ished it, he was prepared to prove it.

Wickersham's face fell. "Matheson's been to him."

"Or some one else," said Mr. Plume. "That Bluffy hates you like poison.
You've got to do something and do it quick."

Wickersham glanced up at Plume. He met his eye steadily. Wickersham's
face showed the shadow of a frown; then it passed, leaving his face set
and a shade paler. He looked at Plume again and licked his lips.
Plume's eye was still on him.

"What do you know!" he asked Plume.

"Only what others know. They all know it or will soon."

Wickersham's face settled more. He cursed in a low voice and then
relapsed into reflection.

"Get up a strike," said Plume. "They are ripe for it. Close her down and
blow her up."

Wickersham's countenance changed, and presently his brow cleared.

"It will serve them right. I'll let them know who owns these mines."

Next morning there was posted a notice of a cut of wages in the
Wickersham mines. There was a buzz of excitement in New Leeds and anger
among the mining population. At dinner-time there were meetings and much
talking. That night again, there were meetings and whiskey and more
talking,--louder talking,--speeches and resolutions. Next morning a
committee waited on Mr. Wickersham, who received the men politely but
coldly. He "thought he knew how to manage his own business. They must be
aware that he had spent large sums in developing property which had not
yet begun to pay. When it began to pay he would be happy, etc. If they
chose to strike, all right. He could get others in their places."

That night there were more meetings. Next day the men did not go to
work. By evening many of them were drunk. There was talk of violence.
Bill Bluffy, who was now a miner, was especially savage.

Keith was surprised, a few days later, as he was passing along the
street, to meet Euphronia Tripper. He spoke to her cordially. She was
dressed showily and was handsomer than when he saw her last. The color
mounted her face as he stopped her, and he wondered that Wickersham had
not thought her pretty. When she blushed she was almost a beauty. He
asked about her people at home, inquiring in a breath when she came,
where she was staying, how long she was going to remain, etc.

She answered the first questions glibly enough; but when he inquired as
to the length of her visit and where she was staying, she appeared
somewhat confused.

"I have cousins here, the Turleys."

"Oh! You are wi