I never could find gold;
 It don't run in our family.

Egerton.

Rather late
 In your discovery, it seems to me.
 Why didn't you think of it when you first went out?

Harvey Anderson.

Well, you know how it is. You've seen a stone
 Hang on a mountain side for years sometimes;
 You don't know why; you just don't notice it
 Until some morning—jump! she thunders down
 And wakes a whole town up; then you remember.

(He comes forward and looks off in the direction from which he came as though he were expecting someone)

Egerton.

(To Chadbourne)

A sort of luck, you see, this getting on.

Chadbourne.

Predestination.

Egerton.

Yes; if a man's rich
 He couldn't help but be. There's some old lamp,
 An heirloom in his family, that he rubs.
 And if he's poor, 'Hard luck.'

Chadbourne.

Or been 'ground down.'

Egerton.

They're told so.

Chadbourne.

Egerton's heel.

Egerton.

Old Egerton's.

(They walk toward the automobile)

Chadbourne.

I don't know what the country's coming to.

Egerton.

Merchants are merchants, Chadbourne.

Chadbourne.

I suppose.
 Captain, will you get my overcoat?

(Haskell, who with the Chauffeur has been looking through the glasses, goes into the mill-yard. A number of militiamen who have been hanging around the gate gather about Anderson and they are soon having a good time together)

Egerton.

What do they care for Country or for Art,
 Or any of the higher things of life?
 'Give us this day our daily trade.' We live,
 We manufacturers, to fill their tills.

Chadbourne.

They're sowing dragons' teeth and they don't know it.

Egerton.

You'll see them to-morrow when I start the mill;
 They'll tip their hats when I pass through the streets.
 And you could comb the town: they never heard of
 Any petition to the Governor,
 Nor any contributions, not a one.
 They're all staunch friends of mine, and always have been.
 'Why, Colonel Egerton, he built this town,
 Our leading citizen.' I'll get them though.

Chadbourne.

If you could shut down for a season, say.

Egerton.

That's just what I've been wanting to do, Chadbourne.
 Unfortunately, just now we're in a place
 Where we can't do as we would like to do;
 Or rather Jergens is.

Chadbourne.

He told me.

Egerton.

Yes,
 He's got to meet his margins.

Chadbourne.

It's too bad.

(The militiamen laugh out at some story Anderson is telling them)

Egerton.

So I can't strike them without striking him.

Chadbourne.

I hope you'll find the mine.

A Militiaman.

(Appearing at the gate)

'Phone, General.

Egerton.

I'll show them though that J. D. don't forget.

Chadbourne.

Pardon me.

(He starts for the mill-yard. With a wave of his hand he orders the militiamen back through the gate)

Harvey Anderson.

(Aloud, as they draw away)

And we charging up that Hill
 As if we didn't know what canned beef was,
 We, when we'd had slow elk[*] out on the plains.

(Egerton goes rear to the Chauffeur and himself adjusts the glasses to his eyes)

A Militiaman.

(As they pass through the gate)

Stay and have one with us.

Harvey Anderson.

After business hours.

Egerton.

Where did you leave off?

Harvey Anderson.

Where the big rock hangs
 On the south slope up yonder.

(Dicey, King, and Masters come from the mill-yard, followed by Jergens. Dicey is dividing money with his companions)

Dicey.

Thank you, boss.

Jergens.

Then call me up.

Dicey.

I will.

Harvey Anderson.

It ain't there now.

(The three men go out around the corner right. Jergens joins Egerton and the Chauffeur. Harvey Anderson watches them in silence)

Harvey Anderson.

And that's another reason I came down
 To hear those cannon boom and see those flags.
 You'll have a band play too?

(With his eyes fixed upon them he slowly shoves his foot through the cast and it falls to pieces. He stands still for a moment. He then picks up his hatchet and roll of blankets, and, going to the gate, throws them into the mill-yard. He does the same with the fragments of the cast, first carrying an armful which he empties inside, then coming back and picking up the last two or three pieces, which he jerks in after the others.

The First Sentry, coming from rear, signals to the Second Sentry, who is passing on his beat. The latter waits and, having heard what the former had to say, starts off)

Second Sentry.

(Evidently quoting Chadbourne)

'Tried to get smart
 And hit the cast to see the pieces fly.'

(The First Sentry starts back on his beat, laughing)

Harvey Anderson.

(As the Second Sentry passes him)

It's steel you're shooting, ain't it?

Second Sentry.

Go to hell.

(Goes out)

Harvey Anderson.

It's all right, partner.

(Like a great boy he stands tossing his hat into the air and trying to catch it. Egerton and Jergens regard him and seem to be saying something about him. Jergens goes into the mill-yard)

Egerton.

(Comes to Anderson)

In the line of work,
 What have you ever done?

Harvey Anderson.

Most everything,
 From punching cattle down to hunting gold.
 But chiefly knocked about among the States.

Egerton.

Drinking and gambling?

Harvey Anderson.

Some of that in too.

(The Chauffeur goes into the mill-yard)

Egerton.

There's something in you that I like, my man.
 You go about things in a way. And then
 The daring that you showed. You're full of life;
 A man can see that. Tended cattle, eh?
 Think you could govern men and round them up
 If need be?

Harvey Anderson.

I don't know.

(Tosses his hat into the air)

Egerton.

You don't belong
 To a Union?

Harvey Anderson.

No.

Egerton.

You're not the sort of man
 To stand dictation. You've a work to do,
 Men of your type. I think I heard you say
 That you were with the rangers at San Juan?

Harvey Anderson.

I did some time down there.

Egerton.

Well spent, my boy.
 I had a brother in the Civil War.

(Watches Anderson catching his hat)

That was a good one. I know how you feel;
 So full of life you don't care what comes on.
 'Out of the way!' It's rare enough these days.
 You'd be surprised what cowards most men are,
 Big six foot fellows who want to go to work;
 Offer it to them and they shake their heads
 Because they see some pickets round the corner.

Harvey Anderson.

'Fraid of your soldiers?

Egerton.

Pickets; Union men.
 They'd fly to arms quick enough if Charlie Hare—
 Charlie's our Mayor—said 'No more free speech.'
 But Williams he can say, 'No more free work.'
 They'd rather talk, you see, than be free men.

Harvey Anderson.

That's a good phrase, 'Free Work.'

Egerton.

A good 'phrase,' yes.

Harvey Anderson.

We ought to put that in our Bill of Rights.

Egerton.

Our Bill of Rights, my boy, 's no more than air.
 It's men to back it up. We've gone to seed
 In Sabbath speculations on men's rights.
 What we need now is Monday morning's work.

Harvey Anderson.

This Williams, I suppose, has gotten rich
 Controlling all these men?

Egerton.

That I don't know.
 It's not so much the few that he controls
 As the large numbers they intimidate.

Harvey Anderson.

Got to accept his terms or not work, eh?

Egerton.

They have a thing they call the 'Union Scale.'

(Looks at his watch)

Harvey Anderson.

And these men that can't work, they stand for that,
 Having no voice at all in their affairs?

Egerton.

They don't see; they're a lot of ignorant men.

Harvey Anderson.

Why don't you show them?

(Egerton smiles, walks to the gate and listens, then comes back)

Egerton.

Out on the plains, my boy,
 Tending your cattle, did you speak with them
 And reason with them?

Harvey Anderson.

With the cattle?

Egerton.

Yes.

Harvey Anderson.

It all depends upon the mood they're in.
 Sometimes a man can just sit on his horse,
 If the feed's good; and sometimes in the night,
 If a storm's brewing, then it's best to sing;
 Go round them this way—

(Circles and sings one of the strange melodies of the cowboys)

for they're restless then.

Egerton.

Sing to your cattle?

Harvey Anderson.

Let them know you're friends
 All out together and a big storm on.

Egerton.

That's interesting.

(Anderson comes forward and looks off right, the direction from which he came, as though he were expecting some one)

Egerton.

We've got an opening here
 I think would suit you.

Harvey Anderson.

Well.

Egerton.

In half an hour,
 Or less than that, there'll be a lot of men
 Come from the station, the force I'm bringing in,
 Guarded by soldiers; then, if I guess right,
 The Union—they'll be crowding here for work,
 Wanting to go to work, you understand,
 But with their eye on Williams. He'll say 'No.'
 But there's another faction will say 'Yes.'

Harvey Anderson.

And while they're balanced——

Egerton.

That's just what I want.
 You've got a good cool head, and you know men.
 And then you have a way of putting things.

Harvey Anderson.

Make 'em a little speech?

Egerton.

I don't care how.

Harvey Anderson.

Just get 'em in your pen, eh?

Egerton.

It's their last chance.
 And I can say, my boy, if you make good
 And prove to be the man we're looking for,
 I'll push you on as fast as you can go.
 My partner here was one that proved himself.
 And then next year we'll take my other mills
 And break this Union thing or we'll know why.
 A shot or two for your own land, you see.

Harvey Anderson.

Free Work.

Egerton.

Free Mills.

Harvey Anderson.

Free men.

(Starts left)

Egerton.

You know the way?

(Egerton turns and goes into the mill-yard)

Second Sentry.

(Comes in right and meets the First Sentry, who has just come forward)

Damn stuck-up fool! Just because Egerton
 Invites him to his house.

First Sentry.

He's got a corn.

Second Sentry.

I hope they'll tramp it off.

(The First Sentry quickly signals that some one is coming toward the gate)

Second Sentry.

God, I don't care.

(The Chauffeur comes hurriedly from the mill-yard and goes and gets into the car. A moment later General Chadbourne and Captain Haskell appear)

Chadbourne.

And I'll be there till nine or ten o'clock,
 Or even later, for we've some important
 Matters to attend to. And besides
 It's going to be a very fine affair.

Haskell.

All right, sir.

Chadbourne.

You won't need me, though, I'm sure.
 Things seem to be all quiet at the station.

Second Sentry.

(As he goes out)

Ass!

Haskell.

We'll break camp to-morrow, I suppose

Chadbourne.

That's what I had in mind a while ago!
 I'm glad you spoke of it. When they pass these gates,
 You be here, Haskell, and you get me word.
 I want to be the first to break the news
 To Egerton and the Governor; want to say:
 'I have the honor to report to you,
 Your Excellency,
 And it gives me pleasure to announce to you
 Upon the occasion of the opening
 Of your new mansion, Colonel Egerton,
 This bit of news, sir, from the military,
 And I offer it with our congratulations,
 The strike is over——'

Voice of Jergens.

(Back in the mill-yard)

General Chadbourne!

Chadbourne.

Yes!—
 'The men have yielded and have gone to work;
 And all's been done without one drop of bloodshed,
 Thanks to the Governor and to your co-operation
 And to the splendid service of the boys.
 To-morrow we break camp and go our ways.
 Health to you and long life and peace hereafter
 In your new home.' Or something of the sort.
 I haven't whipped it into final shape.

Haskell.

And got off, I suppose, with glasses lifted.
 'Twill be a nice green feather in our cap.

Chadbourne.

And duty done, it's well to have big friends.
 There's that old question of the armory;
 I'm going to try to jam it through this session.
 And besides that—

(Calls toward the gate)

What's up?

Jergens.

(Enters with the Chief of Police)

How large a force
 Did you send to the station?

Chadbourne.

Why do you ask?

Jergens.

There's talk of violence among the men.

Chief of Police.

Some even go so far as to advocate
 Marching upon——

Jergens.

That, Chief, may all be bluster.
 For this man Dicey—these men have a way
 Of making things look bad to extort money
 And earn them credit if they turn out well.

Chief of Police.

As a precaution though.

Jergens.

I've no objection.

(Egerton comes from the mill-yard)

Chief of Police.

You'd better throw a guard about the house.
 You see it's out of my jurisdiction.

Egerton.

Coming to see me, eh?

Jergens.

I don't believe it.

(Chadbourne talks aside with Haskell)

Chief of Police.

To see the Governor, they say.

Egerton.

All right.

(Gets into the automobile)

They'll find him in the southwest room upstairs
 When the train comes. Have them clean off their feet.

Ralph Ardsley.

(Who has just come in, left)

Clean off whose feet?

Egerton.

Yours, Ardsley. Step right in.

(The Chief of Police goes out, left)

Ralph Ardsley.

What's the news now?

Egerton.

The news is that you've got
 Barely an hour to get on your togs.

(Ardsley unbuttons his light overcoat and shows his full dress)

Egerton.

You editors are smart men.

(Chadbourne gets in behind with Egerton, Ardsley in front with the Chauffeur)

Chadbourne.

(As they go out right)

Don't forget, Haskell.

(Jergens lingers about as though undecided what to do. Finally he goes left and saunters down the street. Haskell enters the mill-yard. Later an old woman, who has evidently been waiting till the mill-owners left, comes down the hill-side rear left and begins to pick up sticks that lie scattered about in the sawdust)

First Sentry.

(Who finally sees her)

Get out!

Old Woman.

They're thrown away.

Buck Bentley.

(Who has come from the mill-yard and resumed his seat on the keg)

Let her alone.

Old Woman.

God help us if we can't have even sticks
 That's thrown out.

First Sentry.

Let your old man go to work.

Old Woman.

Then let 'em pay fair wages. Ain't they all
 Wantin' to work? What's the poor to do,
 Things goin' up an' wages goin' down?
 What's the poor to do?

First Sentry.

That's your look-out. Move on!

(He starts toward the old woman. Buck Bentley knocks the ashes from his pipe and goes toward the First Sentry)

Second Sentry.

(Who has been watching)

Know what you're doing, Buck?

(There is a fight. Bentley takes the rifle from the First Sentry who, in a rage, starts for the gate)

First Sentry.

If this goes by
 I'll show the regiment a thing or two,
 I'll jump the Service, that's what I'll do.

(He hurries into the mill-yard. Bentley helps the old woman pick up the sticks)

Old Woman.

I thought they'd never go. God bless you, son.

(Starts up the slope)

Second Sentry.

We'll see, by God, who's running this shebang.

Old Woman.

You ain't heard nothin' from the station yet?

Buck Bentley.

No, mother.

(The old woman goes out. Bentley comes to the gate and sets the rifle against the fence)

Second Sentry.

(Talking into the mill-yard)

He even helped her fill her apron.

Haskell.

(Entering with the First Sentry)

Have you gone crazy, Buck? What do you mean?

Buck Bentley.

(Fills his pipe)

Is this the Company's property out here?

Haskell.

We've got our orders and that settles it.
 Don't settle it with you, eh?

A Militiaman.

(From the top of a lumber stack)

Here they come!

First Sentry.

In other words you'll do as you damn please.

(Haskell comes forward and looks down the street, left)

Haskell.