Beadle's Dime Library No. 412 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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Ye > Bad Larry Locke, the Man of Tron. F “Ha! Why not?” asked Marcellus. Tae ‘‘ Well, you see, I got into a little trouble ; with his wife,” said Tom,in a low tone. “I ; thought he had gone away for good; but he came back just in time to catch me and her havin’ a little difficulty, and I’m afeard of my life ever since; He’s a deep one, and | don’t never know when he won’t get hold of me and ‘ iil! me.” _ 4. His father seemed to be startled and alarmed | , at the news, for he questioned Tom closely on ' his trouble, and when the young man had told him the story, Marcellus observed: ‘That’s so, Tom. He’s a bad man; bnt Dll get him laid by the neck yet. Wait till to- morrow, and we’ll have him where we want to give it to them. Let them sweat a week, ; an they'll be glad enough to come back on any 1 terms.” I So they set to work and closed the great gate him. Let’s shut the gatesnow. These fellows | aR want the old scale back, and I’m not going | them twenty days more.” | ; ; that fellow away, I’m all right. Only three and a half minutes left, He won’t be here. You may as well get out the papers and we'll go over and see the sheriff at once,” The words were not out of his mouth when the office door opened, and his own nephew, Paul Van Beaver, walked into the office, touched his hat to Van Slack, and said: ‘* Good-day. Here’s a notice for you. We appear for Locke in that mortgage suit. We want a copy of the complaint.” He glanced at the clock, and gave Van Slack an open paper, which caused the old lawyer to wrinkle up his face in a grin, as he said to Skin- ner, rather maliciously: ‘*That judgment will have to waitawhile, Mr. Skinner. Here’s a regular notice, and it gives Skinner turned fairly purple with rage, and scowled at Paul under his brows ina malignant, sidelong fashion, as he said: ‘‘Hum! That’s what I call pretty mean prac- of the mill after they had set in order what they | tice against a relative. This young man is not could, and father and son got into the dog-cart | a lawyer, is he?” and drove away, after Tom had washed off : | what he could of the stains of his recent en- counter, oe As for the smart English groom, he had utter- ly vanished from the sceneas soon as the pelting began on Tom, and came sneaking into the yar aor as they were preparing to drive out, pro- ing that: ‘* He hadn’t engaged for no sich work, and he wanted to leave his place right off, as the Yan- kees call it.” Old Skinner paid and dismissed him on the ‘spot, feeling rather bitterly as if every one had Soetehed them; for the only member of the es- tablishment who had remained at his place was the old book-keeper, but be drove away with Tom; and as they passed through the streets of ” Holesburg, noticed that all the men of all the ‘mills seemed to be out lounging about, as if on ' ~~‘ strike. fe He took his way first to the great iron foun- dry of Stone and Grynde, and saw the gates shut, es while Mr. Grynde, junior member of the firm, ~——s stood with his han<s in his pockets, looking _ gloomy and thoughtful as be surveyed the silent and empty building. Rett ah Tete, $s Well, Grynde,” he said, ‘‘ what’s the news?” Grynde looked up at him ruefully. ‘*The Knights have got us in a hole, Mr. We ought to have known what was ~<a ~ ao <.” ~~, ie — : . he £1 » 7 «§8 ‘ = »* = <7 > Fo ee ey ee i ee ie eg > a “*) a“ ASF - es ‘Skinner. —- # going on.” ’ ’ a “What has been going on?’ asked Skinner, < OD RE FPS Sr try ee ee ene ee = eee, —_ 4 - . cs ty a . —— | + PF / ae in rather a scornful tone, are ‘‘ They’ve been getting up lodges of the blast- nes ed Knights of Labor rig t under our noses,” x1 and we haven’t seen what was coming. don’t know what a a power they are, And we can’t afford to let ——s our fire go out, It costs like the deuce to st 4 start it.” ‘“ Why, you’re not meaning to give up before a week, at least?” said Skinner, incredulously, ‘‘ Why, man, we can beat them! Not one of has a penny saved, and two weeks will a 7 Lene them to terms, sure,” cs, ‘said Grynde, gloomily . h ou ; | ‘ . : Grynde shook his head. ies. “You don’t know what it is when the Knights get at it in earnest. They’ve a big following, and we won’t be able to get a man to work fot + wus, I’m afraid.” ws Skinner frowned angrily. _* That’s all very well; but I can tell you one thing: J’m not going to give in, not 1f I have to get Siinanted do the work. Who came to -—s«» You at the head of your-men, and what did he want?” ~ **1¢ was a man who used to be in your mill, _ ‘L believe: one Larry Locke; and_he’s Master - Workman of the district now.. He has been round to all the rest, and warned them all.” __. “But you don’t mean to say you recognized his rizht to speak for your men?” ---s *' T had to, and so did the rest. We've asked for time, but he wouldn’t give us an hour, The men just dropped tools ond left the place, as goon as he raised his hand.” Marcel!us Skinner ground his teeth. _* Curse his impudence!” he muttered. CHAPTER XXIV / SOMETHING IN IT. Tre eventful day had come, when Larry - Yocke must either answer the summons on the bond and mortgage affecting his house, or lose the same. Mr. Marcellus Skinner, gnawing his under lip with anxiety. sat in the office of his lawyer, z ‘s . ao 2 ee _ bs par 4 y > P lei . ee ee ee ee ee ae eo — re." ae i ee Sa a TAY: * a» » ss > bor Sa ate Ee, SS a « Fa » 2s ay >A ‘7 ad 7.) be pe wh Or oy - eT?” * * + et Pe, ~~ 4 a * 4 om, * f - are —s Sse a i Ad » at ' 4 eS | be , yt : \ > rss of nocn approached, and frequently went to the --- window to look down the street. _———s As the bands pointed to five minutes, he sto rub his own hands and said to Van S Be of delight: o>" ry . aa a. | “es Ye i =a - rs all ready?” . Van Slack looked at his rich client in the most respectful fashion, _ “Everything is ready, Mr. Skinner. put in the execution this afternoon.” ‘** Do so, do so,” answered Skinner, setting his teeth viciously. ‘‘ You don’t know how much there is depending on it. If I can only drive 7" rot » ® | ye ’ B We can = . 7 ow & _ ae Pes re pl « 7. > 3 Mr. Van Slack, watching the clock as the hour | lack in a | was flung no the floor so Paul paid no attention to his uncle, but said to Van Slack, quietly: ‘** Will you sign the admission of service?’ Van Slack glanced at his malignant client, and answered hastily: ‘*Can’t do it. Very sorry, tell Mr. Scriven; but he knows the reason,” Paul shrugged his shoulders. ‘Allright, Good-day, sir.” Then he went out, and Skinner broke forth: ‘The ungrateful young hound! Who is he with, Van Slack? How dare he come here?” ‘* He is with your old friend, Scriven,” replied Van Slack, dryly. ‘‘I suppose he wants to get even with you, for taking away your business from him. He’sa wary old bird, and if he has taken up the case, he thinks there’s something in it, L suppose.” ‘* But there’s nothing in it,” protested Skinner. ‘* He owed the money to old Briggs, and I paid hard cash for the debt,” Van Slack shrugged his shoulders. ‘* We shall see, I suppose. All in good time. But meanwhile you can’t put Locke out of his house for another three weeks certainly, and if they choose to fight it off, they can do so for six months or more; perhaps a year.” Marcellus Skinner rose from his seat and swore venomously for several minutes. Then, having eased his mind somewhat, he took his de: arture and went straight to Mr, Scriven’s office. The old lady had done his business from the time of bis father’s death, and itwas only in this matter of Larry Locke that Skinner sought another adviser, from a suspiciou that Scriven might be too tender-hearted to do all that he wisbed in the matter, Skinner walked in, and found his nephew seated at a desk, writing away in the outer of- fice, while the old lawyer was in the inside room, working at a pile of books. Skinner, with the assurance of a rich client, was walking inside, when Paul rose from_his desk, put him- self in the way, and said firmly: ‘‘ Mr. Scriven is busy, and has given orders that he is not to be disturbed.” ‘* Get out of my way,” said his uncle, loftily. ‘fT don’t wait outside with understrappers.” And he was about to push Paul, when old Scriven looked up from his books and said: ‘* Let the gentleman in, Mr. Van Beaver. It’s not worth while to have a scene.” Skinner passed in with a triumphant sneer at Paul, and the old lawyer glanced up at him over his peabeconig without so much asa nod, observing frigidly: “Well, sir, what do you want?” “T want to know sb mean by taking up the cause of this swi g ruffian, Locke, against me, when you know well enough he owes me the money?” asked Marcellus, hotly. ‘It’s an infamous conspiracy, sir, and you ought to be ashamed to engage in it.” Mr. Scriven’s usually yellow face turned orange with a flush of anger as he answered: ‘* Mr. Skinaer, be kind enough to get out of this office. I’m not used to hearing this sort of language. Get out, sir; quick!” As he spoke he rose up, a thin, delicate-looking old man of sedentary habits, and pointed threat- eningly to the door, saying: ‘** T don’t want to use violence; but you'll apol- ogize, or out you go.” ‘* Apologize! To you!” echoed Marcellus, aghast. ‘“‘ You? Why, curse your impudence, I’ll shake the life out of you!” And he was actually rushingin to do it, con- fident in his superior strength, when he was suddenly seized from behind by a pair of strong ran | young arms, felt a knee dug into his back, and exterously that he had no time to do more than utter an amazed : ‘*Time’s nearly up; isn’t it? Have you the sana of pain, when Paul Van Beaver said ste . y: ‘Now look out what you're doing, Uncle Marcellus. I’ve taken lessons, and ri put a head on you, if you try to strike my partner, Mr. Scriven.” Marcellus got up slowly, considerably shaken and with some sense knocked into him. He had found a considerable change in Paul’s mus- cles from the time when he grappled with him, six years before. It was the difference between eighteen and twenty-four, while in his own case the six years had ees, and weakened him, as be- tween forty-six and fifty-two. But Pauw’s last words caused him the most sur- prise, for he ejaculated slowly: ‘Partner? Scriven ain’t your partner.” ‘* Yes, 1 am,” said the old lawyer himself, ‘and now, since you’ve had your lesson, get out of this office.” ‘* But I wanted to speak to you,” said Mar- cellus, with infinitely more civility. ‘| didn’t mean to quarrel with any one, but I was riled. There, confound it, i apologize.” “That alters the case,” returned Scriven, coldly. “Sit down. Now teli me what you want?” ‘*IT want you to defending this suit,” said Skinner, crossly. “it’s an infemous shame, It’s only done to gain time and keep me out of my aso A so you won't oink hs & man in the end. He'll have to pay it. e has no sort of defense, and you know it.” ‘* How do you know he has no defense?” asked Paul Van Beaver, suddenly. Marcellus turned round and looked at his nephew as if he would like to have given hima dose of poison; but said nothing beyond: ‘*T was not speaking to you, sir.” Old Scriven’s yellow face wrinkled up into a curious sort of grin as he observed: ‘Very well, then. Ill answer with another uestion. What made you give the business to an Slack when I’ve done all the law business of the mill for twenty years?” Skinner colored slightly. ‘+ Because—well—because it was a little thing and I didn’t—” ‘* Yes, you didn’t want me to know you were going to coins the suit against a poor man who only asked time, That was why you went to Van. Well, you were eral g If you had thought a moment you would have remember- ed that as old Briggs’s lawyer as well as yours, I knew all about that mortgage. Now I’ve taken it up for him at the request of my friend and er here, Mr. Van ver, and here- after the sooner you take away the rest of your business, the better I shail like it, Mr. Skinner. As for Locke's case, I can tell you at once that the man has a defense and a good one, as you'll find out when the case comes to trial. Now good-day, sir. You must excuse further talk, but I'm busy. Mr. Van Beaver, please show Mr. Skinner out.” And the old lawyer turned to his bcoks, as if no one had been in the room, while Skinner, considerably put down, not to say flabbergas- ted by his sudden change of manner, walked vietly out of the office, followed by Pau] Van peel who took bis hat from the desk and fol- lowed his uncle into the passage. When he got outside, moreover, he laid his hand on Marcellus’s arm, and said quietly: **Uncle Marcellus, I don’t see why we should be bitter enemies so long. My mother was your sister. I’m willing to shake hands if you are. Marcellus glanced at him sideways, **T’ve no doubt you are,” he said, “but I’m not. You’ve joined my enemies, and you're try- ing to help my men in this strike. Very well. You can do so; but my turn’s coming, and hed never get a chance at my money. Shake ery with you? Not if you lay dying, curse you And he turned his back and walked away to his buggy. As he got into it, he was not sur- rised to see Larry Locke on the street couiig ward the lawyer's office, but he was surpri to see on his arm old Briggs, the very man to whom Larry nad owed the mortgage, and that Larry was piloting him along to Scriven’s 0 4 ce. He watched the two going up-stairs, and then drove round to Van Slack’s, to whom be told what he had seen, and was surprised to hear Van Slack say: / ““T thought so. There’s something behind all this. Old Briggs was with him, washe? T’ll bet there’s some sbarp practice ing on. If there is, ’l have ® hand in it. Snapper and Van Slack are hard to beat, and Scriven and Van Bearer will find that out some day.” CHAPTER XXV. THE BOSSES’ MEETING. Tue strike had lasted a week, and Holesburg was full of idle men, when Marcellus Skinner received a note from Stone & Grynde, saying: ** DEAR SIR:— “You are requested to come toa meeting of manu- facturers on Tuesday morning at eleven o'clock, at the office of Messrs. Kelly and Barr, to meet the committee of the Knights of Labor and arrange on a compromise to end the strike. ‘* Yours respectfully. *Purrace GrYNDE, “ Secretary Manufacturers’ Union.” Skinner twisted up the note and his face at the same time, muttering: ‘“'They’re going to give in. I know it. But they sha’n’t do it, if J have any say in it.” He sat down and scribbled an answer: comicbooks.co