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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 1889)
WEST SHORE. aw ' TWIXT GOLD AND SINEW. BY C. J. MESSER. II(()K TWO PART 111. pVIDENTLY Tom had no regard for tlio dislikes or r likes of Mr. Grillis. for ho went directly to Krig- ham it Co's, on Federal street. Noiselessly en tering, he accosted a man who was standing be fore a high desk, with " Hello, Mr. Dennot." The person addressed looked up. A frown showing nnnovance. or even trouble, wrinkled his forehead, but he did not answer the salutation. He was tall and straight and very slight, his face wore an almost un healthy pallor, which set out the freckles more promi nently. His hair was thick, course and very black. He leaned his elbow on the desk and his head rested on his thin hand. " I seed yer folks to-day," said Tom, after waiting some time for the other to break tho silence. Tom was shifting from one foot to tho other and twirling his old hat between hia dirty fingers. Ho was visible growing uneasy under the clerk's steady gaze. " There's some thin' tho matter with 'em." Ho had smiled and scowled alternately, but his eyes could not stand that stare they sought the floor as ho blurted out: "The trouble's with yer sister, an' yer mither's driv 'er out." When Tom looked up he saw with relief that the clerk's head had fallen on tho desk. Cautiously ho tiptoed to tho door, opened it, passed noiselessly out, and closed it softly behind him. At midnight of the same day a man trudged along Summit avenue, on St. Timothy's hill, in the city of Linn. From far away on tho sea came in the warning doleful notes of a fog bell. A heavy mist was driving in, making it an uncomfortable night for any wayfarer. The man, coming to tho (ioldthurst home, cautious ly entered the grounds. To all appearances the late visitor came for no unlawful punose, for a light in one of the windows on the first floor did not check bin ad vance. It might be considered singular that at that time of night a shade should be left up to that tho light shone on tho back steps of tho house. The man saw noth ing alarming about this, either. Instead, he went up the steps and knocked at tho dwr. A few moments passed, then tho door was ooned, but no onenps arei to greet a visitor. Hesitatingly tho man entered. As he came into the lighted room, tho face and form of Old Tom were revealed. While Tom stood, bat in hand, looking alwut the apartment as though undo cided as to his next move, a door, ophite to that by which he entered, was oFnod and Mr. (Ioldthurst Copr'lfht II came in. Tho gentleman, who speared not to Ik' cog nizant of his visitor's presence, went alnnit fastening the windows and drawing tho shades. While in this occupation he turned and discovered Tom. An ex clamation escaped tho master of the house, but so low was the sound that it was impossible to say whether It were born of surprise or fear. In another instant Tom was covered by a revolver. " Hoi' on," gasped the terror-stricken visitor, " w'at are ye a-doin' of? I'm Olo Tom, I am, I ain't no burglar, I ain't." " What do you mean by entering hero ? " asked the master of the house and of tho situation, lowering tho weapon, but keeping his magnetic eye on tho cowering wretch. " 'Cause ye told mo to. that's why," sulkily, " an' then when 1 docs w'at ye tells mo to ye go ter drill' piHtols at me." " You camo hero to steal," Mr. (Ioldthurst ex claimed, snoeringly, as he placed his finger on a little silver bell. "The night watch pusses here about this time," with a significant glance toward his hand. " No I didn't nuther," whined Tom. " Don't yo gofer to ringin' the Ml; ye fergits as ye asked mo. I see ye on tho Mitlbury road two weeks ago to-mor-rer, an' ye told mo tor come hero to night. Ye writ It down in yer book." Mr. (ioldthurst apeared to 1 thinking. Not oneo did.he take his eyes oir Tom, and that worthy's posi tion had lieeonic so uncomfortable that great drops of sweat stood on his mnhogany-eolored face, Will you lie so kind as to tell me why I desired your valuable presence?" Mr. (ioldthurst'i voice was frigid and hard in its Irony. " Wo was a-talkin' on the road 'Unit tho trouble in the mills, an' ye said if the men held out tho Uses would give in." " And I told you Irsidcs " " Yo told me to go ter Coldbrook an' try ter git tho ,en ter leave work there, an' so help tho strikers ter beat." "And I further said " T u.- Hit .linconcerted bv the cold oiiestioning nnd the contempt in tho gentleman's face, that h could only swing his bulky form from side to side and mum ble unintelligibly. "Come I" said (Ioldthurst, sharply. " Ye said as how we'd Ix-cn cheated an' robls'd. Ye said as how 'twould I right if we done anytbln' ter Ut. an' yo said It was a pity as there was so much good all manifaetured In tho mills. Ye said if them good was got out o' the way the Uses would have ter go ter work ter keep the trade." Tom's spmdi had grown louder, he talked fmliT nnd his eyes were half closed. It apcared that even