the names of witnesses who would corroborate these statements. + 

“I offer you an affidavit!” exclaimed Hal. “I say that I have knowledge that a crime is being committed⁠—that a hundred and seven human lives are being sacrificed. You don’t consider that a sufficient reason for even making inquiry?” + 

The District Attorney answered again that he desired to do his duty, he desired to protect the workers in their rights; but he could not afford to go off on a “wild goose chase,” he must have the names of witnesses. And Hal found himself wondering. Was the man merely taking the first pretext for doing nothing? Or could it be that an official of the state would go as far as to help the company by listing the names of “troublemakers”? + 

In spite of his distrust, Hal was resolved to give the man every chance he could. He went over the whole story of the disaster. He took Mr. Parker up to the camp, showed him the agonised women and terrified children crowding about the pit-mouth, driven back with clubs and revolvers. He named family after family, widows and mothers and orphans. He told of the miners clamouring for a chance to risk their lives to save their fellows. He let his own feelings sweep him along; he pleaded with fervour for his suffering friends. + 

“Young man,” said the other, breaking in upon his eloquence, “how long have you been working in North Valley?” + 

“About ten weeks.” + 

“How long have you been working in coal-mines?” + 

“That was my first experience.” + 

“And you think that in ten weeks you have learned enough to entitle you to bring a charge of ‘murder’ against men who have spent their lives in learning the business of mining?” + 

“As I have told you,” exclaimed Hal, “it’s not merely my opinion; it’s the opinion of the oldest and most experienced of the miners. I tell you no effort whatever is being made to save those men! The bosses care nothing about their men! One of them, Alec Stone, was heard by a crowd of people to say, ‘Damn the men! Save the mules!’ ” + 

“Everybody up there is excited,” declared the other. “Nobody can think straight at present⁠—you can’t think straight yourself. If the mine’s on fire, and if the fire is spreading to such an extent that it can’t be put out⁠—” + 

“But, Mr. Parker, how can you say that it’s spreading to such an extent?” + 

“Well, how can you say that it isn’t?” + 

There was a pause. “I understand there’s a deputy mine-inspector up there,” said the District Attorney, suddenly. “What’s his name?” + 

“Carmichael,” said Hal. + 

“Well, and what does he say about it?” + 

“It was for appealing to him that the miner, Huszar, was turned out of camp.” + 

“Well,” said Mr. Parker⁠—and there came a note into his voice by which Hal knew that he had found the excuse he sought⁠—“Well, it’s Carmichael’s business, and I have no right to butt in on it. If he comes to me and asks for indictments, I’ll act⁠—but not otherwise. That’s all I have to say about it.” + 

And Hal rose. “Very well, Mr. Parker,” said he. “I have put the facts before you. I was told you wouldn’t do anything, but I wanted to give you a chance. Now I’m going to ask the Governor for your removal!” And with these words the young miner strode out of the office. + 

V + 

Hal went down the street to the American Hotel, where there was a public stenographer. When this young woman discovered the nature of the material he proposed to dictate, her fingers trembled visibly; but she did not refuse the task, and Hal proceeded to set forth the circumstances of the sealing of the pit-mouth of Number One Mine at North Valley, and to pray for warrants for the arrest of Enos Cartwright and Alec Stone. Then he gave an account of how he had been selected as check-weighman and been refused access to the scales; and with all the legal phraseology he could rake up, he prayed for the arrest of Enos Cartwright and James Peters, superintendent and tipple-boss at North Valley, for these offences. In another affidavit he narrated how Jeff Cotton, camp-marshal, had seized him at night, mistreated him, and shut him in prison for thirty-six hours without warrant or charge; also how Cotton, Pete Hanun, and two other parties by name unknown, had illegally driven him from the town of North Valley, threatening him with violence; for which he prayed the arrest of Jeff Cotton, Pete Hanun, and the two parties unknown. + 

Before this task was finished, Billy Keating came in, bringing the twenty-five dollars which Edstrom had got from the post-office. They found a notary public, before whom Hal made oath to each document; and when these had been duly inscribed and stamped with the seal of the state, he gave carbon copies to Keating, who hurried off to catch a mail-train which was just due. Billy would not trust such things to the local post-office; for Pedro was the hell of a town, he declared. As they went out on the street again they noticed that their bodyguard had been increased by another husky-looking personage, who made no attempt to conceal what he was doing. + 

Hal went around the corner to an office bearing the legend, “J. W. Anderson, Justice of the Peace.” + 

Jim Anderson, the horse-doctor, sat at his desk within. He had evidently chewed tobacco before he assumed the ermine, and his reddish-coloured moustache still showed the stains. Hal observed such details, trying to weigh his chances of success. He presented the affidavit describing his treatment in North Valley, and sat waiting while His Honour read it through with painful slowness. + 

“Well,” said the man, at last, “what do you want?” + 

“I want a warrant for Jeff Cotton’s arrest.” + 

The other studied him for a minute. “No, young fellow,” said he. “You can’t get no such warrant here.” + 

“Why not?” + 

“Because Cotton’s a deputy-sheriff; he had a right to arrest you.” + 

“To arrest me without a warrant?” + 

“How do you know he didn’t have a warrant?” + 

“He admitted to me that he didn’t.” + 

“Well, whether he had a warrant or not, it was his business to keep order in the camp.” + 

“You mean he can do anything he pleases in the camp?” + 

“What I mean is, it ain’t my business to interfere. Why didn’t you see Si Adams, up to the camp?” + 

“They didn’t give me any chance to see him.” + 

“Well,” replied the other, “there’s nothing I can do for you. You can see that for yourself. What kind of discipline could they keep in them camps if any fellow that had a kick could come down here and have the marshal arrested?” + 

“Then a camp-marshal can act without regard to the law?” + 

“I didn’t say that.” + 

“Suppose he had committed murder⁠—would you give a warrant for that?” + 

“Yes, of course, if it was murder.” + 

“And if you knew that he was in the act of committing murder in a coal-camp⁠—would you try to stop him?” + 

“Yes, of course.” + 

“Then here’s another affidavit,” said Hal; and he produced the one about the sealing of the mine. There was silence while Justice Anderson read it through. + 

But again he shook his head. “No, you can’t get no such warrants here.” + 

“Why not?” + 

“Because it ain’t my business to run a coal-mine. I don’t understand it, and I’d make a fool of myself if I tried to tell them people how to run their business.” + 

Hal argued with him. Could company officials in charge of a coal-mine commit any sort of outrage upon their employees, and call it running their business? Their control of the mine in such an emergency as this meant the power of life and death over a hundred and seven men and boys; could it be that the law had nothing to say in such a situation? But Mr. Anderson only shook his head; it was not his business to interfere. Hal might go up to the courthouse and see Judge Denton about it. So Hal gathered up his affidavits and went out to the street again⁠—where there were now three husky-looking personages waiting to escort him. + 

VI + 

The district court was in session and Hal sat for a while in the courtroom, watching Judge Denton. Here was another prosperous and well-fed appearing gentleman, with a rubicund visage shining over the top of his black silk robe. The young miner found himself regarding both the robe and the visage with suspicion. Could it be that Hal was becoming cynical, and losing his faith in his fellow man? What he thought of, in connection with the Judge’s appearance, was that there was a living to be made sitting on the bench, while one’s partner appeared before the bench as coal-company counsel! + 

In an interval of the proceedings, Hal spoke to the clerk, and was told that he might see the judge at four-thirty; but a few minutes later Pete Hanun came in and whispered to this clerk. The clerk looked at Hal, then he went up and whispered to the Judge. At four-thirty, when the court was declared adjourned, the Judge rose and disappeared into his private office; and when Hal applied to the clerk, the latter brought out the message that Judge Denton was too busy to see him. + 

But Hal was not to be disposed of in that easy fashion. There was a side door to the courtroom, with a corridor beyond it, and while he stood arguing with the clerk he saw the rubicund visage of the Judge flit past. + 

He darted in pursuit. He did not shout or make a disturbance; but when he was close behind his victim, he said, quietly, “Judge Denton, I appeal to you for justice!” + 

The Judge turned and looked at him, his countenance showing annoyance. “What do you want?” + 

It was a ticklish moment, for Pete Hanun was at Hal’s heels, and it would have needed no more than a nod from the Judge to cause him to collar Hal. But the Judge, taken by surprise, permitted himself to parley with the young miner; and the detective hesitated, and finally fell back a step or two. + 

Hal repeated his appeal. “Your Honour, there are a hundred and seven men and boys now dying up at the North Valley mine. They are being murdered, and I am trying to save their lives!” + 

“Young man,” said the Judge, “I have an urgent engagement down the street.” + 

“Very well,” replied Hal, “I will walk with you and tell you as you go.” Nor did he give “His Honour” a chance to say whether this arrangement was pleasing to him; he set out by his side, with Pete Hanun and the other two men some ten yards in the rear. + 

Hal told the story as he had told it to Mr. Richard Parker; and he received the same response. Such matters were not easy to decide about; they were hardly a Judge’s business. There was a state official on the ground, and it was for him to decide if there was violation of law. + 

Hal repeated his statement that a man who made a complaint to this official had been thrown out of camp. “And I was thrown out also, your Honour.” + 

“What for?” + 

“Nobody told me what for.” + 

“Tut, tut, young man! They don’t throw men out without telling them the reason!” + 

“But they do, your Honour! Shortly before that they locked me up in jail, and held me for thirty-six hours without the slightest show of authority.” + 

“You must have been doing something!” + 

“What I had done was to be chosen by a committee of miners to act as their check-weighman.” + 

“Their check-weighman?” + 

“Yes, your Honour. I am informed there’s a law providing that when the men demand a check-weighman, and offer to pay for him, the company must permit him to inspect the weights. Is that correct?” + 

“It is, I believe.” + 

“And there’s a penalty for refusing?” + 

“The law always carries a penalty, young man.” + 

“They tell me that law has been on the statute-books for fifteen or sixteen years, and that the penalty is from twenty-five to five hundred dollars fine. It’s a case about which there can be no dispute, your Honour⁠—the miners notified the superintendent that they desired my services, and when I presented myself at the tipple, I was refused access to the scales; then I was seized and shut up in jail, and finally turned out of the camp. I have made affidavit to these facts, and I think I have the right to ask for warrants for the guilty men.” + 

“Can you produce witnesses to your statements?” + 

“I can, your Honour. One of the committee of miners, John Edstrom, is now in Pedro, having been kept out of his home, which he had rented and paid for. The other, Mike Sikoria, was also thrown out of camp. There are many others at North Valley who know all about it.” + 

There was a pause. Judge Denton for the first time took a good look at the young miner at his side; and then he drew his brows together in solemn thought, and his voice became deep and impressive. “I shall take this matter under advisement. What is your name, and where do you live?” + 

“Joe Smith, your Honour. I’m staying at Edward MacKellar’s, but I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay there. There are company thugs watching the place all the time.” + 

“That’s wild talk!” said the Judge, impatiently. + 

“As it happens,” said Hal, “we are being followed by three of them at this moment⁠—one of them the same Pete Hanun who helped to drive me out of North Valley. If you will turn your head you will see them behind us.” + 

But the portly Judge did not turn his head. + 

“I have been informed,” Hal continued, “that I am taking my life in my hands by my present course of action. I believe I’m entitled to ask for protection.” + 

“What do you want me to do?” + 

“To begin with, I’d like you to cause the arrest of the men who are shadowing me.” + 

“It’s not my business to cause such arrests. You should apply to a policeman.” + 

“I don’t see any policeman. Will you tell me where to find one?” + 

His Honour was growing weary of such persistence. “Young man, what’s the matter with you is that you’ve been reading dime novels, and they’ve got on your nerves!” + 

“But the men are right behind me, your Honour! Look at them!” + 

“I’ve told you it’s not my business, young man!” + 

“But, your Honour, before I can find a policeman I may be dead!” + 

The other appeared to be untroubled by this possibility. + 

“And, your Honour, while you are taking these matters under advisement, the men in the mine will be dead!” + 

Again there was no reply. + 

“I have some affidavits here,” said Hal. “Do you wish them?” + 

“You can give them to me if you want to,” said the other. + 

“You don’t ask me for them?” + 

“I haven’t yet.” + 

“Then just one more question⁠—if you will pardon me, your Honour. Can you tell me where I can find an honest lawyer in this town⁠—a man who might be willing to take a case against the interests of the General Fuel Company?” + 

There was a silence⁠—a long, long silence. Judge Denton, of the firm of Denton and Vagleman, stared straight in front of him as he walked. Whatever complicated processes might have been going on inside his mind, his judicial features did not reveal them. “No, young man,” he said at last, “it’s not my business to give you information about lawyers.” And with that the judge turned on his heel and went into the Elks’ Club. + 

VII + 

Hal stood and watched the portly figure until it disappeared; then he turned back and passed the three detectives, who stopped. He stared at them, but made no sign, nor did they. Some twenty feet behind him, they fell in and followed as before. + 

Judge Denton had suggested consulting a policeman; and suddenly Hal noticed that he was passing the City Hall, and it occurred to him that this matter of his being shadowed might properly be brought to the attention of the mayor of Pedro. He wondered what the chief magistrate of such a “hell of a town” might be like; after due inquiry, he found himself in the office of Mr. Ezra Perkins, a mild-mannered little gentleman who had been in the undertaking-business, before he became a figurehead for the so-called “Democratic” machine. + 

He sat pulling nervously at a neatly trimmed brown beard, trying to wriggle out of the dilemma into which Hal put him. Yes, it might possibly be that a young miner was being followed on the streets of the town; but whether or not this was against the law depended on the circumstances. If he had made a disturbance in North Valley, and there was reason to believe that he might be intending trouble, doubtless the company was keeping track of him. But Pedro was a law-abiding place, and he would be protected in his rights so long as he behaved himself. + 

Hal replied by citing what MacKellar had told him about men being slugged on the streets in broad daylight. To this Mr. Perkins answered that there was uncertainty about the circumstances of these cases; anyhow, they had happened before he became mayor. His was a reform administration, and he had given strict orders to the Chief of Police that there were to be no more incidents of the sort. + 

“Will you go with me to the Chief of Police and give him orders now?” demanded Hal. + 

“I do not consider it necessary,” said Mr. Perkins. + 

He was about to go home, it seemed. He was a pitiful little rodent, and it was a shame to torment him; but Hal stuck to him for ten or twenty minutes longer, arguing and insisting⁠—until finally the little rodent bolted for the door, and made his escape in an automobile. “You can go to the Chief of Police yourself,” were his last words, as he started the machine; and Hal decided to follow the suggestion. He had no hope left, but he was possessed by a kind of dogged rage. He would not let go! + 

Upon inquiry of a passerby, he learned that police headquarters was in this same building, the entrance being just round the corner. He went in, and found a man in uniform writing at a desk, who stated that the Chief had “stepped down the street.” Hal sat down to wait, by a window through which he could look out upon the three gunmen loitering across the way. + 

The man at the desk wrote on, but now and then he eyed the young miner with that hostility which American policemen cultivate toward the lower classes. To Hal this was a new phenomenon, and he found himself suddenly wishing that he had put on MacKellar’s clothes. Perhaps a policeman would not have noticed the misfit! + 

The Chief came in. His blue uniform concealed a burly figure, and his moustache revealed the fact that his errand down the street had had to do with beer. “Well, young fellow?” said he, fixing his gaze upon Hal. + 

Hal explained his errand. + 

“What do you want me to do?” asked the Chief, in a decidedly hostile voice. + 

“I want you to make those men stop following me.” + 

“How can I make them stop?” + 

“You can lock them up, if necessary. I can point them out to you, if you’ll step to the window.” + 

But the other made no move. “I reckon if they’re follerin’ you, they’ve got some reason for it. Have you been makin’ trouble in the camps?” He asked this question with sudden force, as if it had occurred to him that it might be his duty to lock up Hal. + 

“No,” said Hal, speaking as bravely as he could⁠—“no indeed, I haven’t been making trouble. I’ve only been demanding my rights.” + 

“How do I know what you been doin’?” + 

The young miner was willing to explain, but the other cut him short. “You behave yourself while you’re in this town, young feller, d’you see? If you do, nobody’ll bother you.” + 

“But,” said Hal, “they’ve already threatened to bother me.” + 

“What did they say?” + 

“They said something might happen to me on a dark night.” + 

“Well, so it might⁠—you might fall down and hit your nose.” + 

The Chief was pleased with this wit, but only for a moment. “Understand, young feller, we’ll give you your rights in this town, but we got no love for agitators, and we don’t pretend to have. See?” + 

“You call a man an agitator when he demands his legal rights?” + 

“I ain’t got time to argue with you, young feller. It’s no easy matter keepin’ order in coal-camps, and I ain’t going to meddle in the business. I reckon the company detectives has got as good a right in this town as you.” + 

There was a pause. Hal saw that there was nothing to be gained by further discussion with the Chief. It was his first glimpse of the American policeman as he appears to the labouring man in revolt, and he found it an illuminating experience. There was dynamite in his heart as he turned and went out to the street; nor was the amount of the explosive diminished by the mocking grins which he noted upon the faces of Pete Hanun and the other two husky-looking personages. + 

VIII + 

Hal judged that he had now exhausted his legal resources in Pedro; the Chief of Police had not suggested anyone else he might call upon, so there seemed nothing he could do but go back to MacKellar’s and await the hour of the night train to Western City. He started to give his guardians another run, by way of working off at least a part of his own temper; but he found that they had anticipated this difficulty. An automobile came up and the three of them stepped in. Not to be outdone, Hal engaged a hack, and so the expedition returned in pomp to MacKellar’s. + 

Hal found the old cripple in a state of perturbation. All that afternoon his telephone had been ringing; one person after another had warned him⁠—some pleading with him, some abusing him. It was evident that among them were people who had a hold on the old man; but he was undaunted, and would not hear of Hal’s going to stay at the hotel until train-time. + 

Then Keating returned, with an exciting tale to tell. Schulman, general manager of the “G.F.C.,” had been sending out messengers to hunt for him, and finally had got him in his office, arguing and pleading, cajoling and denouncing him by turns. He had got Cartwright on the telephone, and the North Valley superintendent had laboured to convince Keating that he had done the company a wrong. Cartwright had told a story about Hal’s efforts to hold up the company for money. “Incidentally,” said Keating, “he added the charge that you had seduced a girl in his camp.” + 

Hal stared at his friend. “Seduced a girl!” he exclaimed. + 

“That’s what he said; a redheaded Irish girl.” + 

“Well, damn his soul!” + 

There followed a silence, broken by a laugh from Billy. “Don’t glare at me like that. I didn’t say it!” + 

But Hal continued to glare, nevertheless. “The dirty little skunk!” + 

“Take it easy, sonny,” said the fat man, soothingly. “It’s quite the usual thing, to drag in a woman. It’s so easy⁠—for of course there always is a woman. There’s one in this case, I suppose?” + 

“There’s a perfectly decent girl.” + 

“But you’ve been friendly with her? You’ve been walking around where people can see you?” + 

“Yes.” + 

“So you see, they’ve got you. There’s nothing you can do about a thing of that sort.” + 

“You wait and see!” Hal burst out. + 

The other gazed curiously at the angry young miner. “What’ll you do? Beat him up some night?” + 

But the young miner did not answer. “You say he described the girl?” + 

“He was kind enough to say she was a redheaded beauty, and with no one to protect her but a drunken father. I could understand that must have made it pretty hard for her, in one of these coal-camps.” There was a pause. “But see here,” said the reporter, “you’ll only do the girl harm by making a row. Nobody believes that women in coal-camps have any virtue. God knows, I don’t see how they do have, considering the sort of men who run the camps, and the power they have.” + 

“Mr. Keating,” said Hal, “did you believe what Cartwright told you?” + 

Keating had started to light a cigar. He stopped in the middle, and his eyes met Hal’s. “My dear boy,” said he, “I didn’t consider it my business to have an opinion.” + 

“But what did you say to Cartwright?” + 

“Ah! That’s another matter. I said that I’d been a newspaper man for a good many years, and I knew his game.” + 

“Thank you for that,” said Hal. “You may be interested to know there isn’t any truth in the story.” + 

“Glad to hear it,” said the other. “I believe you.” + 

“Also you may be interested to know that I shan’t drop the matter until I’ve made Cartwright take it back.” + 

“Well, you’re an enterprising cuss!” laughed the reporter. “Haven’t you got enough on your hands, with all the men you’re going to get out of the mine?” + 

IX + 

Billy Keating went out again, saying that he knew a man who might be willing to talk to him on the quiet, and give him some idea what was going to happen to Hal. Meantime Hal and Edstrom sat down to dinner with MacKellar. The family were afraid to use the dining-room of their home, but spread a little table in the upstairs hall. The distress of mind of MacKellar’s wife and daughter was apparent, and this brought home to Hal the terror of life in this coal-country. Here were American women, in an American home, a home with evidences of refinement and culture; yet they felt and acted as if they were Russian conspirators, in terror of Siberia and the knout! + 

The reporter was gone a couple of hours; when he came back, he brought news. “You can prepare for trouble, young fellow.” + 

“Why so?” + 

“Jeff Cotton’s in town.” + 

“How do you know?” + 

“I saw him in an automobile. If he left North Valley at this time, it was for something serious, you may be sure.” + 

“What does he mean to do?” + 

“There’s no telling. He may have you slugged; he may have you run out of town and dumped out in the desert; he may just have you arrested.” + 

Hal considered for a moment. “For slander?” + 

“Or for vagrancy; or on suspicion of having robbed a bank in Texas, or murdered your great-grandmother in Tasmania. The point is, he’ll keep you locked up till this trouble has blown over.” + 

“Well,” said Hal, “I don’t want to be locked up. I want to go up to Western City. I’m waiting for the train.” + 

“You may have to wait till morning,” replied Keating. “There’s been trouble on the railroad⁠—a freight-car broke down and ripped up the track; it’ll be some time before it’s clear.” + 

They discussed this new problem back and forth. MacKellar wanted to get in half a dozen friends and keep guard over Hal during the night; and Hal had about agreed to this idea, when the discussion was given a new turn by a chance remark of Keating’s. “Somebody else is tied up by the railroad accident. The Coal King’s son!” + 

“The Coal King’s son?” echoed Hal. + 

“Young Percy Harrigan. He’s got a private car here⁠—or rather a whole train. Think of it⁠—dining-car, drawing-room car, two whole cars with sleeping apartments! Wouldn’t you like to be a son of the Coal King?” + 

“Has he come on account of the mine-disaster?” + 

“Mine-disaster?” echoed Keating. “I doubt if he’s heard of it. They’ve been on a trip to the Grand Canyon, I was told; there’s a baggage-car with four automobiles.” + 

“Is Old Peter with them?” + 

“No, he’s in New York. Percy’s the host. He’s got one of his automobiles out, and was up in town⁠—two other fellows and some girls.” + 

“Who’s in his party?” + 

“I couldn’t find out. You can see, it might be a story for the Gazette⁠—the Coal King’s son, coming by chance at the moment when a hundred and seven of his serfs are perishing in the mine! If I could only have got him to say a word about the disaster! If I could even have got him to say he didn’t know about it!” + 

“Did you try?” + 

“What am I a reporter for?” + 

“What happened?” + 

“Nothing happened; except that he froze me stiff.” + 

“Where was this?” + 

“On the street. They stopped at a drugstore, and I stepped up. ‘Is this Mr. Percy Harrigan?’ He was looking into the store, over my head. ‘I’m a reporter,’ I said, ‘and I’d like to ask you about the accident up at North Valley.’ ‘Excuse me,’ he said, in a tone⁠—gee, it makes your blood cold to think of it! ‘Just a word,’ I pleaded. ‘I don’t give interviews,’ he answered; and that was all⁠—he continued looking over my head, and everybody else staring in front of them. They had turned to ice at my first word. If ever I felt like a frozen worm!” + 

There was a pause. + 

“Ain’t it wonderful,” reflected Billy, “how quick you can build up an aristocracy! When you looked at that car, the crowd in it and the airs they wore, you’d think they’d been running the world since the time of William the Conqueror. And Old Peter came into this country with a pedlar’s pack on his shoulders!” + 

“We’re hustlers here,” put in MacKellar. + 

“We’ll hustle all the way to hell in a generation more,” said the reporter. Then, after a minute, “Say, but there’s one girl in that bunch that was the real thing! She sure did get me! You know all those fluffy things they do themselves up in⁠—soft and fuzzy, makes you think of springtime orchards. This one was exactly the colour of apple-blossoms.” + 

“You’re susceptible to the charms of the ladies?” inquired Hal, mildly. + 

“I am,” said the other. “I know it’s all fake, but just the same, it makes my little heart go pit-a-pat. I always want to think they’re as lovely as they look.” + 

Hal’s smile became reminiscent, and he quoted: + 

“Oh Liza-Ann, come out with me, + 

The moon is a-shinin’ in the monkey-puzzle tree!” + 

Then he stopped, with a laugh. “Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve, Mr. Keating. She wouldn’t be above taking a peck at it as she passed.” + 

“At me? A worm of a newspaper reporter?” + 

“At you, a man!” laughed Hal. “I wouldn’t want to accuse the lady of posing; but a lady has her role in life, and has to keep her hand in.” + 

There was a pause. The reporter was looking at the young miner with sudden curiosity. “See here,” he remarked, “I’ve been wondering about you. How do you come to know so much about the psychology of the leisure class?” + 

“I used to have money once,” said Hal. “My family’s gone down as quickly as the Harrigans have come up.” + 

X + 

Hal went on to question Keating about the apple-blossom girl. “Maybe I could guess who she is. What colour was her hair?” + 

“The colour of molasses taffy when you’ve pulled it,” said Billy; “but all fluffy and wonderful, with stardust in it. Her eyes were brown, and her cheeks pink and cream.” + 

“She had two rows of pearly white teeth, that flashed at you when she smiled?” + 

“She didn’t smile, unfortunately.” + 

“Then her brown eyes gazed at you, wide open, full of wonder?” + 

“Yes, they did⁠—only it was into the drugstore window.” + 

“Did she wear a white hat of soft straw, with a green and white flower garden on it, and an olive green veil, and maybe cream white ribbons?” + 

“By George, I believe you’ve seen her!” exclaimed the reporter. + 

“Maybe,” said Hal. “Or maybe I’m describing the girl on the cover of one of the current magazines!” He smiled; but then, seeing the other’s curiosity, “Seriously, I think I do know your young lady. If you announce that Miss Jessie Arthur is a member of the Harrigan party, you won’t be taking a long chance.” + 

“I can’t afford to take any chance at all,” said the reporter. “You mean Robert Arthur’s daughter?” + 

“Heiress-apparent of the banking business of Arthur and Sons,” said Hal. “It happens I know her by sight.” + 

“How’s that?” + 

“I worked in a grocery-store where she used to come.” + 

“Whereabouts?” + 

“Peterson and Company, in Western City.” + 

“Oho! And you used to sell her candy.” + 

“Stuffed dates.” + 

“And your little heart used to go pit-a-pat, so that you could hardly count the change?” + 

“Gave her too much, several times!” + 

“And you wondered if she was as good as she was beautiful! One day you were thrilled with hope, the next you were cynical and bitter⁠—till at last you gave up in despair, and ran away to work in a coal-mine!” + 

They laughed, and MacKellar and Edstrom joined in. But suddenly Keating became serious again. “I ought to be away on that story!” he exclaimed. “I’ve got to get something out of that crowd about the disaster. Think what copy it would make!” + 

“But how can you do it?” + 

“I don’t know; I only know I ought to be trying. I’ll hang round the train, and maybe I can get one of the porters to talk.” + 

“Interview with the Coal King’s porter!” chuckled Hal. “How it feels to make up a multimillionaire’s bed!” + 

“How it feels to sell stuffed dates to a banker’s daughter!” countered the other. + 

But suddenly it was Hal’s turn to become serious. “Listen, Mr. Keating,” said he, “why not let me interview young Harrigan?” + 

“You?” + 

“Yes! I’m the proper person⁠—one of his miners! I help to make his money for him, don’t I? I’m the one to tell him about North Valley.” + 

Hal saw the reporter staring at him in sudden excitement; he continued: “I’ve been to the District Attorney, the Justice of the Peace, the District Judge, the Mayor and the Chief of Police. Now, why shouldn’t I go to the Owner?” + 

“By thunder!” cried Billy. “I believe you’d have the nerve!” + 

“I believe I would,” replied Hal, quietly. + 

The other scrambled out of his chair, wild with delight. “I dare you!” he exclaimed. + 

“I’m ready,” said Hal. + 

“You mean it?” + 

“Of course I mean it.” + 

“In that costume?” + 

“Certainly. I’m one of his miners.” + 

“But it won’t go,” cried the reporter. “You’ll stand no chance to get near him unless you’re well dressed.” + 

“Are you sure of that? What I’ve got on might be the garb of a railroad-hand. Suppose there was something out of order in one of the cars⁠—the plumbing, for example?” + 

“But you couldn’t fool the conductor or the porter.” + 

“I might be able to. Let’s try it.” + 

There was a pause, while Keating thought. “The truth is,” he said, “it doesn’t matter whether you succeed or not⁠—it’s a story if you even make the attempt. The Coal King’s son appealed to by one of his serfs! The hard heart of Plutocracy rejects the cry of Labour!” + 

“Yes,” said Hal, “but I really mean to get to him. Do you suppose he’s got back to the train yet?” + 

“They were starting to it when I left.” + 

“And where is the train?” + 

“Two or three hundred yards east of the station, I was told.” + 

MacKellar and Edstrom had been listening enthralled to this exciting conversation. “That ought to be just back of my house,” said the former. + 

“It’s a short train⁠—four parlour-cars and a baggage-car,” added Keating. “It ought to be easy to recognise.” + 

The old Scotchman put in an objection. “The difficulty may be to get out of this house. I don’t believe they mean to let you get away tonight.” + 

“By Jove, that’s so!” exclaimed Keating. “We’re talking too much⁠—let’s get busy. Are they watching the back door, do you suppose?” + 

“They’ve been watching it all day,” said MacKellar. + 

“Listen,” broke in Hal⁠—“I’ve an idea. They haven’t tried to interfere with your going out, have they, Mr. Keating?” + 

“No, not yet.” + 

“Nor with you, Mr. MacKellar?” + 

“No, not yet,” said the Scotchman. + 

“Well,” Hal suggested, “suppose you lend me your crutches?” + 

Whereat Keating gave an exclamation of delight. “The very thing!” + 

“I’ll take your overcoat and hat,” Hal added. “I’ve watched you get about, and I think I can give an imitation. As for Mr. Keating, he’s not easy to mistake.” + 

“Billy, the fat boy!” laughed the other. “Come, let’s get on the job!” + 

“I’ll go out by the front door at the same time,” put in Edstrom, his old voice trembling with excitement. “Maybe that’ll help to throw them off the track.” + 

XI + 

They had been sitting upstairs in MacKellar’s room. Now they rose, and were starting for the stairs, when suddenly there came a ring at the front door bell. They stopped and stared at one another. “There they are!” whispered Keating. + 

And MacKellar sat down suddenly, and held out his crutches to Hal. “The hat and coat are in the front hall,” he exclaimed. “Make a try for it!” His words were full of vigour, but like Edstrom, his voice was trembling. He was no longer young, and could not take adventure gaily. + 

Hal and Keating ran downstairs, followed by Edstrom. Hal put on the coat and hat, and they went to the back door, while at the same time Edstrom answered the bell in front. + 

The back door opened into a yard, and this gave, through a side gate, into an alley. Hal’s heart was pounding furiously as he began to hobble along with the crutches. He had to go at MacKellar’s slow pace⁠—while Keating, at his side, started talking. He informed “Mr. MacKellar,” in a casual voice, that the Gazette was a newspaper which believed in the people’s cause, and was pledged to publish the people’s side of all public questions. Discoursing thus, they went out of the gate and into the alley. + 

A man emerged from the shadows and walked by them. He passed within three feet of Hal, and peered at him, narrowly. Fortunately there was no moon; Hal could not see the man’s face, and hoped the man could not see his. + 

Meantime Keating was proceeding with his discourse. “You understand, Mr. MacKellar,” he was saying, “sometimes it’s difficult to find out the truth in a situation like this. When the interests are filling their newspapers with falsehoods and exaggerations, it’s a temptation for us to publish falsehoods and exaggerations on the other side. But we find in the long run that it pays best to publish the truth, Mr. MacKellar⁠—we can stand by it, and there’s no comeback.” + 

Hal, it must be admitted, was not paying much attention to this edifying sermon. He was looking ahead, to where the alley debouched onto the street. It was the street behind MacKellar’s house, and only a block from the railroad-track. + 

He dared not look behind, but he was straining his ears. Suddenly he heard a shout, in John Edstrom’s voice. “Run! Run!” + 

In a flash, Hal dropped the two crutches, and started down the alley, Keating at his heels. They heard cries behind them, and a voice, sounding quite near, commanded, “Halt!” They had reached the end of the alley, and were in the act of swerving, when a shot rang out and there was a crash of glass in a house beyond them on the far side of the street. + 

Farther on was a vacant lot with a path running across it. Following this, they dodged behind some shanties, and came to another street⁠—and so to the railroad tracks. There was a long line of freight-cars before them, and they ran between two of these, and climbing over the couplings, saw a great engine standing, its headlight gleaming full in their eyes. They sprang in front of it, and alongside the train, passing a tender, then a baggage-car, then a parlour-car. + 

“Here we are!” exclaimed Keating, who was puffing like a bellows. + 

Hal saw that there were only three more cars to the train; also, he saw a man in a blue uniform standing at the steps. He dashed towards him. “Your car’s on fire!” he cried. + 

“What?” exclaimed the man. “Where?” + 

“Here!” cried Hal; and in a flash he had sprung past the other, up the steps and into the car. + 

There was a long, narrow corridor, to be recognised as the kitchen portion of a dining-car; at the other end of this corridor was a swinging door, and to this Hal leaped. He heard the conductor shouting to him to stop, but he paid no heed. He slipped off his overcoat and hat; and then, pushing open the door, he entered a brightly lighted apartment⁠—and the presence of the Coal King’s son. + 

XII + 

White linen and cut glass of the dining-saloon shone brilliantly under electric lights, softened to the eye by pink shades. Seated at the tables were half a dozen young men and as many young ladies, all in evening costume; also two or three older ladies. They had begun the first course of their meal, and were laughing and chatting, when suddenly came this unexpected visitor, clad in coal-stained miner’s jumpers. He was not disturbing in the manner of his entry; but immediately behind him came a fat man, perspiring, wild of aspect, and wheezing like an old fashioned steam-engine; behind him came the conductor of the train, in a no less evident state of agitation. So, of course, conversation ceased. The young ladies turned in their chairs, while several of the young men sprang to their feet. + 

There followed a silence: until finally one of the young men took a step forward. “What’s this?” he demanded, as one who had a right to demand. + 

Hal advanced towards the speaker, a slender youth, correct in appearance, but not distinguished looking. “Hello, Percy!” said Hal. + 

A look of amazement came upon the other’s face. He stared, but seemed unable to believe what he saw. And then suddenly came a cry from one of the young ladies; the one having hair the colour of molasses taffy when you’ve pulled it⁠—but all fluffy and wonderful, with stardust in it. Her cheeks were pink and cream, and her brown eyes gazed, wide open, full of wonder. She wore a dinner gown of soft olive green, with a cream white scarf of some filmy material thrown about her bare shoulders. + 

She had started to her feet. “It’s Hal!” she cried. + 

“Hal Warner!” echoed young Harrigan. “Why, what in the world⁠—?” + 

He was interrupted by a clamour outside. “Wait a moment,” said Hal, quietly. “I think someone else is coming in.” + 

The door was pushed violently open. It was pushed so violently that Billy Keating and the conductor were thrust to one side; and Jeff Cotton appeared in the entrance. + 

The camp-marshal was breathless, his face full of the passion of the hunt. In his right hand he carried a revolver. He glared about him, and saw the two men he was chasing; also he saw the Coal King’s son, and the rest of the astonished company. He stood, stricken dumb. + 

The door was pushed again, forcing him aside, and two more men crowded in, both of them carrying revolvers in their hands. The foremost was Pete Hanun, and he also stood staring. The “breaker of teeth” had two teeth of his own missing, and when his prizefighter’s jaw dropped down, the deficiency became conspicuous. It was probably his first entrance into society, and he was like an overgrown boy caught in the jam-closet. + 

Percy Harrigan’s manner became distinctly imperious. “What does this mean?” he demanded. + 

It was Hal who answered. “I am seeking a criminal, Percy.” + 

“What?” There were little cries of alarm from the women. + 

“Yes, a criminal; the man who sealed up the mine.” + 

“Sealed up the mine?” echoed the other. “What do you mean?” + 

“Let me explain. First, I will introduce my friends. Harrigan, this is my friend Keating.” + 

Billy suddenly realised that he had a hat on his head. He jerked it off; but for the rest, his social instincts failed him. He could only stare. He had not yet got all his breath. + 

“Billy’s a reporter,” said Hal. “But you needn’t worry⁠—he’s a gentleman, and won’t betray a confidence. You understand, Billy.” + 

“Y⁠—yes,” said Billy, faintly. + 

“And this,” said Hal, “is Jeff Cotton, camp-marshal at North Valley. I suppose you know, Percy, that the North Valley mines belong to the ‘G.F.C.’ Cotton, this is Mr. Harrigan.” + 

Then Cotton remembered his hat; also his revolver, which he tried to get out of sight behind his back. + 

“And this,” continued Hal, “is Mr. Pete Hanun, by profession a breaker of teeth. This other gentleman, whose name I don’t know, is presumably an assistant-breaker.” So Hal went on, observing the forms of social intercourse, his purpose being to give his mind a chance to work. So much depended upon the tactics he chose in this emergency! Should he take Percy to one side and tell him the story quietly, leaving it to his sense of justice and humanity? No, that was not the way one dealt with the Harrigans! They had bullied their way to the front; if anything were done with them, it would be by force! If anything were done with Percy, it would be by laying hold of him before these guests, exposing the situation, and using their feelings to coerce him! + 

The Coal King’s son was asking questions again. What was all this about? So Hal began to describe the condition of the men inside the mine. “They have no food or water, except what they had in their dinner-pails; and it’s been three days and a half since the explosion! They are breathing bad air; their heads are aching, the veins swelling in their foreheads; their tongues are cracking, they are lying on the ground, gasping. But they are waiting⁠—kept alive by the faith they have in their friends on the surface, who will try to get to them. They dare not take down the barriers, because the gases would kill them at once. But they know the rescuers will come, so they listen for the sounds of axes and picks. That is the situation.” + 

Hal stopped and waited for some sign of concern from young Harrigan. But no such sign was given. Hal went on: + 

“Think of it, Percy! There is one old man in that mine, an Irishman who has a wife and eight children waiting to learn about his fate. I know one woman who has a husband and three sons in the mine. For three days and a half the women and children have been standing at the pit-mouth; I have seen them sitting with their heads sunk upon their knees, or shaking their fists, screaming curses at the criminal who is to blame.” + 

There was a pause. “The criminal?” inquired young Harrigan. “I don’t understand!” + 

“You’ll hardly be able to believe it; but nothing has been done to rescue these men. The criminal has nailed a cover of boards over the pit-mouth, and put tarpaulin over it⁠—sealing up men and boys to die!” + 

There was a murmur of horror from the diners. + 

“I know, you can’t conceive such a thing. The reason is, there’s a fire in the mine; if the fan is set to working, the coal will burn. But at the same time, some of the passages could be got clear of smoke, and some of the men could be rescued. So it’s a question of property against lives; and the criminal has decided for the property. He proposes to wait a week, two weeks, until the fire has been smothered; then of course the men and boys will be dead.” + 

There was a silence. It was broken by young Harrigan. “Who has done this?” + 

“His name is Enos Cartwright.” + 

“But who is he?” + 

“Just now when I said that I was seeking the criminal, I misled you a little, Percy. I did it because I wanted to collect my thoughts.” Hal paused: when he continued, his voice was sharper, his sentences falling like blows. “The criminal I’ve been telling you about is the superintendent of the mine⁠—a man employed and put in authority by the General Fuel Company. The one who is being chased is not the one who sealed up the mine, but the one who proposed to have it opened. He is being treated as a malefactor, because the laws of the state, as well as the laws of humanity, have been suppressed by the General Fuel Company; he was forced to seek refuge in your car, in order to save his life from thugs and gunmen in the company’s employ!” + 

XIII + 

Knowing these people well, Hal could measure the effect of the thunderbolt he had hurled among them. They were people to whom good taste was the first of all the virtues; he knew how he was offending them. If he was to win them to the least extent, he must explain his presence here⁠—a trespasser upon the property of the Harrigans. + 

“Percy,” he continued, “you remember how you used to jump on me last year at college, because I listened to ‘muckrakers.’ You saw fit to take personal offence at it. You knew that their tales couldn’t be true. But I wanted to see for myself, so I went to work in a coal-mine. I saw the explosion; I saw this man, Jeff Cotton, driving women and children away from the pit-mouth with blows and curses. I set out to help the men in the mine, and the marshal rushed me out of camp. He told me that if I didn’t go about my business, something would happen to me on a dark night. And you see⁠—this is a dark night!” + 

Hal waited, to give young Harrigan a chance to grasp this situation and to take command. But apparently young Harrigan was not aware of the presence of the camp-marshal and his revolver. Hal tried again: + 

“Evidently these men wouldn’t have minded killing me; they fired at me just now. The marshal still has the revolver and you can smell the powder-smoke. So I took the liberty of entering your car, Percy. It was to save my life, and you’ll have to excuse me.” + 

The Coal King’s son had here a sudden opportunity to be magnanimous. He made haste to avail himself of it. “Of course, Hal,” he said. “It was quite all right to come here. If our employees were behaving in such fashion, it was without authority, and they will surely pay for it.” He spoke with quiet certainty; it was the Harrigan manner, and before it Jeff Cotton and the two mine-guards seemed to wither and shrink. + 

“Thank you, Percy,” said Hal. “It’s what I knew you’d say. I’m sorry to have disturbed your dinner-party⁠—” + 

“Not at all, Hal; it was nothing of a party.” + 

“You see, Percy, it was not only to save myself, but the people in the mine! They are dying, and every moment is precious. It will take a day at least to get to them, so they’ll be at their last gasp. Whatever’s to be done must be done at once.” + 

Again Hal waited⁠—until the pause became awkward. The diners had so far been looking at him; but now they were looking at young Harrigan, and young Harrigan felt the change. + 

“I don’t know just what you expect of me, Hal. My father employs competent men to manage his business, and I certainly don’t feel that I know enough to give them any suggestions.” This again in the Harrigan manner; but it weakened before Hal’s firm gaze. “What can I do?” + 

“You can give the order to open the mine, to reverse the fan and start it. That will draw out the smoke and gases, and the rescuers can go down.” + 

“But Hal, I assure you I have no authority to give such an order.” + 

“You must take the authority. Your father’s in the East, the officers of the company are in their beds at home; you are here!” + 

“But I don’t understand such things, Hal! I don’t know anything of the situation⁠—except what you tell me. And while I don’t doubt your word, any man may make a mistake in such a situation.” + 

“Come and see for yourself, Percy! That’s all I ask, and it’s easy enough. Here is your train, your engine with steam up; have us switched onto the North Valley branch, and we can be at the mine in half an hour. Then⁠—let me take you to the men who know! Men who’ve been working all their lives in mines, who’ve seen accidents like this many times, and who will tell you the truth⁠—that there’s a chance of saving many lives, and that the chance is being thrown away to save some thousands of dollars’ worth of coal and timbers and track.” + 

“But even if that’s true, Hal, I have no power!” + 

“If you come there, you can cut the red-tape in one minute. What those bosses are doing is a thing that can only be done in darkness!” + 

Under the pressure of Hal’s vehemence, the Harrigan manner was failing; the Coal King’s son was becoming a bewildered and quite ordinary youth. But there was a power greater than Hal behind him. He shook his head. “It’s the old man’s business, Hal. I’ve no right to butt in!” + 

The other, in his desperate need, turned to the rest of the party. His gaze, moving from one face to another, rested upon the magazine-cover countenance, with the brown eyes wide open, full of wonder. + 

“Jessie! What do you think about it?” + 

The girl started, and distress leaped into her face. “How do you mean, Hal?” + 

“Tell him he ought to save those lives!” + 

The moments seemed ages as Hal waited. It was a test, he realised. The brown eyes dropped. “I don’t understand such things, Hal!” + 

“But, Jessie, I am explaining them! Here are men and boys being suffocated to death, in order to save a little money. Isn’t that plain?” + 

“But how can I know, Hal?” + 

“I’m giving you my word, Jessie. Surely I wouldn’t appeal to you unless I knew.” + 

Still she hesitated. And there came a swift note of feeling into his voice: “Jessie, dear!” + 

As if under a spell, the girl’s eyes were raised to his; he saw a scarlet flame of embarrassment spreading over her throat and cheeks. “Jessie, I know⁠—it seems an intolerable thing to ask! You’ve never been rude to a friend. But I remember once you forgot your good manners, when you saw a rough fellow on the street beating an old drudge-horse. Don’t you remember how you rushed at him⁠—like a wild thing! And now⁠—think of it, dear, here are old drudge-creatures being tortured to death; but not horses⁠—workingmen!” + 

Still the girl gazed at him. He could read grief, dismay in her eyes; he saw tears steal from them, and stream down her cheeks. “Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know!” she cried; and hid her face in her hands, and began to sob aloud. + 

XIV + 

There was a painful pause. Hal’s gaze travelled on, and came to a grey-haired lady in a black dinner-gown, with a rope of pearls about her neck. “Mrs. Curtis! Surely you will advise him!” + 

The grey-haired lady started⁠—was there no limit to his impudence? She had witnessed the torturing of Jessie. But Jessie was his fiancée; he had no such claim upon Mrs. Curtis. She answered, with iciness in her tone: “I could not undertake to dictate to my host in such a matter.” + 

“Mrs. Curtis! You have founded a charity for the helping of stray cats and dogs!” These words rose to Hal’s lips; but he did not say them. His eyes moved on. Who else might help to bully a Harrigan? + 

Next to Mrs. Curtis sat Reggie Porter, with a rose in the buttonhole of his dinner-jacket. Hal knew the role in which Reggie was there⁠—a kind of male chaperon, an assistant host, an admirer to the wealthy, a solace to the bored. Poor Reggie lived other people’s lives, his soul perpetually a-quiver with other people’s excitements, with gossip, preparations for tea-parties, praise of tea-parties past. And always the soul was pushing; calculating, measuring opportunities, making up in tact and elegance for distressing lack of money. Hal got one swift glimpse of the face; the sharp little black moustaches seemed standing up with excitement, and in a flash of horrible intuition Hal read the situation⁠—Reggie was expecting to be questioned, and had got ready an answer that would increase his social capital in the Harrigan family bank! + 

Across the aisle sat Genevieve Halsey: tall, erect, built on the scale of a statue. You thought of the ox-eyed Juno, and imagined stately emotions; but when you came to know Genevieve, you discovered that her mind was slow, and entirely occupied with herself. Next to her was Bob Creston, smooth-shaven, rosy-cheeked, exuding well-being⁠—what is called a “good fellow,” with a wholesome ambition to win cups for his athletic club, and to keep up the score of his rifle-team of the state militia. Jolly Bob might have spoken, out of his good heart; but he was in love with a cousin of Percy’s, Betty Gunnison, who sat across the table from him⁠—and Hal saw her black eyes shining, her little fists clenched tightly, her lips pressed white. Hal understood Betty⁠—she was one of the Harrigans, working at the Harrigan family task of making the children of a pack-pedlar into leaders in the “younger set!” + 

Next sat “Vivie” Cass, whose talk was of horses and dogs and such ungirlish matters; Hal had discussed social questions in her presence, and heard her view expressed in one flashing sentence⁠—“If a man eats with his knife, I consider him my personal enemy!” Over her shoulder peered the face of a man with pale eyes and yellow moustaches⁠—Bert Atkins, cynical and world-weary, whom the papers referred to as a “club-man,” and whom Hal’s brother had called a “tame cat.” There was “Dicky” Everson, like Hal, a favourite of the ladies, but nothing more; “Billy” Harris, son of another “coal man”; Daisy, his sister; and Blanche Vagleman, whose father was Old Peter’s head lawyer, whose brother was the local counsel, and publisher of the Pedro Star. + 

So Hal’s eyes moved from face to face, and his mind from personality to personality. It was like the unrolling of a scroll; a panorama of a world he had half forgotten. He had no time for reflection, but one impression came to him, swift and overwhelming. Once he had lived in this world and taken it as a matter of course. He had known these people, gone about with them; they had seemed friendly, obliging, a good sort of people on the whole. And now, what a change! They seemed no longer friendly! Was the change in them? Or was it Hal who had become cynical⁠—so that he saw them in this terrifying new light, cold, and unconcerned as the stars about men who were dying a few miles away! + 

Hal’s eyes came back to the Coal King’s son, and he discovered that Percy was white with anger. “I assure you, Hal, there’s no use going on with this. I have no intention of letting myself be bulldozed.” + 

Percy’s gaze shifted with sudden purpose to the camp-marshal. “Cotton, what do you say about this? Is Mr. Warner correct in his idea of the situation?” + 

“You know what such a man would say, Percy!” broke in Hal. + 

“I don’t,” was the reply. “I wish to know. What is it, Cotton?” + 

“He’s mistaken, Mr. Harrigan.” The marshal’s voice was sharp and defiant. + 

“In what way?” + 

“The company’s doing everything to get the mine open, and has been from the beginning.” + 

“Oh!” And there was triumph in Percy’s voice. “What is the cause of the delay?” + 

“The fan was broken, and we had to send for a new one. It’s a job to set it up⁠—such things can’t be done in an hour.” + 

Percy turned to Hal. “You see! There are two opinions, at least!” + 

“Of course!” cried Betty Gunnison, her black eyes snapping at Hal. She would have said more, but Hal interrupted, stepping closer to his host. “Percy,” he said, in a low voice, “come back here, please. I have a word to say to you alone.” + 

There was just a hint of menace in Hal’s voice; his gaze went to the far end of the car, a space occupied only by two negro waiters. These retired in haste as the young men moved towards them; and so, having the Coal King’s son to himself, Hal went in to finish this fight. + 

XV + 

Percy Harrigan was known to Hal, as a college-boy is known to his classmates. He was not brutal, like his grim old father; he was merely self-indulgent, as one who had always had everything; he was weak, as one who had never had to take a bold resolve. He had been brought up by the women of the family, to be a part of what they called “society”; in which process he had been given high notions of his own importance. The life of the Harrigans was dominated by one painful memory⁠—that of a pedlar’s pack; and Hal knew that Percy’s most urgent purpose was to be regarded as a real and true and freehanded aristocrat. It was this knowledge Hal was using in his attack. + 

He began with apologies, attempting to soothe the other’s anger. He had not meant to make a scene like this; it was the gunmen who had forced it, putting his life in danger. It was the very devil, being chased about at night and shot at! He had lost his nerve, really; he had forgot what little manners he had been able to keep as a miner’s buddy. He had made a spectacle of himself; good Lord yes, he realised how he must seem! + 

—And Hal looked at his dirty miner’s jumpers, and then at Percy. He could see that Percy was in hearty agreement thus far⁠—he had indeed made a spectacle of himself, and of Percy too! Hal was sorry about this latter, but here they were, in a pickle, and it was certainly too late now. This story was out⁠—there could be no suppressing it! Hal might sit down on his reporter-friend, Percy might sit down on the waiters and the conductor and the camp-marshal and the gunmen⁠—but he could not possibly sit down on all his friends! They would talk about nothing else for weeks! The story would be all over Western City in a day⁠—this amazing, melodramatic, ten-twenty-thirty story of a miner’s buddy in the private car of the Coal King’s son! + 

“And you must see, Percy,” Hal went on, “it’s the sort of thing that sticks to a man. It’s the thing by which everybody will form their idea of you as long as you live!” + 

“I’ll take my chances with my friends’ criticism,” said the other, with some attempt at the Harrigan manner. + 

“You can make it whichever kind of story you choose,” continued Hal, implacably. “The world will say, He decided for the dollars; or it will say, He decided for the lives. Surely, Percy, your family doesn’t need those particular dollars so badly! Why, you’ve spent more on this one train-trip!” + 

And Hal waited, to give his victim time to calculate. + 

The result of the thinking was a question worthy of Old Peter. “What are you getting out of this?” + 

“Percy,” said Hal, “you must know I’m getting nothing! If you can’t understand it otherwise, say to yourself that you are dealing with a man who’s irresponsible. I’ve seen so many terrible things⁠—I’ve been chased around so much by camp-marshals⁠—why, Percy, that man Cotton has six notches on his gun! I’m simply crazy!” And into the brown eyes of this miner’s buddy came a look wild enough to convince a stronger man than Percy Harrigan. “I’ve got just one idea left in the world, Percy⁠—to save those miners! You make a mistake unless you realise how desperate I am. So far I’ve done this thing incog! I’ve been Joe Smith, a miner’s buddy. If I’d come out and told my real name⁠—well, maybe I wouldn’t have made them open the mine, but at least I’d have made a lot of trouble for the G.F.C.! But I didn’t do it; I knew what a scandal it would make, and there was something I owed my father. But if I see there’s no other way, if it’s a question of letting those people perish, I’ll throw everything else to the winds. Tell your father that; tell him I threatened to turn this man Keating loose and blow the thing wide open⁠—denounce the company, appeal to the Governor, raise a disturbance and get arrested on the street, if necessary, in order to force the facts before the public. You see, I’ve got the facts, Percy! I’ve been there and seen with my own eyes. Can’t you realise that?” + 

The other did not answer, but it was evident that he realised. + 

“On the other hand, see how you can fix it, if you choose. You were on a pleasure trip when you heard of this disaster; you rushed up and took command, you opened the mine, you saved the lives of your employees. That is the way the papers will handle it.” + 

Hal, watching his victim intently, and groping for the path to his mind, perceived that he had gone wrong. Crude as the Harrigans were, they had learned that it is not aristocratic to be picturesque. + 

“All right then!” said Hal, quickly. “If you prefer, you needn’t be mentioned. The bosses up at the camp have the reporters under their thumbs, they’ll handle the story any way you want it. The one thing I care about is that you run your car up and see the mine opened. Won’t you do it, Percy?” + 

Hal was gazing into the other’s eyes, knowing that life and death for the miners hung upon his nod. “Well? What is the answer?” + 

“Hal,” exclaimed Percy, “my old man will give me hell!” + 

“All right; but on the other hand, I’ll give you hell; and which will be worse?” + 

Again there was a silence. “Come along, Percy! For God’s sake!” And Hal’s tone was desperate, alarming. + 

And suddenly the other gave way. “All right!” + 

Hal drew a breath. “But mind you!” he added. “You’re not going up there to let them fool you! They’ll try to bluff you out⁠—they may go as far as to refuse to obey you. But you must stand by your guns⁠—for, you see, I’m going along, I’m going to see that mine open. I’ll never quit till the rescuers have gone down!” + 

“Will they go, Hal?” + 

“Will they go? Good God, man, they’re clamouring for the chance to go! They’ve almost been rioting for it. I’ll go with them⁠—and you, too, Percy⁠—the whole crowd of us idlers will go! When we come out, we’ll know something about the business of coal-mining!” + 

“All right, I’m with you,” said the Coal King’s son. + 

XVI + 

Hal never knew what Percy said to Cartwright that night; he only knew that when they arrived at the mine the superintendent was summoned to a consultation, and half an hour later Percy emerged smiling, with the announcement that Hal Warner had been mistaken all along; the mine authorities had been making all possible haste to get the fan ready, with the intention of opening the mine at the earliest moment. The work was now completed, and in an hour or two the fan was to be started, and by morning there would be a chance of rescuers getting in. Percy said this so innocently that for a moment Hal wondered if Percy himself might not believe it. Hal’s position as guest of course required that he should graciously pretend to believe it, consenting to appear as a fool before the rest of the company. + 

Percy invited Hal and Billy Keating to spend the night in the train; but this Hal declined. He was too dirty, he said; besides, he wanted to be up at daylight, to be one of the first to go down the shaft. Percy answered that the superintendent had vetoed this proposition⁠—he did not want anyone to go down but experienced men, who could take care of themselves. When there were so many on hand ready and eager to go, there was no need to imperil the lives of amateurs. + 

At the risk of seeming ungracious, Hal declared that he would “hang around” and see them take the cover off the pit-mouth. There were mourning parties in some of the cabins, where women were gathered together who could not sleep, and it would be an act of charity to take them the good news. + 

Hal and Keating set out; they went first to the Rafferties’, and saw Mrs. Rafferty spring up and stare at them, and then scream aloud to the Holy Virgin, waking all the little Rafferties to frightened clamour. When the woman had made sure that they really knew what they were talking about, she rushed out to spread the news, and so pretty soon the streets were alive with hurrying figures, and a crowd gathered once more at the pit-mouth. + 

Hal and Keating went on to Jerry Minetti’s. Out of a sense of loyalty to Percy, Hal did no more than repeat Percy’s own announcement, that it had been Cartwright’s intention all along to have the mine opened. It was funny to see the effect of this statement⁠—the face with which Jerry looked at Hal! But they wasted no time in discussion; Jerry slipped into his clothes and hurried with them to the pit-mouth. + 

Sure enough, a gang was already tearing off the boards and canvas. Never since Hal had been in North Valley had he seen men working with such a will! Soon the great fan began to stir, and then to roar, and then to sing; and there was a crowd of a hundred people, roaring and singing also. + 

It would be some hours before anything more could be done; and suddenly Hal realised that he was exhausted. He and Billy Keating went back to the Minetti cabin, and spreading themselves a blanket on the floor, lay down with sighs of relief. As for Billy, he was soon snoring; but to Hal there came sudden reaction from all the excitement, and sleep was far from him. + 

An ocean of thoughts came flooding into his mind: the world outside, his world, which he had banished deliberately for several months, and which he had so suddenly been compelled to remember! It had seemed so simple, what he had set out to do that summer: to take another name, to become a member of another class, to live its life and think its thoughts, and then come back to his own world with a new and fascinating adventure to tell about! The possibility that his own world, the world of Hal Warner, might find him out as Joe Smith, the miner’s buddy⁠—that was a possibility which had never come to his mind. He was like a burglar, working away at a job in darkness, and suddenly finding the room flooded with light. + 

He had gone into the adventure, prepared to find things that would shock him; he had known that somehow, somewhere, he would have to fight the “system.” But he had never expected to find himself in the thick of the class-war, leading a charge upon the trenches of his own associates. Nor was this the end, he knew; this war would not be settled by the winning of a trench! Lying here in the darkness and silence, Hal was realising what he had got himself in for. To employ another simile, he was a man who begins a flirtation on the street, and wakes up next morning to find himself married. + 

It was not that he had regrets for the course he had taken with Percy. No other course had been thinkable. But while Hal had known these North Valley people for ten weeks, he had known the occupants of Percy’s car for as many years. So these latter personalities loomed large in his consciousness, and here in the darkness their thoughts about him, whether actively hostile or passively astonished, laid siege to the defences of his mind. + 

Particularly he found himself wrestling with Jessie Arthur. Her face rose up before him, appealing, yearning. She had one of those perfect faces, which irresistibly compel the soul of a man. Her brown eyes, soft and shining, full of tenderness; her lips, quick to tremble with emotion; her skin like apple-blossoms, her hair with stardust in it! Hal was cynical enough about coal-operators and mine-guards, but it never occurred to him that Jessie’s soul might be anything but what these bodily charms implied. He was in love with her; and he was too young, too inexperienced in love to realise that underneath the sweetness of girlhood, so genuine and so lovable, might lie deep, unconscious cruelty, inherited and instinctive⁠—the cruelty of caste, the hardness of worldly prejudice. A man has to come to middle age, and to suffer much, before he understands that the charms of women, those rare and magical perfections of eyes and teeth and hair, that softness of skin and delicacy of feature, have cost labour and care of many generations, and imply inevitably that life has been feral, that customs and conventions have been murderous and inhuman. + 

Jessie had failed Hal in his desperate emergency. But now he went over the scene, and told himself that the test had been an unfair one. He had known her since childhood, and loved her, and never before had he seen an act or heard a word that was not gracious and kind. But⁠—so he told himself⁠—she gave her sympathy to those she knew; and what chance had she ever had to know working-people? He must give her the chance; he must compel her, even against her will, to broaden her understanding of life! The process might hurt her, it might mar the unlined softness of her face, but nevertheless, it would be good for her⁠—it would be a “growing pain”! + 

So, lying there in the darkness and silence, Hal found himself absorbed in long conversation with his sweetheart. He escorted her about the camp, explaining things to her, introducing her to this one and that. He took others of his private-car friends and introduced them to his North Valley friends. There were individuals who had qualities in common, and would surely hit it off! Bob Creston, for example, who was good at a “song and dance”⁠—he would surely be interested in “Blinky,” the vaudeville specialist of the camp! Mrs. Curtis, who liked cats, would find a bond of sisterhood with old Mrs. Nagle, who lived next door to the Minettis, and kept five! And even Vivie Cass, who hated men who ate with their knives⁠—she would be driven to murder by the table-manners of Reminitsky’s boarders, but she would take delight in “Dago Charlie,” the tobacco-chewing mule which had once been Hal’s pet! Hal could hardly wait for daylight to come, so that he might begin these efforts at social amalgamation! + 

XVII + 

Towards dawn Hal fell asleep; he was awakened by Billy Keating, who sat up yawning, at the same time grumbling and bewailing. Hal realised that Billy also had discovered troubles during the night. Never in all his career as a journalist had he had such a story; never had any man had such a story⁠—and it must be killed! + 

Cartwright had got the reporters together late the night before and told them the news⁠—that the company had at last succeeded in getting the mine ready to be opened; also that young Mr. Harrigan was there in his private train, prompted by his concern for the entombed miners. The reporters would mention his coming, of course, but were requested not to “play it up,” nor to mention the names of Mr. Harrigan’s guests. Needless to say they were not told that the “buddy” who had been thrown out of camp for insubordination had turned out to be the son of Edward S. Warner, the “coal magnate.” + 

A fine, cold rain was falling, and Hal borrowed an old coat of Jerry’s and slipped it on. Little Jerry clamoured to go with him, and after some controversy Hal wrapped him in a shawl and slung him onto his shoulder. It was barely daylight, but already the whole population of the village was on hand at the pit-mouth. The helmet-men had gone down to make tests, so the hour of final revelation was at hand. Women stood with wet shawls about their hunched shoulders, their faces white and strained, their suspense too great for any sort of utterance. A ghastly thought it was, that while they were shuddering in the wet, their men below might be expiring for lack of a few drops of water! + 

The helmet-men, coming up, reported that lights would burn at the bottom of the shaft; so it was safe for men to go down without helmets, and the volunteers of the first rescue party made ready. All night there had been a clattering of hammers, where the carpenters were working on a new cage. Now it was swung from the hoist, and the men took their places in it. When at last the hoist began to move, and the group disappeared below the surface of the ground, you could hear a sigh from a thousand throats, like the moaning of wind in a pine-tree. They were leaving women and children above, yet not one of these women would have asked them to stay⁠—such was the deep unconscious bond of solidarity which made these toilers of twenty nations one! + 

It was a slow process, letting down the cage; on account of the danger of gas, and the newness of the cage, it was necessary to proceed a few feet at a time, waiting for a pull upon the signal-cord to tell that the men were all right. After they had reached the bottom, there would be more time, no one could say how long, before they came upon survivors with signs of life in them. There were bodies near the foot of the shaft, according to the reports of the helmet-men, but there was no use delaying to bring these up, for they must have been dead for days. Hal saw a crowd of women clamouring about the helmet-men, trying to find out if these bodies had been recognised. Also he saw Jeff Cotton and Bud Adams at their old duty of driving the women back. + 

The cage returned for a second load of men. There was less need of caution now; the hoist worked quickly, and group after group of men with silent, set faces, and pickaxes and crowbars and shovels in their hands, went down into the pit of terror. They would scatter through the workings, testing everywhere ahead of them with safety-lamps, and looking for barriers erected by the imprisoned men for defence against the gases. As they hammered on these barriers, perhaps they would hear the signals of living men on the other side; or they would break through in silence, and find men too far gone to make a sound, yet possibly with the spark of life still in them. + 

One by one, Hal’s friends went down⁠—“Big Jack” David, and Wresmak, the Bohemian, Klowoski, the Pole, and finally Jerry Minetti. Little Jerry waved his hand from his perch on Hal’s shoulder; while Rosa, who had come out and joined them, was clinging to Hal’s arm, silent, as if her soul were going down in the cage. There went blue-eyed Tim Rafferty to look for his father, and black-eyed “Andy,” the Greek boy, whose father had perished in a similar disaster years ago; there went Rovetta, and Carmino, the pit-boss, Jerry’s cousin. One by one their names ran through the crowd, as of heroes marching out to battle. + 

XVIII + 

Looking about, Hal saw some of the guests of the Harrigan party. There was Vivie Cass, standing under an umbrella with Bert Atkins; and there was Bob Creston with Dicky Everson. These two had on mackintoshes and waterproof hats, and were talking to Cartwright; tall, immaculate men, who seemed like creatures of another world beside the stunted and coal-smutted miners. + 

Seeing Hal, they moved over to him. “Where did you get the kid?” inquired Bob, his rosy, smooth-shaven face breaking into a smile. + 

“I picked him up,” said Hal, giving Little Jerry a toss and sliding him off his shoulder. + 

“Hello, kid!” said Bob. + 

And the answer came promptly, “Hello, yourself!” Little Jerry knew how to talk American; he was a match for any society man! “My father’s went down in that cage,” said he, looking up at the tall stranger, his bright black eyes sparkling. + 

“Is that so!” replied the other. “Why don’t you go?” + 

“My father’ll get ’em out. He ain’t afraid o’ nothin’, my father!” + 

“What’s your father’s name?” + 

“Big Jerry.” + 

“Oho! And what’ll you be when you grow up?” + 

“I’m goin’ to be a shot-firer.” + 

“In this mine?” + 

“You bet not!” + 

“Why not?” + 

Little Jerry looked mysterious. “I ain’t tellin’ all I know,” said he. + 

The two young fellows laughed. Here was education for them! “Maybe you’ll go back to the old country?” put in Dicky Everson. + 

“No, sir-ee!” said Little Jerry. “I’m American.” + 

“Maybe you’ll be president some day.” + 

“That’s what my father says,” replied the little chap⁠—“president of a miners’ union.” + 

Again they laughed; but Rosa gave a nervous whisper and caught at the child’s sleeve. That was not the sort of thing to say to mysterious and rich-looking strangers! “This is Little Jerry’s mother, Mrs. Minetti,” put in Hal, by way of reassuring her. + 

“Glad to meet you, Mrs. Minetti,” said the two young men, taking off their hats with elaborate bows; they stared, for Rosa was a pretty object as she blushed and made her shy response. She was much embarrassed, having never before in her life been bowed to by men like these. + 

And here they were greeting Joe Smith as an old friend, and calling him by a strange name! She turned her black Italian eyes upon Hal in inquiry, and he felt a flush creeping over him. It was almost as uncomfortable to be found out by North Valley as to be found out by Western City! + 

The men talked about the rescue-work, and what Cartwright had been telling of its progress. The fire was in one of the main passages, and was burning out the timbering, spreading rapidly under the draft from the reversed fan. There could be little hope of rescue in this part of the mine, but the helmet-men would defy the heat and smoke in the burned out passages. They knew how likely was the collapse of such portions of the mine; but also they knew that men had been working here before the explosion. “I must say they’re a game lot!” remarked Dicky. + 

A group of women and children were gathered about to listen, their shyness overcome by their torturing anxiety for news. They made one think of women in wartime, listening to the roar of distant guns and waiting for the bringing in of the wounded. Hal saw Bob and Dicky glance now and then at the ring of faces about them; they were getting something of this mood, and that was a part of what he had desired for them. + 

“Are the others coming out?” he asked. + 

“I don’t know,” said Bob. “I suppose they’re having breakfast. It’s time we went in.” + 

“Won’t you come with us?” added Dicky. + 

“No, thanks,” replied Hal, “I’ve an engagement with the kid here.” And he gave Little Jerry’s hand a squeeze. “But tell some of the other fellows to come. They’ll be interested in these things.” + 

“All right,” said the two, as they moved away. + 

XIX + 

After allowing a sufficient time for the party in the dining-car to finish breakfast, Hal went down to the tracks, and induced the porter to take in his name to Percy Harrigan. He was hoping to persuade Percy to see the village under other than company chaperonage; he heard with dismay the announcement that the party had arranged to depart in the course of a couple of hours. + 

“But you haven’t seen anything at all!” Hal protested. + 

“They won’t let us into the mine,” replied the other. “What else is there we can do?” + 

“I wanted you to talk to the people and learn something about conditions here. You ought not to lose this chance, Percy!” + 

“That’s all right, Hal, but you might understand this isn’t a convenient time. I’ve got a lot of people with me, and I’ve no right to ask them to wait.” + 

“But can’t they learn something also, Percy?” + 

“It’s raining,” was the reply; “and ladies would hardly care to stand round in a crowd and see dead bodies brought out of a mine.” + 

Hal got the rebuke. Yes, he had grown callous since coming to North Valley; he had lost that delicacy of feeling, that intuitive understanding of the sentiments of ladies, which he would surely have exhibited a short time earlier in his life. He was excited about this disaster; it was a personal thing to him, and he lost sight of the fact that to the ladies of the Harrigan party it was, in its details, merely sordid and repelling. If they went out in the mud and rain of a mining-village and stood about staring, they would feel that they were exhibiting, not human compassion, but idle curiosity. The sights they would see would harrow them to no purpose; and incidentally they would be exposing themselves to distressing publicity. As for offering sympathy to widows and orphans⁠—well, these were foreigners mostly, who could not understand what was said to them, and who might be more embarrassed than helped by the intrusion into their grief of persons from an alien world. + 

The business of offering sympathy had been reduced to a system by the civilisation which these ladies helped to maintain; and, as it happened, there was one present who was familiar with this system. Mrs. Curtis had already acted, so Percy informed Hal; she had passed about a subscription-paper, and in a couple of minutes over a thousand dollars had been pledged. This would be paid by check to the “Red Cross,” whose agents would understand how to distribute relief among such sufferers. So the members of Percy’s party felt that they had done the proper and delicate thing, and might go their ways with a quiet conscience. + 

“The world can’t stop moving just because there’s been a mine-disaster,” said the Coal King’s son. “People have engagements they must keep.” + 

And he went on to explain what these engagements were. He himself had to go to a dinner that evening, and would barely be able to make it. Bert Atkins was to play a challenge match at billiards, and Mrs. Curtis was to attend a committee meeting of a woman’s club. Also it was the last Friday of the month; had Hal forgotten what that meant? + 

After a moment Hal remembered⁠—the “Young People’s Night” at the country club! He had a sudden vision of the white colonial mansion on the mountainside, with its doors and windows thrown wide, and the strains of an orchestra floating out. In the ballroom the young ladies of Percy’s party would appear⁠—Jessie, his sweetheart, among them⁠—gowned in filmy chiffons and laces, floating in a mist of perfume and colour and music. They would laugh and chatter, they would flirt and scheme against one another for the sovereignty of the ballroom⁠—while here in North Valley the sobbing widows would be clutching their mangled dead in their arms! How strange, how ghastly it seemed! How like the scenes one read of on the eve of the French Revolution! + 

XX + 

Percy wanted Hal to come away with the party. He suggested this tactfully at first, and then, as Hal did not take the hint, he began to press the matter, showing signs of irritation. The mine was open now⁠—what more did Hal want? When Hal suggested that Cartwright might order it closed again, Percy revealed the fact that the matter was in his father’s hands. The superintendent had sent a long telegram the night before, and an answer was due at any moment. Whatever the answer ordered would have to be done. + 

There was a grim look upon Hal’s face, but he forced himself to speak politely. “If your father orders anything that interferes with the rescuing of the men⁠—don’t you see, Percy, that I have to fight him?” + 

“But how can you fight him?” + 

“With the one weapon I have⁠—publicity.” + 

“You mean⁠—” Percy stopped, and stared. + 

“I mean what I said before⁠—I’d turn Billy Keating loose and blow this whole story wide open.” + 

“Well, by God!” cried young Harrigan. “I must say I’d call it damned dirty of you! You said you’d not do it, if I’d come here and open the mine!” + 

“But what good does it do to open it, if you close it again before the men are out?” Hal paused, and when he went on it was in a sincere attempt at apology. “Percy, don’t imagine I fail to appreciate the embarrassments of this situation. I know I must seem a cad to you⁠—more than you’ve cared to tell me. I called you my friend in spite of all our quarrels. All I can do is to assure you that I never intended to get into such a position as this.” + 

“Well, what the hell did you want to come here for? You knew it was the property of a friend⁠—” + 

“That’s the question at issue between us, Percy. Have you forgotten our arguments? I tried to convince you what it meant that you and I should own the things by which other people have to live. I said we were ignorant of the conditions under which our properties were worked, we were a bunch of parasites and idlers. But you laughed at me, called me a crank, an anarchist, said I swallowed what any muckraker fed me. So I said: ‘I’ll go to one of Percy’s mines! Then, when he tries to argue with me, I’ll have him!’ That was the way the thing started⁠—as a joke. But then I got drawn into things. I don’t want to be nasty, but no man with a drop of red blood in his veins could stay in this place a week without wanting to fight! That’s why I want you to stay⁠—you ought to stay, to meet some of the people and see for yourself.” + 

“Well, I can’t stay,” said the other, coldly. “And all I can tell you is that I wish you’d go somewhere else to do your sociology.” + 

“But where could I go, Percy? Somebody owns everything. If it’s a big thing, it’s almost certain to be somebody we know.” + 

Said Percy, “If I might make a suggestion, you could have begun with the coal-mines of the Warner Company.” + 

Hal laughed. “You may be sure I thought of that, Percy. But see the situation! If I was to accomplish my purpose, it was essential that I shouldn’t be known. And I had met some of my father’s superintendents in his office, and I knew they’d recognise me. So I had to go to some other mines.” + 

“Most fortunate for the Warner Company,” replied Percy, in an ugly tone. + 

Hal answered, gravely, “Let me tell you, I don’t intend to leave the Warner Company permanently out of my sociology.” + 

“Well,” replied the other, “all I can say is that we pass one of their properties on our way back, and nothing would please me better than to stop the train and let you off!” + 

XXI + 

Hal went into the drawing-room car. There were Mrs. Curtis and Reggie Porter, playing bridge with Genevieve Halsey and young Everson. Bob Creston was chatting with Betty Gunnison, telling her what he had seen outside, no doubt. Bert Atkins was looking over the morning paper, yawning. Hal went on, seeking Jessie Arthur, and found her in one of the compartments of the car, looking out of the rain-drenched window⁠—learning about a mining-camp in the manner permitted to young ladies of her class. + 

He expected to find her in a disturbed state of mind, and was prepared to apologise. But when he met the look of distress she turned upon him, he did not know just where to begin. He tried to speak casually⁠—he had heard she was going away. But she caught him by the hand, exclaiming: “Hal, you are coming with us!” + 

He did not answer for a moment, but sat down by her. “Have I made you suffer so much, Jessie?” + 

He saw tears start into her eyes. “Haven’t you known you were making me suffer? Here I was as Percy’s guest; and to have you put such questions to me! What could I say? What do I know about the way Mr. Harrigan should run his business?” + 

“Yes, dear,” he said, humbly. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have drawn you into it. But the matter was so complicated and so sudden. Can’t you understand that, and forgive me? Everything has turned out so well!” + 

But she did not think that everything had turned out well. “In the first place, for you to be here, in such a plight! And when I thought you were hunting mountain-goats in Mexico!” + 

He could not help laughing; but Jessie had not even a smile. “And then⁠—to have you drag our love into the thing, there before everyone!” + 

“Was that really so terrible, Jessie?” + 

She looked at him with amazement. That he, Hal Warner, could have done such a thing, and not realise how terrible it was! To put her in a position where she had to break either the laws of love or the laws of good-breeding! Why, it had amounted to a public quarrel. It would be the talk of the town⁠—there was no end to the embarrassment of it! + 

“But, sweetheart!” argued Hal. “Try to see the reality of this thing⁠—think about those people in the mine. You really must do that!” + 

She looked at him, and noticed the new, grim lines that had come upon his youthful face. Also, she caught the note of suppressed passion in his voice. He was pale and weary looking, in dirty clothes, his hair unkempt and his face only half washed. It was terrifying⁠—as if he had gone to war. + 

“Listen to me, Jessie,” he insisted. “I want you to know about these things. If you and I are ever to make each other happy, you must try to grow up with me. That was why I was glad to have you here⁠—you would have a chance to see for yourself. Now I ask you not to go without seeing.” + 

“But I have to go, Hal. I can’t ask Percy Harrigan to stay and inconvenience everybody!” + 

“You can stay without him. You can ask one of the ladies to chaperon you.” + 

She gazed at him in dismay. “Why, Hal! What a thing to suggest!” + 

“Why so?” + 

“Think how it would look!” + 

“I can’t think so much about looks, dear⁠—” + 

She broke in: “Think what Mamma would say!” + 

“She wouldn’t like it, I know⁠—” + 

“She would be wild! She would never forgive either of us. She would never forgive anyone who stayed with me. And what would Percy say, if I came here as his guest, and stayed to spy on him and his father? Don’t you see how preposterous it would be?” + 

Yes, he saw. He was defying all the conventions of her world, and it seemed to her a course of madness. She clutched his hands in hers, and the tears ran down her cheeks. + 

“Hal,” she cried, “I can’t leave you in this dreadful place! You look like a ghost, and a scarecrow, too! I want you to go and get some decent clothes and come home on this train.” + 

But he shook his head. “It’s not possible, Jessie.” + 

“Why not?” + 

“Because I have a duty to do here. Can’t you understand, dear? All my life, I’ve been living on the labour of coal-miners, and I’ve never taken the trouble to go near them, to see how my money was got!” + 

“But, Hal! These aren’t your people! They are Mr. Harrigan’s people!” + 

“Yes,” he said, “but it’s all the same. They toil, and we live on their toil, and take it as a matter of course.” + 

“But what can one do about it, Hal?” + 

“One can understand it, if nothing else. And you see what I was able to do in this case⁠—to get the mine open.” + 

“Hal,” she exclaimed, “I can’t understand you! You’ve become so cynical, you don’t believe in anyone! You’re quite convinced that these officials meant to murder their working people! As if Mr. Harrigan would let his mines be run that way!” + 

“Mr. Harrigan, Jessie? He passes the collection plate at St. George’s! That’s the only place you’ve ever seen him, and that’s all you know about him.” + 

“I know what everybody says, Hal! Papa knows him, and my brothers⁠—yes, your own brother, too! Isn’t it true that Edward would disapprove what you’re doing?” + 

“Yes, dear, I fear so.” + 

“And you set yourself up against them⁠—against everybody you know! Is it reasonable to think the older people are all wrong, and only you are right? Isn’t it at least possible you’re making a mistake? Think about it⁠—honestly, Hal, for my sake!” + 

She was looking at him pleadingly; and he leaned forward and took her hand. “Jessie,” he said, his voice trembling, “I know that these working people are oppressed; I know it, because I have been one of them! And I know that such men as Peter Harrigan, and even my own brother, are to blame! And they’ve got to be faced by someone⁠—they’ve got to be made to see! I’ve come to see it clearly this summer⁠—that’s the job I have to do!” + 

She was gazing at him with her wide-open, beautiful eyes; underneath her protests and her terror, she was thrilling with awe at this amazing madman she loved. “They will kill you!” she cried. + 

“No, dearest⁠—you don’t need to worry about that⁠—I don’t think they’ll kill me.” + 

“But they shot at you!” + 

“No, they shot at Joe Smith, a miner’s buddy. They won’t shoot at the son of a millionaire⁠—not in America, Jessie.” + 

“But some dark night⁠—” + 

“Set your mind at rest,” he said, “I’ve got Percy tied up in this, and everybody knows it. There’s no way they could kill me without the whole story’s coming out⁠—and so I’m as safe as I would be in my bed at home!” + 

XXII + 

Hal was still possessed by his idea that Jessie must be taught⁠—she must have knowledge forced upon her, whether she would or no. The train would not start for a couple of hours, and he tried to think of some use he could make of that precious interval. He recalled that Rosa Minetti had returned to her cabin to attend to her baby. A sudden vision came to him of Jessie in that little home. Rosa was sweet and good, and assuredly Little Jerry was a “winner.” + 

“Sweetheart,” he said, “I wish you’d come for a walk with me.” + 

“But it’s raining, Hal!” + 

“It won’t hurt you to spoil one dress; you have plenty.” + 

“I’m not thinking of that⁠—” + 

“I wish you’d come.” + 

“I don’t feel comfortable about it, Hal. I’m here as Percy’s guest, and he mightn’t like⁠—” + 

“I’ll ask him if he objects to your taking a stroll,” he suggested, with pretended gravity. + 

“No, no! That would make it worse!” Jessie had no humour whatever about these matters. + 

“Well, Vivie Cass was out, and some of the others are going. He hasn’t objected to that.” + 

“I know, Hal. But he knows they’re all right.” + 

Hal laughed. “Come on, Jessie. Percy won’t hold you for my sins! You have a long train journey before you, and some fresh air will be good for you.” + 

She saw that she must make some concession to him, if she was to keep any of her influence over him. + 

“All right,” she said, with resignation, and disappeared and returned with a heavy veil over her face, to conceal her from prying reportorial eyes; also an equipment of mackintosh, umbrella and overshoes, against the rain. The two stole out of the car, feeling like a couple of criminals. + 

Skirting the edge of the throng about the pit-mouth, they came to the muddy, unpaved quarter in which the Italians had their homes; he held her arm, steering her through the miniature sloughs and creeks. It was thrilling to him to have her with him thus, to see her sweet face and hear her voice full of love. Many a time he had thought of her here, and told her in his imagination of his experiences! + 

He told her now⁠—about the Minetti family, and how he had met Big and Little Jerry on the street, and how they had taken him in, and then been driven by fear to let him go again. He told his check-weighman story, and was telling how Jeff Cotton had arrested him; but they came to the Minetti cabin, and the terrifying narrative was cut short. + 

It was Little Jerry who came to the door, with the remains of breakfast distributed upon his cheeks; he stared in wonder at the mysteriously veiled figure. Entering, they saw Rosa sitting in a chair nursing her baby. She rose in confusion; but she did not quite like to turn her back upon her guests, so she stood trying to hide her breast as best she could, blushing and looking very girlish and pretty. + 

Hal introduced Jessie, as an old friend who was interested to meet his new friends, and Jessie threw back her veil and sat down. Little Jerry wiped off his face at his mother’s command, and then came where he could stare at this incredibly lovely vision. + 

“I’ve been telling Miss Arthur what good care you took of me,” said Hal to Rosa. “She wanted to come and thank you for it.” + 

“Yes,” added Jessie, graciously. “Anybody who is good to Hal earns my gratitude.” + 

Rosa started to murmur something; but Little Jerry broke in, with his cheerful voice, “Why you call him Hal? His name’s Joe!” + 

“Ssh!” cried Rosa. But Hal and Jessie laughed⁠—and so the process of Americanising Little Jerry was continued. + 

“I’ve got lots of names,” said Hal. “They called me Hal when I was a kid like you.” + 

“Did she know you then?” inquired Little Jerry. + 

“Yes, indeed.” + 

“Is she your girl?” + 

Rosa laughed shyly, and Jessie blushed, and looked charming. She realised vaguely a difference in manners. These people accepted the existence of “girls,” not concealing their interest in the phenomenon. + 

“It’s a secret,” warned Hal. “Don’t you tell on us!” + 

“I can keep a secret,” said Little Jerry. After a moment’s pause he added, dropping his voice, “You gotta keep secrets if you work in North Valley.” + 

“You bet your life,” said Hal. + 

“My father’s a Socialist,” continued the other, addressing Jessie; then, since one thing leads on to another, “My father’s a shot-firer.” + 

“What’s a shot-firer?” asked Jessie, by way of being sociable. + 

“Jesus!” exclaimed Little Jerry. “Don’t you know nothin’ about minin’?” + 

“No,” said Jessie. “You tell me.” + 

“You couldn’t get no coal without a shot-firer,” declared Little Jerry. “You gotta get a good one, too, or maybe you bust up the mine. My father’s the best they got.” + 

“What does he do?” + 

“Well, they got a drill⁠—long, long, like this, all the way across the room; and they turn it and bore holes in the coal. Sometimes they got machines to drill, only we don’t like them machines, ’cause it takes the men’s jobs. When they got the holes, then the shot-firer comes and sets off the powder. You gotta have⁠—” and here Little Jerry slowed up, pronouncing each syllable very carefully⁠—“per-miss-i-ble powder⁠—what don’t make no flame. And you gotta know just how much to put in. If you put in too much, you smash the coal, and the miner raises hell; if you don’t put in enough, you make too much work for him, an’ he raises hell again. So you gotta get a good shot-firer.” + 

Jessie looked at Hal, and he saw that her dismay was mingled with genuine amusement. He judged this a good way for her to get her education, so he proceeded to draw out Little Jerry on other aspects of coal-mining: on short weights and long hours, grafting bosses and camp-marshals, company-stores and boardinghouses, Socialist agitators and union organisers. Little Jerry talked freely of the secrets of the camp. “It’s all right for you to know,” he remarked gravely. “You’re Joe’s girl!” + 

“You little cherub!” exclaimed Jessie. + 

“What’s a cherub?” was Little Jerry’s reply. + 

XXIII + 

So the time passed in a way that was pleasant. Jessie was completely won by this little Dago mine-urchin, in spite of all his frightful curse-words; and Hal saw that she was won, and was delighted by the success of this experiment in social amalgamation. He could not read Jessie’s mind, and realise that underneath her genuine delight were reservations born of her prejudices, the instinctive cruelty of caste. Yes, this little mine chap was a cherub, now; but how about when he grew big? He would grow ugly and coarse-looking, in ten years one would not know him from any other of the rough and dirty men of the village. Jessie took the fact that common people grow ugly as they mature as a proof that they are, in some deep and permanent way, the inferiors of those above them. Hal was throwing away his time and strength, trying to make them into something which Nature had obviously not intended them to be! She decided to make that point to Hal on their way back to the train. She realised that he had brought her here to educate her; like all the rest of the world, she resented forcible education, and she was not without hope that she might turn the tables and educate Hal. + 

Pretty soon Rosa finished nursing the baby, and Jessie remarked the little one’s black eyes. This topic broke down the mother’s shyness, and they were chatting pleasantly, when suddenly they heard sounds outside which caused them to start up. It was a clamour of women’s voices; and Hal and Rosa sprang to the door. Just now was a critical time, when everyone was on edge for news. + 

Hal threw open the door and called to those outside “What is it?” There came a response, in a woman’s voice, “They’ve found Rafferty!” + 

“Alive?” + 

“Nobody knows yet.” + 

“Where?” + 

“In Room Seventeen. Eleven of them⁠—Rafferty, and young Flanagan, and Johannson, the Swede. They’re near dead⁠—can’t speak, they say. They won’t let anybody near them.” + 

Other voices broke in; but the one which answered Hal had a different quality; it was a warm, rich voice, unmistakably Irish, and it held Jessie’s attention. “They’ve got them in the tipple-room, and the women want to know about their men, and they won’t tell them. They’re beatin’ them back like dogs!” + 

There was a tumult of weeping, and Hal stepped out of the cabin, and in a minute or so he entered again, supporting on his arm a girl, clad in a faded blue calico dress, and having a head of very conspicuous red hair. She seemed half fainting, and kept moaning that it was horrible, horrible. Hal led her to a chair, and she sank into it and hid her face in her hands, sobbing, talking incoherently between her sobs. + 

Jessie stood looking at this girl. She felt the intensity of her excitement, and shared it; yet at the same time there was something in Jessie that resented it. She did not wish to be upset about things like this, which she could not help. Of course these unfortunate people were suffering; but⁠—what a shocking lot of noise the poor thing was making! A part of the poor thing’s excitement was rage, and Jessie realised that, and resented it still more. It was as if it were a personal challenge to her; the same as Hal’s fierce social passions, which so bewildered and shocked her. + 

“They’re beatin’ the women back like dogs!” the girl repeated. + 

“Mary,” said Hal, trying to soothe her, “the doctors will be doing their best. The women couldn’t expect to crowd about them!” + 

“Maybe they couldn’t; but that’s not it, Joe, and ye know it! They been bringin’ up dead bodies, some they found where the explosion was⁠—blown all to pieces. And they won’t let anybody see them. Is that because of the doctors? No, it ain’t! It’s because they want to tell lies about the number killed! They want to count four or five legs to a man! And that’s what’s drivin’ the women crazy! I saw Mrs. Zamboni, tryin’ to get into the shed, and Pete Hanun caught her by the breasts and shoved her back. ‘I want my man!’ she screamed. ‘Well, what do you want him for? He’s all in pieces!’ ‘I want the pieces!’ ‘What good’ll they do you? Are you goin’ to eat him?’ ” + 

There were cries of horror now, even from Jessie; and the strange girl hid her face in her hands and began to sob again. Hal put his hand gently on her arm. + 

“Mary,” he pleaded, “it’s not so bad⁠—at least they’re getting the people out.” + 

“How do ye know what they’re doin’? They might be sealin’ up parts of the mine down below! That’s what makes it so horrible⁠—nobody knows what’s happenin’! Ye should have heard poor Mrs. Rafferty screamin’. Joe, it went through me like a knife. Just think, it’s been half an hour since they brought him up, and the poor lady can’t be told if her man is alive.” + 

XXIV + 

Hal stood for a few moments in thought. He was surprised that such things should be happening while Percy Harrigan’s train was in the village. He was considering whether he should go to Percy, or whether a hint to Cotton or Cartwright would not be sufficient. + 

“Mary,” he said, in a quiet voice, “you needn’t distress yourself so. We can get better treatment for the women, I’m sure.” + 

But her sobbing went on. “What can ye do? They’re bound to have their way!” + 

“No,” said Hal. “There’s a difference now. Believe me⁠—something can be done. I’ll step over and have a word with Jeff Cotton.” + 

He started towards the door; but there came a cry: “Hal!” It was Jessie, whom he had almost forgotten in his sudden anger at the bosses. + 

At her protest he turned and looked at her; then he looked at Mary. He saw the latter’s hands fall from her tear-stained face, and her expression of grief give way to one of wonder. “Hal!” + 

“Excuse me,” he said, quickly. “Miss Burke, this is my friend, Miss Arthur.” Then, not quite sure if this was a satisfactory introduction, he added, “Jessie, this is my friend, Mary.” + 

Jessie’s training could not fail in any emergency. “Miss Burke,” she said, and smiled with perfect politeness. But Mary said nothing, and the strained look did not leave her face. + 

In the first excitement she had almost failed to notice this stranger; but now she stared, and realisation grew upon her. Here was a girl, beautiful with a kind of beauty hardly to be conceived of in a mining-camp; reserved, yet obviously expensive⁠—even in a mackintosh and rubber-shoes. Mary was used to the expensiveness of Mrs. O’Callahan, but here was a new kind of expensiveness, subtle and compelling, strangely unconscious. And she laid claim to Joe Smith, the miner’s buddy! She called him by a name hitherto unknown to his North Valley associates! It needed no word from Little Jerry to guide Mary’s instinct; she knew in a flash that here was the “other girl.” + 

Mary was seized with sudden acute consciousness of the blue calico dress, patched at the shoulder and stained with grease-spots; of her hands, big and rough with hard labour; of her feet, clad in shoes worn sideways at the heel, and threatening to break out at the toes. And as for Jessie, she too had the woman’s instinct; she too saw a girl who was beautiful, with a kind of beauty of which she did not approve, but which she could not deny⁠—the beauty of robust health, of abounding animal energy. Jessie was not unaware of the nature of her own charms, having been carefully educated to conserve them; nor did she fail to make note of the other girl’s handicaps⁠—the patched and greasy dress, the big rough hands, the shoes worn sideways. But even so, she realised that “Red Mary” had a quality which she lacked⁠—that beside this wild rose of a mining-camp, she, Jessie Arthur, might possibly seem a garden flower, fragile and insipid. + 

She had seen Hal lay his hand upon Mary’s arm, and heard her speak to him. She called him Joe! And a sudden fear had leaped into Jessie’s heart. + 

Like many girls who have been delicately reared, Jessie Arthur knew more than she admitted, even to herself. She knew enough to realise that young men with ample means and leisure are not always saints and ascetics. Also, she had heard the remark many times made that these women of the lower orders had “no morals.” Just what did such a remark mean? What would be the attitude of such a girl as Mary Burke⁠—full-blooded and intense, dissatisfied with her lot in life⁠—to a man of culture and charm like Hal? She would covet him, of course; no woman who knew him could fail to covet him. And she would try to steal him away from his friends, from the world to which he belonged, the future of happiness and ease to which he was entitled. She would have powers⁠—dark and terrible powers, all the more appalling to Jessie because they were mysterious. Might they possibly be able to overcome even the handicap of a dirty calico dress, of big rough hands and shoes worn sideways? + 

These reflections, which have taken many words to explain, came to Jessie in one flash of intuition. She understood now, all at once, the incomprehensible phenomenon⁠—that Hal should leave friends and home and career, to come and live amid this squalor and suffering! She saw the old drama of the soul of man, heaven and hell contending for mastery of it; and she knew that she was heaven, and that this “Red Mary” was hell. + 

She looked at Hal. He seemed to her so fine and true; his face was frank, he was the soul of honourableness. No, it was impossible to believe that he had yielded to such a lure! If that had been the case, he would never have brought her to this cabin, he would never have taken a chance of her meeting the girl. No; but he might be struggling against temptation, he might be in the toils of it, and only half aware of it. He was a man, and therefore blind; he was a dreamer, and it would be like him to idealise this girl, calling her naive and primitive, thinking that she had no wiles! Jessie had come just in time to save him! And she would fight to save him⁠—using wiles more subtle than those at the command of any mining-camp hussy! + 

XXV + 

It was the surging up in Jessie Arthur of that instinctive self, the creature of hereditary cruelty, of the existence of which Hal had no idea. She drew back, and there was a quiet hauteur in her tone as she spoke. “Hal, come here, please.” + 

He came; and she waited until he was close enough for intimacy, and then said, “Have you forgotten you have to take me back to the train?” + 

“Can’t you come with me for a few minutes?” he pleaded. “It would have such a good effect if you did.” + 

“I can’t go into that crowd,” she answered; and suddenly her voice trembled, and the tears came into her sweet brown eyes. “Don’t you know, Hal, that I couldn’t stand such terrible sights? This poor girl⁠—she is used to them⁠—she is hardened! But I⁠—I⁠—oh, take me away, take me away, dear Hal!” This cry of a woman for protection came with a familiar echo to Hal’s mind. He did not stop to think⁠—he was moved by it instinctively. Yes, he had exposed the girl he loved to suffering! He had meant it for her own good, but even so, it was cruel! + 

He stood close to her, and saw the love-light in her eyes; he saw the tears, the trembling of her sensitive chin. She swayed to him, and he caught her in his arms⁠—and there, before these witnesses, she let him press her to him, while she sobbed and whispered her distress. She had been shy of caresses hitherto, watched and admonished by an experienced mother; certainly she had never before made what could by the remotest stretch of the imagination be considered an advance towards him. But now she made it, and there was a cry of triumph in her soul as she saw that he responded to it. He was still hers⁠—and these low people should know it, this “other girl” should know it! + 

Yet, in the midst of this very exultation, Jessie Arthur really felt the grief she expressed for the women of North Valley; she really felt horror at the story of Mrs. Zamboni’s “man”: so intricate is the soul of woman, so puzzling that faculty, older than the ages, which enables her to be hysterical, and at the same time to be guided in the use of that hysteria by deep and infallible calculation. + 

But she made Hal realise that it was necessary for him to take her away. He turned to Mary Burke and said, “Miss Arthur’s train is leaving in a short time. I’ll have to take her back, and then I’ll go to the pit-mouth with you and see what I can do.” + 

“Very well,” Mary answered; and her voice was hard and cold. But Hal did not notice this. He was a man, and not able to keep up with the emotions of one woman⁠—to say nothing of two women at the same time. + 

He took Jessie out, and all the way back to the train she fought a desperate fight to get him away from here. She no longer even suggested that he get decent clothing; she was willing for him to come as he was, in his coal-stained mining-jumpers, in the private train of the Coal King’s son. She besought him in the name of their affection. She threatened him that if he did not come, this might be the last time they would meet. She even broke down in the middle of the street, and let him stand there in plain sight of miners’ wives and children, and of possible newspaper reporters, holding her in his arms and comforting her. + 

Hal was much puzzled; but he would not give way. The idea of going off in Percy Harrigan’s train had come to seem morally repulsive to him; he hated Percy Harrigan’s train, and Percy Harrigan also, he declared. And Jessie saw that she was only making him unreasonable⁠—that before long he might be hating her. With her instinctive savoir faire, she brought up his suggestion that she might find someone to chaperon her, and stay with him at North Valley until he was ready to come away. + 

Hal’s heart leaped at that; he had no idea what was in her mind⁠—the certainty that no one of the ladies of the Harrigan party would run the risk of offending her host by staying under such circumstances. + 

“You mean it, sweetheart?” he cried, happily. + 

She answered, “I mean that I love you, Hal.” + 

“All right, dear!” he said. “We’ll see if we can arrange it.” + 

But as they walked on, she managed, without his realising it, to cause him to reflect upon the effect of her staying. She was willing to do it, if it was what he wanted; but it would injure, perhaps irrevocably, his standing with her parents. They would telegraph her to come at once; and if she did not obey, they would come by the next train. So on, until at last Hal was moved to withdraw his own suggestion. After all, what was the use of her staying, if her mind was on the people at home, if she would simply keep him in hot water? Before the conversation was over Hal had become clear in his mind that North Valley was no place for Jessie Arthur, and that he had been a fool to think he could bring the two together. + 

She tried to get him to promise to leave as soon as the last man had been brought out of the mine. He answered that he intended to leave then, unless some new emergency should arise. She tried to get an unqualified promise; and failing in that, when they had nearly got to the train she suddenly made a complete surrender. Let him do what he pleased⁠—but let him remember that she loved him, that she needed him, that she could not do without him. No matter what he might do, no matter what people might say about him, she believed in him, she would stand by him. Hal was deeply touched, and took her in his arms again and kissed her tenderly under the umbrella, in the presence of the wondering stares of several urchins with coal-smutted faces. He pledged anew his love for her, assuring her that no amount of interest in mining-camps should ever steal him from her. + 

Then he put her on the train, and shook hands with the departing guests. He was so very sombre and harassed-looking that the young men forbore to “kid” him as they would otherwise have done. He stood on the station-platform and saw the train roll away⁠—and felt, to his own desperate bewilderment, that he hated these friends of his boyhood and youth. His reason protested against it; he told himself there was nothing they could do, no reason on earth for them to stay⁠—and yet he hated them. They were hurrying off to dance and flirt at the country club⁠—while he was going back to the pit-mouth, to try to get Mrs. Zamboni the right to inspect the pieces of her “man”! + 