“It means,” said Fenn, “that the mob is going after Grant to-night and that Tom knows it.”
“Why?” asked the thin, sharp voice of Nathan Perry.
“Otherwise he would have let the case go over until morning.”
“Why?” again cut in Perry.
“Because for the mob to attack a man praying for release under habeas corpus in a federal court might mean contempt of court that the federal government might investigate. So Tom’s going to wash his hands of the matter before the mob acts to-night.”
“Why?” again Perry demanded.
“Well,” continued Fenn, “every day they wait means accumulated victory for the strikers. So after Tom refuses to release Grant, the mob will take him.”
“Well, say–let’s go to the Valley with this story. We can get five thousand men here by eight o’clock,” cried Brotherton.
589“And precipitate a riot, George,” put in the Doctor softly, “which is one of the things they desire. In the riot the murder of Grant could be easily handled and I don’t believe they will do more than try to scare him otherwise.”
“Why?” again queried Nathan Perry, towering thin and nervous above the seated council.