re were younger in
years and louder in their abuse of the railway officials; and generally
less discreet.

"_Always together in sunshine and rain,
Facing the weather atop o' the train_,"

sang Patsy as he strolled into the private office of Chairman Borphy,
who was in charge of the firemen's end of the strike. Borphy greeted
Patsy pleasantly as did the others in the office, with one exception.
Over in a window sat fireman George Cowels, a great striker, and in the
eyes of some of his enthusiastic friends a great man, and in his own
estimation a great orator. Removing his cigar in order to give the
proper effect to the expression he was about to assume, Cowels gave
Patsy a hard searching look as he asked:

"Does that song of yours mean yourself and the general manager?"

"An' if it does," said Patsy, stepping close in front of his questioner:
"What's it _to_ you?"

"Just this," said Cowels: "You have been watched. You went to the
general office this morning the moment it was open, and took a message
for Mr. Stonaker to the general manager of the C. & N. W. Does that fit
your case? Perhaps you will favor us with the result of your mission!
Come, will the North Western help your friend out?"

At the conclusion of this eloquent burst of indignation Cowels smiled
triumphantly, for, as Patsy paled into silence, the big fellow thought
he had his man scared; but when Patsy took another step forward, forcing
his opponent back to the window, and asked between his closed teeth, if
Cowels meant to accuse him of betraying the strikers to the company
every one in the room realized that something was about to happen.
Perhaps Cowels thought so, too, but he was in a hole and could only
answer Yes. The next instant Patsy drove his fist up under the orator's
chin, and the back of that gentleman's head made a hole in the window.
The bystanders, knowing the temper of both the men, sprang between them
before any further damage could be done.

If Patsy had the best of the fight he had the worst of the argument. He
had been openly accused of being a "spotter" and had made no explanation
of his conduct; so when it was reported that he had gone to Council
Bluffs over the North Western, the more ignorant and noisy of his
associates were easily persuaded that such a favor to a striker could
only be secured upon the request of Mr. Stonaker and that request would
be given only for services rendered; and Patsy Daly was from that day