mis-stated my attitude in saying that," retorted the
Lieutenant-Governor coolly. "I should have said, what, after all, is
self-evident, that I had no intention of trying to influence Mr.
Rathbawne in favor of the Union, at least so long as it is acting under
your dictation. Its present character is well known--almost as well
known as yours, in fact--and I believe its position in this matter to be
entirely untenable, unjustifiable, and iniquitous. I may add that if it
is, indeed, Governor Abbott's resolve that I am to deal, in his stead,
with the question of your proposed strike, you may confidently rely upon
having to put the entire state force of Alleghenia out of business
before you can even so much as begin to bully Peter Rathbawne into
submission!"

"If that's your opinion of the Union," said McGrath sullenly, "it might
be interesting to hear your opinion of me."

"You are perfectly welcome to it," replied the Lieutenant-Governor
easily. "I consider you an unmitigated blackguard!"

Governor Abbott tipped back his chair and looked at McGrath.

"That's pretty plain talk," he said. "You see how it is, Mr. McGrath.
You'll have to go ahead on your own responsibility, and you mustn't be
surprised if the State steps in at the first evidence of disorder."

McGrath rose, flecked some specks of dust from his waistcoat, and walked
toward the door without a word. On the threshold he turned, looked from
the Governor to the Lieutenant-Governor, and back again, and laughed.
Then he went out, closing the door softly behind him.

At the Rathbawne Mills it was usual for a huge whistle to give one long
blast at noon as a signal for the lunch hour. On that day, however,
following McGrath's instructions, the single blast was replaced by five
short ones in rapid succession, and three minutes later the employees
were pouring through half a dozen gates into the streets surrounding the
mills, in laughing, chattering, excited streams.

A majority of the men went directly to a hall in the neighborhood where
McGrath had called a mass-meeting for half-past twelve. A minority of
them crowded into the saloons of the vicinity, where they pounded on the
bars, and filled the close, smoke-grayed air with heated discussion.
Several of the discharged hands were in evidence, each surrounded by an
attentive group, and expounding more or less inflammatory views. The
women gathered in gossiping throngs on the sidewalks, laughing, and
pulling each ot