Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 30 August 1877 — Page 7

PUT YOURSELF IN HIS PLACE.

A Novel of Thrilling Interest About the Great Strikes in England.

BY CHARLES KEADE,

Contbiucd from Last Issue. CHAPTER VII.

Henry had now to choose between his mother's advice and Miss Carden commands and this made him rather sullen and irritable. He was glad to g?t out of his mother's house, and went direct to tiic works. Bayne welcomed him warmly, and, alter some friendly congratulations and inquiries, pulled out two liles of journals, and told him he had promised to introduce him to the editor of the Liberal. He then begged Henry to wait in the office, and read the files— he would not be gone many minutes.

The Constitutional gave a dry narrative of the outrage, and mourned th,j frequency of such incidents.

The Liberal gave a dramatic narrative, and said the miscreant must have lowered himself by a rope from the parapet, and passed the powder inside without encring. -'lie periled his life to perpetrate this crime and he also risked penal servitude for ten years. That he was not deterred by the double risk, proves the influence of some powerful motive and that motive must have been either a personal feud of a very verulent kind, or e'se trade fanaticism. From this alternative there is no escape."

Next day, both journals recorded a trade-meeting at the "Rising bun." Delegates from the Edge-Tool Forgers' Union, and the Edge-Tool Handlers' Union, with some other representatives of Hillsborough Unions, were presant and passed a resolution repudiating, with dist'iist, the outrage thai had recently .•en committed, and directed the secretaries to offer a reward of twenty pounds, same to be paid to any person who

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vould give such information as should cad to the discovery of the culprit. On this the Constitutional commented lis follows:—"Although we never (or a jnoment suspected thefse Unions of conlivin" at this enormity,yet it is satisiacto Find them, not merely passive kpectaiors, but exerting their energy, and [.pending their money, in a praiseworthy iiiuleavor to discover and punish the offenders."

Henry laid down the paper, and hi6 jieart felt very warm to Jobson and Park"Coine," said he, "1 am glad of that, 'hey ire not half a bad sort, those two, liter all.*'

Then he took up the Liberal, and beyoung and generous, felt disgusted at It* comment:

This appears vciy creditable to the [wo Unions in question. But, unfortulately, long experience proves that these iniall rewards never lead to any discov[rv. They fail so inyariably, that the Un ns do not risk a shilling by proffering hem. In dramatic entertainnents the tragedy is folowed by a farce: and so it is with hese sanguinary crimes in Hillsborough hey are always followed by repudiation, nd offers of a trumpery rewaid quite disiroportionate to the offense, and the only esult of the farce is to diveit attention om the true line of inquiry as to who nacted the tragedy. The mind craves lovelty, and perhaps these delegates will ndulge that desire by informing us for nice, what was the personal and Corsian feud which led—as they would have believe—to this outrage and will, at lie same time, explain to us why these utrages with gunpowder have never, ither in this or in any preceding case, aticked anv but non-union men,"

When Henry had read thus far. the ,'liter of the leader entered the room ,'ith Mr. Biyne.

A gentleman not above the middle lelght, but with a remarkable chest, both 'road and deep yet he was not unwieldlike Doctor Ainboyne, but clean-built, |nd symmetrical. An agreeable face, nth one remarkable feature, a mouth ill of ii on resolution, and a slight hulorous dimple at the corners.

He shook hands with Henry,and said: wish to ask you a question or two, in

I^testationsympathy,

ie way of business: but first let me exress my as a man, and my of the ruffians, that have so ?arly victimized you."

This was very hearty, and Henry lanked him, with some emotion. "But, r," said he, "If I am to reply to your uestions, you must promise me yon will ever publish my name." "It is on account of his mother," whispred Bayne. "Yes, sir. It was her misfortune to ise my father by a violent death, and of jurse you may imagine—" "Say ncy more," said Mr. Holdfast: our name shall not appear. And let ie see—does your mother know jou fork here?" "Yes, she does." '•Then we had better keep Cheetham ame out as well." "Oh, thank you, sir, thank you. Now 11 answer anv questions you like1" "Well, theni I hear this outrage was receded by several letters. Could I :ethem?" 'Certainly. I carry mine always in iv pocket, for fear my poor mother l'ould see them: and, Mr. Bayne, you avc got fheetham's

In another minute the whole correspondence was cn the table, and Mr, oldfast laid it out in order, like a map, id went through it, taking notes. What a comedy," said he. "All but the •nouement. Now Mr. Bayne, can snj her manufacturers show me a correondence of this kind?"

4Is

there one that can't? There isn power-wheel, or a water-wheel within ght miles of Hillsborough, that can't IOW you just sucht a correspondence as lis and rattening, or worse, at the tail

Mr. Holdfast's eye sparkled like a diaiond. "I'll make the round," said he. "And Mr. Little, perhaps you will be nd enough to go with me, and let me lestion you, on the road. I have no ib-editor no staff I carry the whole urnal on my head. Every day is a urd race between Time and me, and

)t a minute to spare." Mr. Cheetham was expecteu at the afternoon: so Henry, on leav-

|orksthis

Mr Holdfast, returned to them, hd found him there with Bayne, Joking, disconsolately over a dozen ortrs for carving-tools. ]"Glad to see you again, my lad," said Iheetham. "Why, you look all the bet-

"I'm none the worse, sir." I "Come to take your balance and leave le?" This was said half plaintively, half rossly. I "If you wish it, sir.

I

"Not I. How is it to be?" I "Well, sir, I say to you what you said

to me the other day, Stick to me, and I'll stick to you." "I'll stick to you."

Bayne held up his hands piteously to them both. "What, sir?" faltered he, turning to Cheetham, "after all your experience!" then to Henry, "What, fight the trades, after the lesson they have given you?

I'll fight them all the more for that, siad Henry, grinding his teeth fight" them till all is blue." "So will I. That for the trades!" "Heaven help you both groaned Bayne, and looked the picture of despair. "You promised me shutters, with a detonator, sir," "Ay, but you objected."

That was before they blew tnc ." '•Just so. Shutters shall be hung tomorrow and the detonators I'll fix mvself." "Thank you sir. Would you mind «ngaging a watchman?" "Hum? Not—if you will share the expenses." "I'll pay one-third." "Why should I pay two-thirds? It is not like shutters and Bramah locks: they are property, However, he'll be good against rattening and yoa have lost a fortnight, and there are a good many orders. Give me a days work, and we won't quarrel over the watchman." He then inquired, rather nervously, whether there was any thing more. "No, sir: we are agreed. And I'll give you good work, and full time."

The die was cast, and now he must go home and face his mother. For the first time this many years ho was half afraid to go near her. ^lle dreaded remonstrances and tears: tears that he could not dry remonstrances that would worry him, but could not shake him. 1 his young man, who had just screwed his physical courage up to defy the redoubtable Unions had a fit of moral cowardice, and was so reluctant to encounter the gentlest woman in England, that ho dined at a chop-house, and then sauntered into a music-hall, and did not get home till past ten, meaning to say a lew kind, huiried words, then yawn, and slip to bed.

But, meantime, Mrs. Little's mind had net been idle. She had long divined a young rival in her son's heart, and many a little pang of jealousy had traversed her own. This morning, with a quickness which may seem remarkable to those who have not observed the watchful keeness of maternal love, she had seen that her rival had worked upon Henry to resign his declared intention of leaving Hillsborough. Then she had felt her way, and, in a moment, she had found the younger woman was the stronger.

She assumed, as a matter of course, that this girl was in IOTC with Henry (who could not be in love with him?), and had hung, weeping, round his neck, when he called from Cairnhope to bid her farewell, and had made him promise to stay. This was the mother's theory wrong, but rational.

Then came the question, What should she do? Fight against youth and nature? Fight, unlikely to succeed, sure to irritate and disturb. Risk any of that rare affection and confidence her son had always given her?

While her thoughts ran this way, seven o'clock came and no Henry. "Ah!" thought the mother, "that one word of mine has had its effect already."

She prepared an exquisite little supper. She made her own toilette with particular care, and, when all was ready, sat down and comtorted herself by reading his letters, and comparing his love with the cavalier behavior of many sons in this island, the most unlilial country in Europe.

At half past ten Henry came up the stairs, not with the usual light elastc tread, but with slow, hesitating foot. Her quick ear caught that too, and her gentle bosom yearned. What, had she frightened him? He opened the door, and she arose to receive him all smiles. "You are rathe." late, dear," she said, but all the better. It has given me an excuse tor reading your dear letters all over again and I have a thousand questi®ns to ask you about Cairnhope. But 6it down first, and have vour supper."

Henry brightened up, and ate a good supper, and his mother plied hi:n with questions, all about Cairnhope.

Here was an unexpected relief. Henry took a superficial view of all this. Sharp young men of twenty-four understand "a great many things but they can't quite measure their mothers jet.

Henry was selfishly pleased, but not ungrateful, and they passed a pleasant and affectionate time: and, as for leaving Hillsborough, the topic was avoided by tacit consent.

Next morning, after an easy victory, Henrv took a cab and got to Woodbine Villa" by a circuitous route. His heart beat high as he entered the room where Grace was seated. After the extraordinary warmth and familiarity she had shown him at the last interview, he took for granted he had made a lasting progress in her regard.

But she received him with a cold and distant manner that quite benumbed him. Grace Garden's face and manner were so much more expressive than other people's, that you would never mistake or doubt the mood she was in and this morning she was freez.ng

The lact is, Miss Carden had been tormenting herself: and when beauty sufters, it is very apt to make others sutfer as well. "1 am glad you are come, Mr. Little," said she. "for I have been taking myself to task ever since, and I blame myself very much for some things I said. In the first place, it was not for me" (here the fair speaker colored up to the temples) "to interfere in your affairs at all: and then, if I must take such a liberty, I ought to have advised you sensibly, and for your good. I have been asking people, and thev all tell me it is madness for one person "to fight against these Unions. Every body gets crushed. So now let me hope you will carry out your wise intention, and leave Hillsborough and then my conscience will be at ease."

Everv word fell like an icicle on the hearer's" heart. To please this cold, changelul creature, he had settled to defy the unchangeable Unions, and had been ready to resist his mother, and slight her immortal and unchanging love. "You don't answer me, sir!" said Miss Cfrden, with an air ot lofty surprise, "I answered you yesterday," said he sullenly. "A man can't chop and change like a weathercock." "But it is not changing, it's oi^ going back to your own intention. You know vou were going to leave Hillsborough, before I talked all that nonsense. Your story had set me on fire, and that's my onlv excuse. Well, now, the same per-

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takes the liberty to give you wise and considerate advice, instead ot hot and hasty, romantic nonsf nse. Which ought you to respect most—folly or reason— from the same lips?"

Henry seemed to reflect. "That sounds reasonable," said* he "but, when you advised me not to show the white feather, you spoke your heait now, you are only talking from your head. Then, your beautiful eyes flashed fire, and your «oul was in vour words: who cauld lesist them? And you spoke to me like a friend now you speak to me like an enemy." "Oh Mr. Liitle, that is ridiculous." "You do, though. And I'm sure I don't know why." "Nor I. Perhaps because I am cro?6 with myself ceitainly not with you-" "I am glad of that. Well, then, the long and short is, you showed me you thought it cowardly to fly from the trades. You wouldn't, said you, if you were a man. Well, I'm a man and I'll do as you would do in my place. I'll not throw my life away, I'll meet craft with craft, and force with force but fly I never will. I'll fight while I've a leg to stand on."

With these words he began to work on the bust, in a quiet dogged way that was, nevertheless, sufficiently expressive.

Grace looked at him silently for half a minute, and then rose from her chair. "Then," said she, "I must go for somebody of more authority than I am." She sailed out of the room.

Henry asked Jael who she was gone for. "It will be her papa," said Jael. "As if I care what he says "I wouldn't show her that, if I were you," said Jael, quietly, but with a good deal of weight. "You are right," said Henry. "You are a good girl. I don't know which is the best, you or Martha. I say, I promised to go to Cairnhope some Sunday, and see them all. Shall I drive you over?" "And bring me back at night?" "Ifyou like. I must come back."

I'll ask Miss Carden." The words were quiet and composed, but the blushing face beamed with unreasonable happiness and Grace, who entered at that moment with her father, was quite struck with its eloquence she half started, but took no further notice just then. "There, papa," said she, "this is Mr. Little."

Mr. Carden was a tall gentleman, with some what iron features, but a fine head ot grey hair rather an imposing personage not the least pompous though quite a man of the world, and took a business view of every thing, matrimony, of course, included. "Oh, this is Mr. Little, is it, whose work we all admire so much?" "Yes, Papa." "And whose adventure has made so much noise?'' "Yes. Papa." "By-the-by, there is an article to-day on you have you seen it? No? But you should see it it is very smart. My dear," (to Jael), "will you go to my study, and bring the Liberal here?" "Yes, but meantime, I want you to advise him not to subject himselt to more gunpowder and things, but to leave the town that is all the wretches demand." "And that," said Henry, with a sly, deferential tone, "is a good deal to demand in a free country, is it not, sir?" "Indeed it is. Ah, here comes the Liberal. Somebody read the article to us, while he works. I want to see how he does it." ^uriosity overpowered Grace's impatience, for a moment, and she read the noticc out with undisguised interest. "'THE LAST OUTRAGE. "'In our first remarks upon this matter, we merely laid down an alternative which admits of no dispute and, abstaining from idle conjectures, untertook to collect evidence. We have now had an interview with the victim of that abomi nable outrage. Mr. is one ot those superior workmen who embellish that class for a few years, but invariably rise above it, and leave it' (there—Mr. Little!)—'He has informed us that he is a stranger in Hillsborough, lives retired, never sits down in a public-house, and has not a single enemy in Hillsborough, great or small. He saj that his life was saved by his fellow-morkinen, and that as he lay scorched—' (Oh dear!") "Well, go on, Grace." "It is all very well to say go on, Papa— scorched and bleeding on the ground, and unable to distinguish faces' (poor, poor Mr. Little!) 'he heard, on all sides of him, expressions ol rugged sympathy and sobs, and tears, from rough, but— manly fellows, who—' (ohijjoh! oh!")

Grace could not go on for whimpering, and Jael cried, for company. Henry left off carving, and turned away his head, touched to the heart by this sweet and sudden sympathy. "How badly you read," said Mr, Carden, and took the journal from her. He read in a loud business-like monotone that, like some blessed balm, dried every tear. 'Manly fellows who never shed a tear before: this disposed of one alternative, and narrowed the inquiry. It was not a personal feud therefore it was a trade outrage, or it was nothing. We now took evidence bearing on the the inquiry thus narrowed and we found the assault had been preceded by a great many letters, all ot them breathing the spirit of Unionism, and nsne of them intimating a private wrong. These letters, taken in connection, are a literary curiosity and we find there is scarcely a manufacturer in the place who has not endured a similar correspondence, and violence at the end of it. This curious chap ter of the human mind really deserves a seperate heading, and we in troduce it to our readersas "THE LITERATURE OF OUTRAGE," '"First of all comes a letter to the master intimating that he is doing something objectionable to some one ot the many Unions that go to make a simple implement ot hardware. This letter has three features. It is signed with a real name. It is polite. It is grammatical. "'If disregarded, it is .speedily followed by another. No. 2 is grammatical, or thereabouts but, under a feigned politeness, the insolence of a vulgar mind shows

itself very plainly, and the master is minded what he "suffered on some former occasion when he rebelled against the trades. This letter is sometimes anonymous, generally pseudonymous. "If this reminder of the past, and intimation of the future, is disregarded, the refractory master gets a missive, which begins with an affectation of coarse familiarity, and then rises, with a ludicrous bound, into brutal and contemptuous in-

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THE TERRE HAUTE WEEKLY GAZETTE.

*)lence In this letter, grammar is flung to the winds, along with good manners but spelling survives, by a miracle. Next comcc a short letter, full of sanguinary threats, and written in, what we beg leave to christen, the Dash dialect, because, though u9ed by at least three million people in England, and three thousand in Hillsl* rough, it can only be printed with blanks, the reason being simply this, that every sentence is measled with oaths and indecencies. These letters are also written phonetically, and, as the pronunciation, which directs the spelling, is all wrong, the doubie result in prodigious. Nevertheless, many ot these pronunciations are ancient, and were once universal. An antiquarian friend assures us the orthography of these blackguards, the scum of the nineteenth century, is wonderfully like that ot a media val monk or baron. "'When the correspondent has once descended to the Dash dialect, written phonetically, it never remounts towards grammar, spelling, or civilization and the r.ext step in the business is rattening, or else bearing, or Bhooting, or blowingup the obnoxious individual by himself, or along with a houseful of people quite strange to the quarrel. Now, it is manifest to common sense, that all this is one piece of mosaic, and that the criminal act it all ends in is no more to be disconnected from the last letter, than the last letter from its predecessor, or letter 3 from letter 2. Here is a crime first gently foreshadowed, then grimly intimated, then directly threatened, then threatened in words that smell ot blood and gunpowder, and then—done. The correspondence and the act reveal—• •The various ta'.cnts, but the single miud." '"In face of this evidence, furnished by themselves, the trades' Unions, some member of which has committed this crime, will do well to drop the worn-out farce ot offering a trumpery reward, and to take a direct and manly course. They ought to accept Mr. 's preposterously liberal offer, and admit him him to the two Unions, and thereby disown the criminal act in the form most consolatory to the suflerer or else they should face the situation, and say, "'This act was done under our banner, though not by our order, and we stand by it." The Liberal will continue to watch the case.'" "This will be a pill," said Mr. Carden, laying down the paper. "Why, they call the Liberal the workman's advocate." 'Yes, papa," said Grace "but how plainly he shows— But Mr. Little is a stranger, and even this terrible lesson has not— So do pray advise him."

I shauld be very happy but, when you are mv age, you will know it is of little use intruding advice upon people." "Oh, Mr. Little will treat it with proper respect, coming from one so much older than himself, and better acquainted with this wretched town. Will you not, Mr Little? said she, with so cunning a sweetness that the young fellow was entrapped, and assented, before he knew what he was about then colored high at finding himself committed.

Mr. Carden reflected a moment. He then said, "I can't take upon myself to tell any man to give up his livelihood. But one piece of advice I can conscieniously give Mr. Litcle. •'Yes, papa." "And that is—TO INSURE HIS LIFE." "Oh, papa!" cried Grace.

As for Henry he was rather amused, and his lip curled satiracally. But the next moment he happened to catch sight of Jael Dance's face: her gray eyes were expanded with a look of uneasiness and, directly she caught his eye she fixed it, and made him a quicic movement of the head, directing him to assent.

There was something so clear and decided in the girl's manner, that it overpowered Henry, who had no very clear idea to oppose to it, and he actually obeyeJ the nod of this girl, whom he had hitherto looked on as an amiable simpleton. "I have no objection to that," said he, turning to Mr. Carden. Then, after another look at Jael, he said, demurely, "Is there any insurance office you could recommend?"

Mr. Carden smiled. "There is only one I have a right to recommend, and that is the 'Gosshawk.' I am a director. But, "said he, with sudden stiffness, "I could furnish you with the names of many others."

Henry saw his way clear by this time. "No, sir, it I profit by your advice, the least I can do is to choose the one you area director of."

Grace, who had latterly betrayed uneasiness and irritation, now rose, red as fire. "The conveisation is taking a turn I did not at all intend," said she, and swept out of the room with royal dispain.

Her father apologized carelessly for her tragical exit. "That is a young lady who detests business but she does not object to its fruits,—dresses, lace, footiren, diamonds, and a carriage to drive about in. On the contrary, she would be miserable without them." "I should hope she never will be without them, sir." "I'll take care of that."

Mr. Carden said this rather dryly, and then retired for a minute and Grace, who •va-s not far off, with an ear like a hare, came back soon after,

But in the mean time Henry left his seat and went to Jael, and, leaning over her as she worked, said, "There is more in that head of yours than I thought." "Oh, they all talk before me," said Jael, blushing faintly, and avoiding his e\e. "Jael Dence," said the young man warmly, "I'm truly obliged toyou."?:

What for?" "For your good advice. I didn't see how good it was till after I had taken it." "I'm afeard Miss Grace gave you better." "She advised me against my hearc. What is the use of that?" "Ay, young men are wilful." "Come, come, don't you go back. You are my friend and counsellor." "That is something," said Jael, in a low voice and her hands trembled at her side.

Why, my dear girl, what is the matter?" 'Hush! hush!"

sill

CHAPTER VIII, 3'"1

Grace came in that moment, with a superb air. She settled herself on the sofa. "Now, it's my tarn, if you please Pray, sir, do you think your life will be safer for your insuring it? Insuring does not mean that vou are not to be killed but that, when you are, for your obstinacy, somebody else will get paid some

1811

money, to dance with over your grave." "I beg your pardon, Grace," said Mr. Carden, entering, with some printed papers in his hand. "That is not the only use of an insurance. He may want to marry, or to borrow a sum of money to begin business and then a policy of insurance, with two or three premiums paid, smooths the difficulty. Every bodv should make a will, and every body should insure his life." "Well then, sir, I will do both." "Stop!" said Mr. Carden, who could now afford to be candid. "First of all, you ought to satisfy yourself of the flourishing condition of the company." He handed him a prospectus." "This, will show you our capital, and our disbursements last year, and the balance of profit declared. And this gives the bal-ance-sheet of the'Vulture' and the Falcon,' which have assigned their business to us, and are now incorporated in the 'Gosshawk.'" "Oh what a voracious bird!" observed Grace. "I hope these other chickabiddies will not prove indigestible. Were they plucked first, papa? or did the 'Gosshawk' swallow feathers and all?"

Little laughed heartily at this pei sally, but Mr. Carden winced under it. Then Grace saw she was not quite weaponless, and added, "After such a meal as that Mr. Litt'e you will go down like a ciumb." "Grace, that is enough," said Mr. Car den, rather severely.

Grace held her tongue directly, and' the water came into her eyes. Anything like serious remons'.rance wai a novelty to her

When Henry had read the papers, Mr. Carden asked him, rather carelessly, what sum he wished to be insured for.

Now Henry had so little wish about the matter, that he had not given it a thought, and the question took him quite aback. He locked helplessly at Jael. To his surprise, she decided on the sum for him, without a moment's hesitation, and conveyed the figure with that dexterity which the simplest of her sex can command whenever telegraphy is wanted. She did it with two unbroken movements she put up all the fingers ot her, right hand to her brow, and that meant five then she turned he hand rapidly so as to hide her mouth from the others, who were both on her right hand, and 6he made the word thousand clear, with her lips and tongue, especially the "tli."

But the sum staggered Henry and made him think he must be misinterpreting her. lie hesitated, to gain time. Hum!" said he, "the sum?"

Jael repeated her pantomine as before. Still Henry doubted, and, to feel his way, said half interrogatively. "Five— thous—and?"

Jael nodded. "Five thousand pounds," said Henry, as bold as brass. "Five thousand pounds!" cried Mr. Carden. "A workman insure his life for five thousand pounds!" "Well, a man's life is worth five thousand pounds, or it is worth nothing. And, sir, how long do you think I shall be a workman, especially in Hillsborough, where from workman to master is no more than hopping across a gutter?"

Mr. Carden smiled approval. "But five thousand pounds! The annual premium will be considerable. May I ask about much you make a year?" "Oh, papa!" "Well, sir, Mr. Cheetham pays me £300 a year, at the rate of, and I can make another £100 by carving at odd times. But, if you doubt my ability, 1st us stay as we are, sir. It was your proposal, not mine, you know." "Young man," said Mr. Carden, "never be peppery in business." He said tnia so solemnly and paternally, it sounded like the eleventh commandment

To conclude, it was arranged Henry should take the higher class ot insurance, which provided for accidents, voyages, every thing, and should be insured for £5,000, provided the physician appointed by the company should pronounce him free from disease.

Henry then rose, and said, sorrowfully, to Grace, "You will not see me here very often now and never on Saturday afternoon or Monday morning. I am not going to have some blackguard tracking me and flinging a can of gunpower in at your window. When I do come, it will be in the morning, and on a working day and I shall perhaps go ten miles round to get here. It must be diamond cut diamond, for many a month to come, between the Trades and me." He uttered these words with manly gravity, as one who did not underrate the peril he was. resolved to face and left them with a respectful bow. "That's arising man," said Mr. Carden: "and may draw a hundred of his class to the 'Gosshawk.' It was a good stroke of business, quite out of tfae common."

Grace said not a word, but she shook her head, and looked pained and ill at ease. Jael watched her fixedly.

Henry called at the works that night, and examined the new defenses, with Mr Cheetham. He also bought a powerful magnifying-glass and next morning he came to the factory, examined the cinders, and every thing else, with the magnifier, lighted his forge, and resumed hi* work.

At dinner time he went out and had his chop, and read the Liberal it contained a letter from Mr. Jobson, in reply to the editor.

Jobson deplored the criminal act, admilted that the two Unions had decided that no individual could be a forger, a handler, and a cutler such an example was subversive of all the Unions in the city, based, as they were, on subdivision of crafts. "Hut," said Mr. Jobson, "we were dealing with the matter in a spirit quite inconsistent with outrages, and I am anxious to convince the public of this, that I have asked a very experienced gentleman to examine our minute-Dooks and report accordingly"

Thu. letter was "4 supplemented by one from Mr. Grotait, secretary of the Saw-Grinders, which ran thus: "Messrs. Parkin and Jobson have appealed to me to testify to certain facts. I was very reluctant to in terfere, for obvious reasons but was, at last, prevailed on to examine the minute books of those two nions, and they certainly do prove that on the very evening before the explosion, those trades had fully discussed Mr. -'s case" (the real name was put, but altered by the editor), "and had disposed of it as follows: They agreed, and this is entered accordingly, to offer him his travelling expenses (first class) to London, and one pound per

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Bayne called to Henry, and tha brought him down, and several more, who winded something. "Just look at these,'1 said Cheetham.

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week, from their funds, until such time as he should obtain employment, I will only add that both these secretaries spoke kindly to me of Mr. and, believing them to be sincere, I ventured to advise them to mark their disapproval of the criminal act, by offering him two pounds per week, instead of one pound which, advice they have accepted verv readily."

Henry was utterly confounded bv these letters. Holfast commented on them thus: "Messrs. Jobson and Parkin virtually say that if A, for certain reasons, pushes a man violently out of Hillsborough, arttf draws him gently in Hillsborough for the same reasons, A and can not possibly be co-operating. Messrs. Parkin and Jobson had so little confidence irt this argument, which is equivalent to saying there is no such thing as cunning in trade, that they employed a third party to advance it with all the weight of his p«pularity and seemijig impartiality, 3ut who is this candid person, that objects to assume the judge* and assumes the judge? He is the treasurer and secretary of an Union that does not number three hundred persons yet in that small Union, of whicS he is dictator, there has been as much rattening, and more shooting, and blowing-up wholesale and retail, with the farcical accompaniment of public repudiation, than in all the other Unions put together. We consider the entrance of this ingenious personage on the scene a bad omen, and shall watch all future proceedings with increased suspicion."

Henry had hardly done reading this, when a man came into the works, and brought him his fifteen pounds back from Mr. lobson, and a line, offering him his expenses to London, and two pounds per week, from the Edge-Tool Forgeis' box, till he should find employment. Henry took his money and sent back ord that the proposal came too late after the dastardly attempt to assassinate him, he should dely the Unions, until they accepted his terms. Jobson made no reply. And Henry defied the Unions,

The Unions lay still, like some great fish at the bottom of a pool, and gave no sign 01 life or animosity. This did not lull Henry into a talse security. He never relaxed a single precaution. He avoided "Woodbine Villa he dodged and doubled like a hare, to hide his own abode. But he forced, handled, and finished, in spite of the Unions.

The men were civil to him in the yard, and he had it all his own way, apparent-

]y-

He was examined by a surgeon, and reported healthy. lie paid the insurance premium, nhd obtained the policy. So now he felt secure, under the jegis ot the Press, and the wing of the "Gosshawk."

By-and-by, that great fish I have mentioned gave a turn of its tail, and made his placid waters bubble a little.

A woman came into the yard, with & can of tea for her husband, and a ftfll apron. As she went out, she emptied a set of tools out of her apron on to an old. rindstonc, and slipped out.

The news of this soon traveled into the office, and both Cheetham and Bayne came out to look at them.

They were a set of carving-tools, well made,and highly polished and there was a scrap of paper with this distich:

We are Hillsborough made Both shaft and blade. Cheetham examined them, and said, "Well, they are clever fellows. I declare those come very near Little's: call him do»vn and let us draw him."

Liitle colored: he saw the finger of the Unions at once, and bristled all over with caution and hostility, •I see them, sir. They are very fair specimens of cutlery and there are only about twenty tools wanting to make a complete set but there is one defect in them as carving-tools. "What is that?" "They are useless. You can't carve wood with them. None but a practical carver can design the tools, and then he must invent and make the steel moulds first. Try and sell them in London or Paris, you'll soon find the difference. Mr. Bayne, I wonder yen should call me from my forge to examine 'prenticework." And, with this, he walked Jff disdainfully, but not quite easy in his mind, for he had noticed a greedv twinkle in Cheethain's eye. 'J he next day all the grinders in Mr. Cheeiham's employ, except the scitsorsgrinders, rose, all of a sudden, like a flock of patriJge6, all went out into the road. "Whatis up now?" inquired Bayne. The answer was their secretaries had sent for them.

They buzzed in the road, for a ftw minutes, and then came back to woik. At night there was a great meeting at the "Cutlers' Arms," kept by Mr. Grotait.

At noon next day, all the grinders aforesaid in Mr. Cheetham's employ walked into the office, and left, each of them, a signed paper to this /effect. "This is to give you notice that I will leave your service a week after the date thereof.*' (Meaning "hereof," I presume.)

Cheetham asked several of tfyern what was up. Some replied, civilly, it was a trade matter. Others suggested Mr. Cheetham knew as much of it as they did.

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Not a single hot or uncivil Word vyras spoken on e.ther side. The game AsCd been played too often for that, and with results too various.

One or two even expressed a sort of dogged regret. The grinder Reynolds,a very honest fellow, admitted, to Mi. Cheetham, that he thought it a sorry trick, for a hundred men to strike against one that had had a squeak for hia life. "But no matter what I think or what I say, I must do what the Union bids me, sir."* "I know that, my poor fellow," said Cheetham. "I quarrel with none ®f you. I fight you all. The other masters, in this town, are mice, but I'm a man."

This sentiment he repeated very often, during the next six days. The seventh came, and the grinders never entered the works.

Cheetham looked graye. However, he said to Bayne.' "Go and find out where they are. Do it cleverly, now. Don't be noticed."

Bayne soon ascertainsd they were all in the neighboring public houses. "I thought so," said Cheetham. They

oatinued on TairJ Page,),

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