Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 4, 1922 — page 95: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE NIGHT SHIFT, have taken it lightly, anyway. ‘And besides, he was gravely inspecting this new man, William, whom he did not know. Not to— be known to Buddy was the same as social ‘disgrace in other spheres. Margaret set him down, and hastened to remedy this defect in William’s eligibility. “ Buddy, this is Mr. Biddle, and this is. Buddy, who is going to be a miner, too.” “You bet I am!” said Buddy, in whose mind there was no doubt as to the proper vocation for a man. William took the child’s hand with the seriousness befitting the occasion. | ‘“T shouldn’t think it would be very long now before you will be big enough for that,’’ William declared. The subtle flat- tery won instant approval. “Fellers gets to be miners ‘fore they’re old as me!” exclaimed Buddy in his proud- est manner, as if echoing some dimly understood story told by his father. ‘‘ But daddy says I got to go to school.” The child looked again at Margaret. ‘‘ I haven’t runned away, not once to-day. And I think I ought to have some cake.” ‘“‘T believe,” answered Margaret, smiling, “‘ there might be some. In just a minute we shall go and see.” She addressed William again. ‘‘ Haven’t you just come up from the town?” “Ves,” answered William; “ just a few minutes ago.” 7 “ Are things quiet now?” “ Just now they are. Of course there is more or less excitement since last night.” ‘“‘T’ve been afraid to go down into town all day,” Margaret confessed. It is too bad they can’t have a celebation without some one getting hurt. Mr. Hanley is very much worried, because he doesn’t know how this trouble is going to end—he says that they can’t ever tell, especially if the men are drinking. Perhaps you might know what the miners are going to do?” “ Well,” said William, remembering the talk he had heard in McGregor’s cabin, but uncertain as to the ethics of the case, “I have heard some talk; nothing very definite. I don’t believe, though, that the miners will make any further trouble.” Margaret brightened; then, still a little doubtfully: “ You are quite sure of that?” 405 “Perhaps,” William assured her, “ it wouldn’t be quite fair to tell you just how I know.” “You think they’ll be going back to work to-morrow morning? And may I tell Mr. Hanley that?” ‘“T don’t think it could do any harm,” said William, cautiously, “if he would be willing to accept it as coming from me.” ‘“T am sure he would,” Margaret replied graciously. ‘‘ You would know, working with the miners all the time. I shall not be nearly so uneasy now.” The way she looked at William was sufficient assurance of her confidence. More formal expression of his growing favor was interrupted by Buddy pulling at her skirt. ‘“T suppose,” she declared gayly, “I shall have to go and get the child his cake.”’ ‘Cake, by all means,” agreed William, smiling. “ And I hope,” said he to Buddy pleasantly, ‘‘ that I shall have the pleasure of meeting you again.” Then Margaret spoke impulsively: _ “T’m so glad that I met you to-day—I was really worried about all that fighting; and I think I had cause to worry, too. And of course you do know what is going on.” Thus easily may bearers of glad tidings be suddenly exalted to the status of an im- portant personage without regard to the source from whence their knowledge springs. In justice to William the good effect of his imparted information was not the pro- duct of deliberate intention. Indeed, he himself did not know that he was merely quoting at a distance the words of Belle Shannon—arbiter—who in turn would have — been surprised to know how far this ripple of her strategy was now extended. That her plotting was already working actively William became visually aware when he arrived at the foot of the stair- way. There, nailed to the blackened trunk of a stunted tree, was a new, rudely let- tered sign: NOTICE Miners of the Copper Butte are requested to meet at the Horseshoe Club 4 P.M. for important business The “‘ request ’” was signed by Hopewell Davies, as President of the Miners’ Union, COmiclbooks.Gonmn