CHAPTER XLI 



STRIKE AT GORDON'S MINE 



FRANK GORDON owned a coal mine about six 

 miles west of the village of Exeter, and four 

 miles from Four Oaks. A village called Gordon- 

 ville had sprung up at the mouth of the mine. 

 It was the home of the three hundred miners 

 and their families, mostly Huns, but with a 

 sprinkling of Cornishmen. 



The houses were built by the owner of the 

 mine, and were leased to the miners at a small 

 yearly rental. They were modest in structure, 

 but they could be made inviting and neat if the 

 occupants were thrifty. No one was allowed to 

 sell liquor on the property owned by the Gordons, 

 but outside of this limit was a fringe of low 

 saloons which did a thriving business off the im- 

 provident miners. 



There had never been a strike at Gordonville, 

 and such a thing seemed improbable, for Gordon 

 was a kind master, who paid his men promptly 

 and looked after their interests more than is 

 usual for a capitalist. 



It was, therefore, a distinct surprise when the 

 foreman of the mine telephoned to Gordon one 



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