nt the youngster caught sight of his parent he set up a yell.
Foley, laughing, passed him into his astonished father's arms before the
latter could say a word. Just then a boy, running and squeezing through
the crowd, cried to Cameron that his horse had run away from the house
with the baby in the buggy, and that Mrs. Cameron was having a fit.
Cameron stood like one daft--and the boy catching sight of the baby that
instant panted and stared in an idiotic state.
"Andy," said I, getting down and laying a hand on his shoulder, "if
these fellows want to kill this man, let them do it alone--you'd better
keep out. Only this minute he has saved your boy's life."
The sweat stood out on the big engineer's forehead like dew. I told the
story. Cameron tried to speak; but he tried again and again before he
could find his voice.
"Mate," he stammered, "you've been through a strike yourself--you know
what it means, don't you? But if you've got a baby--" he gripped the boy
tighter to his shoulder.
"I have, partner; three of 'em."
"Then you know what this means," said Andy, huskily, putting out his
hand to Foley. He gripped the little man's fist hard, and, turning,
walked away through the crowd.
Somehow it put a damper on the boys. Bat Nicholson was about the only
man left who looked as if he wanted to eat somebody; and Foley, slinging
his blouse over his shoulder, walked up to Bat and tapped him on the
shoulder.
"Stranger," said he, gently, "could you oblige me with a chew of
tobacco?"
Bat glared at him an instant; but Foley's nerve won.
Flushing a bit, Bat stuck his hand into his pocket; took it out; felt
hurriedly in the other pocket, and, with some confusion, acknowledged he
was short. Felix Kennedy intervened with a slab, and the three men fell
at once to talking about the accident.
A long time afterwards some of the striking engineers were taken back,
but none of those who had been guilty of actual violence. This barred
Andy Cameron, who, though not worse than many others, had been less
prudent; and while we all felt sorry for him after the other boys had
gone to work, Lancaster repeatedly and positively refused to reinstate
him.
Several times, though, I saw Foley and Cameron in confab, and one day up
came Foley to the superintendent's office, leading little Andy, in his
overalls, by the hand. They went into Lancaster's office together, and
the door was shut a long time.
When they came out little Andy
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