tions until everything can be proven; but
meanwhile all must remain out of the works that the guilty parties may
not be able to do worse mischief."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"It is cowardly to remain here."

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

"But the widow's property?"

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

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

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

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

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

"Something must be done at once, or there is no knowing where this thing
will end. Fred, you and Sam get some boards up at these windows, and
I'll learn how many of the men can be trusted to stand by us. Keep out