over the world, and on every exchange
in the country, stocks fell. Capital paid twenty-five million dollars
that day, for those few ounces of lead. Such a method of settlement
seems rather crude and costly, for the last decade of the nineteenth
century.

Boys all over the city were quickly crying extras of the "Labor-party"
organ, the first column of which was headed:

BUTCHER STIRLING

THE NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

SHOOTS DOWN UNARMED MEN

IN

COLD BLOOD.

This was supplemented by inflammatory broadsides. Men stood up on
fences, lamp-posts, or barrels, wherever they could get an audience, and
shrieked out invectives against police, troops, government, and
property; and waved red flags. Orders went out to embody more regiments.
Timid people retired indoors, and bolted their shutters. The streets
became deserted, except where they were filled by groups of angry men
listening to angrier speakers. It was not a calm night in New York.

Yet in reality, the condition was less serious, for representatives of
Capital, Labor, and Government were in consultation. Inside the
station, in the Directors' room of the railroad, its officials, a
committee of the strikers, and an officer in fatigue uniform, with a
face to match, were seated in great leather-covered chairs, around a
large table. When they had first gathered, there had been dark brows,
and every sentence had been like the blow of flint on steel. At one
moment all but the officer had risen from their seats, and the meeting
had seemed ended. But the officer had said something quietly, and once
more they had seated themselves. Far into the night they sat, while mobs
yelled, and sentries marched their beats. When the gathering ended, the
scowls were gone. Civil partings were exchanged, and the committee and
the officer passed out together.

"That Stirling is a gritty bull-dog for holding on, isn't he?" said one
of the railroad officials. "It's a regular surrender for us."

"Yes, but we couldn't afford to be too obstinate with him, for he may be
the next governor."

One of the committee said to the officer as they passed into the street,
"Well, we've given up everything to the road, to please you. I hope
you'll remember it when you're governor and we want things done."

"Gentlemen," said Peter, "for every surrender of opinion you and the
railroad officials have made to-night, I thank you. But you should have
compromised twelve hours so