The Transgressors. Story of a Great Sin. A Political Novel of the Twentieth CenturyAdams, Francis A. (Francis Alexandre)
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The Transgressors. Story of a Great Sin. A Political Novel of the Twentieth Century
Adams, Francis A. (Francis Alexandre)
Political fiction
"Give us the body," cry a hundred voices in chorus.
"Go on, go on," shout the pressing thousands. "Go in and get it."
The forces for a storm have been gathering since the first tidings of
the tragedy reached the people.
When they heard that Carl Metz, the foreman of the Keystone furnace, had
killed Gorman Purdy and had then ended his own life, they were
dumbfounded. Then as a lightning flash the information had spread that
Metz had left a note explaining that he had killed the tyrannical Coal
Magnate for the good of mankind. This word of explanation had clarified
the confused thoughts in the minds of all. They read in that message
their emancipation. The hour to strike a blow for their long lost rights
had come.
The opposition offered by the detective and Judson, proves to be the
shock needed to precipitate the storm.
By a single impulse the crowd rushes up the terrace. Its advance is
irresistible. Both Judson and his hireling see the futility of
attempting to resist the mob. They, therefore, withdraw within the
house. As they enter they close the massive oak doors. Even as the doors
swing to, the weight of a dozen powerful shoulders is thrown against
them.
For a moment the advance is checked.
Turning to the windows, the infuriated men shatter them one by one, and
like the sea pouring into a breach in a ship, they enter the house. One
of the first to enter runs to the doors and flings them open. "Come in!"
he shouts. "This is ours for to-day."
A marble staircase leads from the first floor to the one above. This
marvellous masterpiece had been made in Europe and imported. It cost two
hundred thousand dollars--more than the appraised value of the two
thousand hovels of the crowd that now trample upon its polished steps.
Up this staircase the impetuous leaders run. At the head of the stairs
is the library, the room in which the tragedy has been enacted.
On the floor in this room is the body of Metz. It has not been
disturbed.
The body of the Magnate has been removed to his bed-room to be prepared
for burial.
O'Neil and two members of the Committee of Labor take up the prostrate
form of their friend and make their way toward the door. It is not their
intention to commit any violence in the house. Yet, as is always the
case when men are under high mental tension, there is an element that
cannot resist the instinctive craving of the animal spirit for blood.
"The sewer was good enough for Metz," exclaims an ironworker,
ferociously. It's good enough for Purdy."
"Where is Purdy's body?"
This question now presents itself to the invaders. It serves as the
keynote for future action.
"Let's find it," suggests the ironworker. And the search of the mansion
is begun.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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