“So quickly, Mr. Cartwright? They have rented their homes from the company, and you know that according to the company’s own lease they are entitled to three days’ notice before being evicted!” Cartwright was so unwise as to argue. He knew that Edward was hearing, and he wished to clear himself. “They will not be evicted by the company. They will be dealt with by the town authorities.” “Of which you yourself are the head?” “I happen to have been elected mayor of North Valley.” “As mayor of North Valley, you gave my brother to understand that you would put me out, did you not?” “I asked your brother to persuade you to leave.” “But you made clear that if he could not do this, you would put me out?” “Yes, that is true.” “And the reason you gave was that you had had instructions by telegraph from Mr. Peter Harrigan. May I ask to what office Mr. Harrigan has been elected in your town?” Cartwright saw his difficulty. “Your brother misunderstood me,” he said, crossly. “Did you misunderstand him, Edward?” Edward had walked to the window in disgust; he was looking at tomato-cans and cinder-heaps, and did not see fit to turn around. But the superintendent knew that he was hearing, and considered it necessary to cover the flaw in his argument. “Young man,” said he, “you have violated several of the ordinances of this town.” “Is there an ordinance against organising a union of the miners?” “No; but there is one against speaking on the streets.” “Who passed that ordinance, if I may ask?” “The town council.” “Consisting of Johnson, postmaster and company-store clerk; Ellison, company book-keeper; Strauss, company pit-boss; O’Callahan, company saloon-keeper. Have I the list correct?” Cartwright did not answer. “And the fifth member of the town council is yourself, ex-officio--Mr. Enos Cartwright, mayor and company-superintendent.” Again there was no answer. “You have an ordinance against street-speaking; and at the same time your company owns the saloon-buildings, the boarding-houses, the church and the school. Where do you expect the citizens to do their speaking?” “You would make a good lawyer, young man. But we who have charge here know perfectly well what you mean by ‘speaking’!” “You don’t approve, then, of the citizens holding meetings?” “I mean that we don’t consider it necessary to provide agitators with opportunity to incite our employés.” “May I ask, Mr. Cartwright, are you speaking as mayor of an American community, or as superintendent of a coal-mine?” Cartwright’s face had been growing continually redder. Addressing Edward’s back, he said, “I don’t see any reason why this should continue.” And Edward was of the same opinion. He turned. “Really, Hal--” “But, Edward! A man accuses your brother of being a law-breaker! Have you hitherto known of any criminal tendencies in our family?”