y after they are dead. No, we must
have no killing to-night. To-morrow we'd be sorry for it."

"Let us drive up and see them," suggested the Mayor. "Let me talk to the
boys. The boys know me."

The Chief did not appear to be greatly in love with the suggestion of
the Mayor.

"Well," he said, "it would do no harm to drive up and have a look at
them. We'll see how they are fixed, anyway. I think, Mr. McGinnis, you
had better remain on guard here. The Mayor and Captain Maitland will
come with me."

Commandeering Rupert and his car, the Chief took his party at a moderate
pace up the street, at the top of which the crowd stood waiting in
compact masses. Into these masses Rupert recklessly drove his car.

"Steady there, Stillwell," warned the Chief. "You'll hurt someone."

"Hurt them?" said Rupert. "What do you want?"

"Certainly not to hurt anyone," replied the Chief quietly. "The function
of my police force is the protection of citizens. Halt there!"

The Chief stepped out among the strikers and stood in the glare of the
headlights.

"Well, boys," he said pleasantly, "don't you think it is time to get
home? I think you have done enough damage to-night already. I am going
to give you a chance to get away. We don't want to hurt anyone and we
don't want to have any of you down for five years or so."

Then the Mayor spoke up. "Men, this is a most disgraceful thing. Most
deplorable. Think of the stain upon the good name of our fair city."

Howls of derision drowned his further speech for a time.

"Now, boys," he continued, "can't we end this thing right here? Why
can't you disperse quietly and go to your homes? What do you want here,
anyway?"

"Scabs!" yelled a voice, followed by a savage yell from the crowd.

"Men," said the Chief sharply, "you know me. I want this street cleared.
I shall return here in five minutes and anyone seeking to stop me will
do so at his own risk. I have a hundred men down there and this time
they won't give you the soft end of the club."

"We want them sulphurously described scabs," yelled a voice. "We ain't
goin' to kill them, Chief. They're lousy. We want to give 'em a bath."
And a savage yell of laughter greeted the remark. On every hand the
word was taken up: "A bath! A bath! The river! The river!" The savage
laughter of the crowd was even more horrible than their rage.

"All right, boys. We are coming back and we are going through. Leave
this street clear or take your chances!