“The strikers have blown up a freight car with dynamite,” replied the flagman. “They have threatened me, old and feeble as I am. I’m afraid I’ll have to lay off till this trouble is over.”
In the distance Ralph saw the mere skeleton of a freight car. It was in flames, and a number of men were pushing other cars from its vicinity to prevent them from catching on fire. A man tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, Ralph recognized one of the strikers.
“See here, Fairbanks,” he said, “I’m of the 133 decent sort, as you know, but I think our position is right.”
“Does that look like it?” demanded the young fireman, pointing to the burning car.
“I’m not responsible for that,” said the man, “and I can’t prevent the hot-headed ones from violence. I know you won’t join us, but I’m just friendly enough to give you a warning. Don’t go on duty to-day.”
“I certainly shall, if I am needed,” replied Ralph. “Your union is in bad hands, and can’t last.”
The man shrugged his shoulders and Ralph passed on his way. A piece of coal came whizzing through the air a few minutes later from the vicinity of a crowd of loiterers. It knocked off the young fireman’s cap. He picked it up and walked slowly on.
When he came to the roundhouse, he found the doors shut. Most of the windows in the place were broken in. Several target rods near by lay on the ground, and at a glance Ralph saw that considerable damage had been wrought during the night.
“There must be a crisis soon,” he said, and went to the roundhouse door. Before he was admitted several stones rained about him, thrown from behind a pile of ties. Inside, Ralph found 134 Griscom and several others among the older engineers and firemen. All hands looked serious, the foreman particularly so.
“Glad you came,” said Forgan. “There’s bad trouble brewing. The strike has reached the danger point. We can’t run any regulars from the depot and won’t try to to-day, but the Limited Mail must go to terminus. Griscom is ready for the run; are you? The regular engineer and fireman say they won’t risk their lives.”