CHAPTER IX
THE LABOR LEADER'S LURE
"WHY, Rush, this is, indeed, a surprise," exclaimed the newcomer, who was none other than the Russian, Cavard. "How are you, Driscold? But I fear I am intruding."
"Not at all. Take a seat. We were discussing matters in which you are interested, I know."
"Well, I'm listening," laughed the Russian. "What is the nature of this interesting discussion?"
"We were talking of improving the condition of the miners by organization. My young friend Rush rather misunderstood the purport of my remarks. I was about to show him wherein he was wrong when you entered."
"Yes; I am in thorough sympathy with organization," nodded the Duke. "It is the one needful thing in the mines here, and it is bound to come at no distant day. I am glad we three are alone here, so we can talk the matter over. You know, most of our men lack the intelligence to appreciate fully the kind of argument we are making."
"Do you mean that the miners in our mines are thinking of organizing?" asked Steve, without appearing to take any great interest in the announcement.
"Well, I might say that such a thing is within the range of possibility."
"Form a union?"