“Wait! Listen to what else I have to say!” shouted Frank, holding up his hand.
Again those men who had asked for a fair hearing before influenced the others, and the unruly ones were hushed, so that the boy could continue.
“My father would have come himself to meet you, only he is suffering from a broken leg. He sent me instead, with my chum, whose father also owns many shares in the good old Cherry Blossom mine. And, men, you can see for yourselves that we came to meet you as friends, because we are alone. There is no armed force back of us to threaten you. I have been sent to hear your grievances, and if they seem to be just, to settle the trouble here.”
Again all sorts of cries broke out. Some of the men cheered; others, who feared that the chances for rioting might be reduced to nothing, gave evidence of their hostility. But Frank saw with satisfaction that by a large majority the crowd was coming to look on him in the light of a friend, and not a foe.
“Where is Mr. Riley?” he asked.
One of the men who had demanded a hearing for the boy stepped forward.
“He’s barricaded himself in the engine house,” he declared, grimly; “and says he’ll shoot down every striker who tries to enter. I reckon the men were only waiting for night to come to rush his fort, and put everything to the torch!”
“Then it seems that I didn’t get here any too soon,” remarked Frank. “Listen to me, men; I’ve got full authority from my father to hear your complaints, and to offer you a remedy, no matter what it may cost the company. We want our men here at the Cherry Blossom to be satisfied!”
“Hear! hear!” arose many shouts, while a few hats were thrown into the air.
Some of the trouble makers tried to stir up the passion of the mob.