The listening jailer looked sharply at Fenn. It was apparent the jailer expected Fenn to protest. But Fenn turned his radiant smile on the jailer and said: “The smelter men say they could go through this steel as if it was pasteboard 587in ten minutes–if you’d say the word.” Fenn grinned at the prisoner as he added: “If you want the boys, all the tin soldiers and fake cops in the State can’t stop them. But I’ve told them to stay away–to stay in their fields, to keep the peace; that it is your wish.”
“Henry,” replied Grant, “tell the boys this for me. We’ve won this fight now. They can’t build a fire, strike a pick, or turn a wheel if the boys stick–and stick in peace. I’m satisfied that this story of what they will do to me to-night, while I don’t question the poor chap who sent the word–is a plan to scare the boys into a riot to save me and thus to break our peace strike.”
He walked nervously up and down his cell, clicking the bars with his claw as he passed the door. “Tell the boys this. Tell them to go to bed to-night early; beware of false rumors, and at all hazards keep out of Harvey. I’m absolutely safe. I’m not in the least afraid–and, Henry, Henry,” cried Grant, as he saw doubt and anxiety in his friend’s face, “what if it’s true; what if they do come and get me? They can’t hurt me. They can only hurt themselves. Violence always reacts. Every blow I get will help the boys–I know this–I tell you–”
“And I tell you, young man,” interrupted Fenn, “that right now one dead leader with a short arm is worth more to the employers than a ton of moral force! And Laura and George and Nate and the Doctor and I have been skirmishing around all day, and we have filed a petition for your release on a habeas corpus in the Federal court–on the ground that your imprisonment under martial law without a jury trial is unconstitutional.”
“In the Federal court before Van Dorn?” asked Grant, incredulously.
“Before Van Dorn. The State courts are paralyzed by young Joe Calvin’s militia!” returned Fenn, adding: “We filed our petition this morning. So, whether you like it or not, you appear at three-thirty o’clock this afternoon before Van Dorn.”
Grant smiled and after a moment spoke: “Well, if I was as scared as you people, I’d–look here. Henry, don’t lose your nerve, man–they can’t hurt me. Nothing on this 588earth can hurt me, don’t you see, man–why go to Van Dorn?”
Fenn answered: “After all, Tom’s a good lawyer in a life job and he doesn’t want to be responsible for a decision against you that will make him a joke among lawyers all over the country when he is reversed by appeal.” Grant shook his dubious head.
“Well, it’s worth trying,” returned Fenn.
At three o’clock Joseph Calvin, representing the employers, notified Henry Fenn that Judge Van Dorn had been called out of town unexpectedly and would not be able to hear the Adams’ petition at the appointed time. That was all. No other time was set. But at half-past five George Brotherton saw a messenger boy going about, summoning men to a meeting. Then Brotherton found that the Law and Order League was sending for its members to meet in the Federal courtroom at half-past eight. He learned also that Judge Van Dorn would return on the eight o’clock train and expected to hear the Adams’ petition that night. So Brotherton knew the object of the meeting. In ten minutes Doctor Nesbit, Henry Fenn and Nathan Perry were in the Brotherton store.