372
WEST SHORE.
' TWIXT COLD AND SINEW.
BY C. J. MESSER.
IKKIK TWO PART V.
BY inquiries of the people he met, Dermot got the
story. A stranger had incited the men to seize a
loiul of liquor that wns panning Red hill on the
Millbury road. The liquor was rolled to the
green, and men, women and children had become
crazed. While wrangling in disputes among them
selves, young Rrigliani had driven by, hiH horse on
the run. When opxsite the Red Hillers he had fired
a shot among them. In drunken rage they followed,
and felled the borne to the earth with a heavy stone.
They had torn the carriage in pieces, but Rrigham, by
keeping up a steady firing, had cscaed. The furious
mob had applied the torch to one of the largest store
houses. Every drinking saloon had been sacked, and
the drink-crazed operatives were terrorizing the town.
A band of desperate looking fellows were coming
along the street. Their hats and coats were thrown off.
Homo had sticks for weajMins, others carried chairs,
others long-handled forks, and still others burning
brands, which they nourished close to the windows
of the houses they passed. Hoarse laughter greeted
the frightened appals of somo belated townsmen for
mercy. Hut it waH a good-natured mob, and it sang
in drunken discord. One of the number, seeing Der
mot standing alone, invited him to accompany them
to the great " A " mill, where young Rrigham "was in
hiding, and see them burn a null owner's son alive.
As Dermot heard the plan his hands clenched and
his eyes glowed. A half savago excitement jxissessed
him as he considered, " What has the burning of Rrig
hainto do with m?" Hix head grew dizzy as he
thought of his dead sister. His feet seemed to move
with the revellers. A dozen wild hniking men were
encouraging him. Thero was a fierce struggle within
him, then his birth blood asserted itself and he raised
his voice with theirs.
While they marched on, growing more noisy as
their iniinlxrs increased, a sweet sensation of coming
vengeance took cntirv M.ssession of him. The hoarse
yells delighted his iars, he laughed loudly, and his
eyes gleamed with the wildest of tlwin as he listened
to their plans of destruction. When they came to the
mill a crowd was already surging alsmt the main en
tninee. against which a battering ram was being worked
" Down with capital 1 " the crowd roared
"Down with capital!" rented Dermot, then a
told perspiration sto.nl out from his forehead and his
heart grew deathly sick, lie had looked up and had
seen a ligurv appear at the mill office window It was
the figure of an old man, with long, white hair and
Uard.
" Down with eai.ital I" yelled the crowd, encour
aged by the signs of life within to greater exertions
and agnin the heavy log crashed against the door For
few seconds it seemed to Dermot that his head was
bursting. 1 he noise of the rioters confused him I L
seemed to be battling with his own waning conscious
ness. ith an effort lie Uked again on the figure in
the window, then with a bound he forwl his wav
through the throng and stood in front of the mill door.
'0)f1ghtftl l
" Hold I " he shouted, " Hold, ye cowards I Stand
back, I tell ye I " as they advanced again with the 1m
They paused and looked on him, half dazed, half un
decided. Every man knew him, and knew him fur
the kindnesses and assistance he had rendered thorn.
" Hack I " he screamed. His body was bent for
ward and his eyes seemed to be starting from his head
" (let yer bread, but commit no murther. May the
hand rot that harrums that old head."
It was Red Hill addressing Red Hill, but it was
light commanding darkness and superstition. A rum
ble of voices arose, then the crowd fell slowly back
"Hreadl Bread 1" they cried.
" Down 'ith capital I " howled a voice in which rage
and disappointment were blended, and Old Tom
thrust his hideous mask of a face in advance of his
comrades. " Down 'ith Dermot 1 " he roared. " He
ain't with us. Down" There was a precipitous
backward movement in the crowd as Dermot, with i
spring, fastened his fingers in a vice-like grip on the
flabby throat. Tom's eyes grew large and bulging,
his tongue hung out of his great mouth and his face
blackened in strangulation. Choking and gasping, he
struggled till he was dashed unconscious to the pavement.
" DKKMOT, WITH A SI'HINU, FAHTKNKI) HIS KINOKHS IN A VIKK
LIKK OHII" ON TIU HLAIIHY THKOAT,"
The crowd gazed Btupidly on the horrible face of
their leader, then turned and rushed awny. Dermot
leaned weak and faint, against the mill door.
, ho is it ? " asked Mr. Rrigham from the office
window. '
" Dermot," was the answer.
" Dermot," in a tone of hesitancy. After a few
minutes a key was thrown to the pavement, and Mr.
Rrigham called: " Will you come up, Dermot? "
W hen Dermot, after locking the mill door behind
nun. had ascended totheoflice, he found Mr. Itrigham
s an. ing at the desk, his faco buried in his arms. On
the floor lay Arthur in a drunken sleep.
I'll, Dermot I " murmured tho unhappy manufac
turer, tears of anguish coursing down his cheeks. " If
you Had Urn my son instead of him I " A llu-h