ey have been
here at the house a number of times. The man who seems to dominate
them all is a man known as 'Gunpowder' Gerry, a powerful, cunning,
sly-eyed fellow about 45 years old. He is the business agent of the
union and runs everything, although few persons know it. In some
mysterious way he has got a very strong hold on Dave and can make him
do anything he wants him to."

"Why do you think I am in danger here?" was Helen's next question.

"Because I've heard some talk here about what would happen if you
girls attempted to carry out your plans. They had a spy, a chauffeur,
in Mr. Stanlock's home, and he found out all about it. Gerry used this
to work up bad blood among the strikers, using Dave as his tool as
usual. The threat reached my ears that if you girls came down here in
Mining Town, you would never get out alive. They think it is just a
move to put something over."

"Did you know that Dave came to Westmoreland a few weeks ago and
called at the institute to see me?" Helen asked.

"No, did he? What for? I thought he didn't have any use for you.
Excuse me for putting it that way, but it's the way he talks."

"I suppose so. That's because we objected so much to his way of doing.
But I found out on that occasion that there really was a tender place
in his heart for us. He wanted me to do something to call off our
vacation plans, as he was afraid something would happen."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I didn't take him very seriously. But when on the day before
we started for Hollyhill I happened into the postoffice at
Westmoreland and caught him in the act of mailing a letter to Marion
Stanlock, I became somewhat alarmed. I forced the truth from him after
the letter was mailed. He said he was sending her a threatening letter
in the hope that it would break up our plans. I asked him why he came
to Westmoreland to mail it. He replied that he was afraid it would be
traced to him if he mailed it in Hollyhill. Then he urged me, almost
commanded me, to prevent our plans from being carried out. He declared
that every one of us would probably be killed if we came. I promised
to do my best. I watched Marion, hoping to see her read the
threatening letter. I saw it after it was laid on her desk in her
room. I saw her glance at it and put it into her handbag before she
went to bed. Next morning I waked her early and laid the handbag right
before her eyes, hoping she would take the letter out and read it. I
did not dar