by James Otis
CHAPTER XI
BILLINGS AND SKIP
Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the laterioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance throughthe old shaft was concerned.
"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said,"an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, moreespecially after the doors are barred."
"It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of theworkings. "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallelwith, and not more than three yards from our lower cut. The veinsprobably come together farther on."
"It wouldn't take a man very long to work his way through," Joe said,reflectively.
"And not knowing where an attempt may be made, it will be very difficultto prevent mischief."
"Unless the old shaft should be guarded."
"To do that we should be obliged to station men entirely around ourworks, for here is the abandoned slope, and farther down the hill two orthree places where an entrance could be effected."
"But Billings an' his crowd don't know all this."
"Possibly not; yet there are many of the older men who could tell thestory."
Joe shook his head in perplexity.
"You four are to act as sentinels," said theSuperintendent. "Study this map and you will hit upon a scheme."]
"I am not warranted in hiring a large force of men as guards," Mr.Wright continued, "and we must do that from the inside. You and Thomas,with these boys as helpers, shall work on the lower level, and I willtake care that none but true men are near by."
"How will that mend matters?"
"You four are to act as sentinels. It makes little difference how manyloads you take out, for the company will pay day wages."
"Even then I don't see how we can do anything."
"You and Thomas must form some plan. Study this map, and I am confidentyou will hit upon a scheme."
"Is there any chance that the drift's choked with gas?"
"Very little."
Joe was thoroughly puzzled, and after several moments of silence Mr.Wright said:
"Get your supper now, and then talk the matter over with Thomas."
At this intimation that the interview was at an end, the miner left theoffice followed by the two boys, and when they were out of the storeSkip Miller came from his hiding place without having been seen by thesuperintendent or his clerks.
The leader of the regulators lounged carelessly toward the door untilsatisfied no one was paying any particular attention to him, when hestepped briskly out, and walked rapidly to a groggery situated at thefarther end of the town.
Here, as he had anticipated, was Cale Billings and a select party offriends, all of whom were discussing their late defeat.
Skip did not care to state the reason for his coming in the presence ofthe entire party, and waited patiently in one corner of the room untilit should be possible to beckon the leader out of doors.
"Wright may think we're whipped," Billings was saying; "but that's wherehe makes a big mistake. He can't drive us out of this town, no matterhow much he may blow, an' it won't be many days before we'll show what'swhat."
"There's little chance for us the way things look now," one of the partysaid, with a laugh.
"How do you know? The folks 'round here have seen what I can do, an'they'll soon find out that there's a good deal of fight left."
As he said this Billings looked first at one and then another to notethe effect of his bold words, and in doing so chanced to see Skip, whoimmediately made a series of what he intended should be mysteriousgestures.
"What's the matter with you?" the man asked, angrily; but instead ofreplying, Skip placed his finger on his lips and quickly left the room.
It was several moments before the leader understood he was wanted, andwhen this fact dawned upon him he followed, meeting the boy a few yardsfrom the entrance.
"Was you cuttin' up them monkey shines for me?" he asked in a surlytone.
"Of course."
"Well, what's wanted?"
"You jest said as how you'd like to get square with the company."
"S'posen I did? Does that concern you?"
"P'raps I heard somethin' 'round to the store you'd want to know."
"Say, if you've got anything to tell, out with it, for I can't fool awaymy time with you."
"First I've got a trade to make."
"Talk quick."
"Do you know the new breaker boy? The one what's so thick with Wrightan' Joe Brace?"
"Yes."
"I want to get square with him, an' if you'll help me do it I'll tellwhat I heard a lot of 'em saying."
"Was it anything I'd like to know?"
"It'll show jest how you can get the best of the whole crowd."
"Then I'll do what I can, an' be glad of the chance, 'cause I've got alittle score to settle with him myself."
Skip no longer hesitated; but repeated in detail all he had heard whilehiding in the store, Billings listening with closest attention.
"That's the best piece of news I've heard for a year, my boy," thelatter said, "an' you sha'n't be the loser by tellin' me. If you've gotthe nerve to do a little work after everything is ready, both thebreaker boss an' this new feller shall be where they can't helpthemselves."
The leader of the regulators felt exceedingly proud that the riotershould ask him to participate in the plot, and promised, without theleast show of hesitation, to do anything which might be required ofhim.
"How long before you'll be ready?" he asked.
"It may be a week; but you drop in here for a minute every evenin' so'sI can talk about the thing if the plans don't work. There's no use to bein a hurry over sich a job as this."
"I'll show up reg'lar," Skip cried gleefully, and then, as Billingsre-entered the groggery, he hurried away to tell the good news to someof his chums.
During this plotting Joe Brace and Bill Thomas were at Fred's homediscussing the best means of following Mr. Wright's instructions. Theplan of the works was studied carefully; but in it was found no solutionto the problem, and when they retired that evening nothing definite hadbeen decided upon.
The night shift went to work as usual, and but for the evidences ofwanton destruction a stranger would hardly have mistrusted that Farley'shad lately been a scene of rioting.
On the following morning Fred passed through the breaker to speak toDonovan before entering the slope, and Skip Miller displayed thegreatest excitement on seeing him.
"I don't know how it could have happened," the breaker boss said, "for Ihaven't told even my own wife that you was to be Joe's butty; but theseyoung villains know all about it. I've heard Skip tellin' his cronies,an' I'm sure they're up to some mischief. Be careful, an' don't gooutside alone, leastways, not till the business of the riot has blownover."
"I'll look to it that they haven't a chance to do much harm," Fredreplied, laughingly, as he passed on to learn the first duties of aminer.
Joe, Bill, and Sam accompanied Fred to his new working place, and theformer said as they were being let down the incline:
"I hear Billings swears he won't leave town."
"I passed him on my way home last night," Bill added, "and he warned meagin keepin' Sam as my butty."
"Why?"
"He says he is a spy, hand in glove with you, an' that all who work withthem as give information to the bosses will catch it rough."
Bill Thomas laughed as he said this; but Joe looked serious.
"I don't like this way of working. The lower level is bad enough withoutthinkin' all the time that somebody is tryin' to do a fellow up."
"Nonsense. Barkin' dogs don't often bite, an' so long as we know hemeans mischief there ain't much chance of trouble. The thing to befiggered out is, how're we goin' to fix this job?"
Again the two men discussed the situation, walking along the drift withthe plans before th
em, while the boys were forced to be content withlistening to the conversation.
It was finally decided that they should work here and there along theentire cut, trusting that it would be possible to hear if any one beganto dig on the opposite side.
"It's a case of keepin' quiet an' listenin' for suspicious sounds," Billsaid. "We won't try to get out coal to-day, an', perhaps, by night Mr.Wright will have a better plan."
"By watchin' Billings we could get some kind of an idea as to when hewas likely to begin operations."
"Donovan promised to see to that part of it."
"Then we'll kinder lay 'round till we get the hang of the place. Youboys go on to the end of the drift an' come back. Don't make any noise."
The forenoon was spent in what was little more than patrol duty, andwhen Mr. Wright came below he approved of their plans. Nothing betterwas suggested, and until night-fall all four paced to and fro, the otherminers having been withdrawn from the drift.
When evening came Skip did not wait to see if Fred came out; but hurriedoff to the groggery where he was made happy by Billings' extremefriendliness.
"The leader of the mob arose immediately upon seeing him, and led theway outside, saying when they were some distance from the building:
"I've been thinkin' over what you told me, an' am certain we can workthis thing all right."
"When?"
"In a day or two. If you could manage to get hold of that paper the jobmight be done in a jiffy."
"But Joe an' Bill have got it."
"S'posen they have. A smart lad like you oughter find some way to get atit, an' it would be worth your while to try."
"It couldn't be done."
"P'raps not by you; but I know of some, no older than you, who'd have itbefore morning. Of course, I don't blame a boy for not tryin' when hehasn't the nerve----"
"See here," Skip cried, impatiently, "haven't I showed grit enough to domost anything?"
"If you have, prove it by gettin' hold of that paper."
"I can't see what you want it for?"
"Because it shows us all the levels. With it we can tell jest where tobegin work."
"I'll make a try for it anyhow; but I can't figger any way to get atit."
"Watch for a chance. They won't keep it in their hands all the time,and, by knockin' off work now an' then, loafin' 'round near where theyare, you'll soon have your hands on it."
"You won't go back on me if I get into trouble?"
"Don't worry about that; I never shake a friend."
With this assurance Skip walked away feeling very happy because of themanner in which Billings spoke; but sadly perplexed as to the bestcourse to accomplish the desired end.
