put yourself in his place-第6部分

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　her　mother　when　she　was　a　child。〃

〃Who　lost　her　mother？〃　asked　Mrs。　Little。

〃Miss　Carden；〃　said　Henry；　very　softly。

The　tone　was　not　lost　on　Mrs。　Little's　fine　and　watchful　ear；　at　least　her　mind　seized　it　a　few　seconds　afterward。

〃That　is　true；〃　said　she。　　〃Poor　girl！　　I　remember　hearing　of　it。　Henry；　what　is　that　to　you？　　Don't　you　trouble　your　head　about　that　young　lady；　or　she　will　trouble　your　heart。　　I　wish　you　did　not　go　near　her。〃

And　then　came　question　upon　question；　and　vague　maternal　misgivings。　Henry　parried　them　as　adroitly　as　he　could：　but　never　mentioned　Miss　Carden's　name　again。

He　thought　of　her　all　the　more；　and　counted　his　gains　every　week；　and　began　to　inquire　of　experienced　persons　how　much　money　was　wanted　to　set　up　a　wheel　with　steam　power；　and　be　a　master　instead　of　a　man。　　He　gathered　that　a　stranger　could　hardly　start　fair　without　L500。

〃That　is　a　good　lump！〃　thought　Henry：　〃but　I'll　have　it；　if　I　work　night　as　well　as　day。〃

Thus　inspired；　his　life　became　a　sweet　delirium。　　When　he　walked；　he　seemed　to　tread　on　air：　when　he　forged；　his　hammer　felt　a　feather　in　his　hand。　　The　mountains　in　the　way　looked　molehills；　and　the　rainbow　tangible；　to　Youth；　and　Health；　and　Hope；　and　mighty　Love。


One　afternoon；　as　he　put　on　his　coat　and　crossed　the　yard；　after　a　day's　work　that　had　passed　like　a　pleasant　hour；　being　gilded　with　such　delightful　anticipations；　the　foreman　of　the　works　made　him　a　mysterious　signal。　　Henry　saw　it；　and　followed　him　into　his　office。　Bayne　looked　carefully　out　of　all　the　doors；　then　closed　them　softly；　and　his　face　betrayed　anxiety；　and　even　fear。

〃Little；〃　said　he；　almost　in　a　whisper；　〃you　know　me：　I'm　a　man　of　peace；　and　so　for　love　of　peace　I'm　going　to　do　something　that　might　get　me　into　a　wrangle。　　But　you　are　the　civillest　chap　ever　worked　under　me　and　the　best　workman；　take　you　altogether；　and　I　can't　bear　to　see　you　kept　in　the　dark；　when　you　are　the　man　whose　skinonly　if　I　act　like　a　man　to　you；　will　you　act　like　one　to　me？〃

〃I　will；〃　said　Henry；　〃there's　my　hand　on　it。〃

Then　Bayne　stepped　to　his　desk；　opened　it；　and　took　out　some　letters。

〃You　must　never　tell　a　soul　I　showed　them　you；　or　you　will　get　me　into　a　row　with　Cheetham；　and　I　want　to　be　at　peace　in…doors　as　well　as　out。〃

〃I　give　you　my　word。〃

〃Then　read　that；　to　begin。〃

And　he　handed　him　a　letter　addressed　to　Mr。　Cheetham。


〃SIR；We　beg　respectfully　to　draw　your　attention　to　a　matter；　which　is　of　a　nature　to　cause　unpleasantness　between　you　and　the　Trades。　We　allude　to　your　bringing　a　workman　in　from　another　town　to　do　work　that　we　are　informed　can　be　done　on　the　premises　by　your　own　hands。

〃We　assure　you　it　would　be　more　to　your　interest　to　work　in　harmony　with　the　smiths　and　the　handle…makers　in　your　employ；　and　the　trade　generally。　　Yours　respectfully；

〃THE　COMMITTEE　OF　THE　EDGE…TOOL　FORGERS'　UNION。〃


Henry　colored　up　at　this；　and　looked　grieved；　but　he　said；　〃I　am　sorry　to　be　the　cause　of　any　unpleasantness。　　But　what　can　I　do？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Bayne；　with　a　sardonic　grin；　〃they　are　sure　to　tell　you　that；　soon　or　late。　　Read　this：〃

No。　2　was　dated　a　week　later；　and　ran　thus：


〃MR。　CHEETHAM：　SIR；I　think　you　do　very　ill　to　annoy　a　many　craftsmen　for　one。　　Remember；　you　have　suffered　loss　and　inconvenience　whenever　you　have　gone　against　Trades。　　We　had　to　visit　you　last　year；　and　when　we　came　your　bands　went　and　your　bellows　gaped。　　We　have　no　wish　to　come　again　this　year；　if　you　will　be　reasonable。　　But；　sir；　you　must　part　with　London　hand；　or　take　consequences。

〃BALAAM。〃


Henry　looked　grave。　　〃Can　I　see　a　copy　of　Mr。　Cheetham's　reply？〃

Bayne　stared　at　him；　and　then　laughed　in　his　face；　but　without　the　gayety　that　should　accompany　a　laugh。　　〃Cheetham's　reply　to　Balaam！　And　where　would　he　send　it？　　To　Mr。　Beor's　lodgings；　No。　1　Prophet　Place；　Old　Testament　Square。　　My　poor　chap；　nobody　writes　replies　to　these　letters。　　When　you　get　one；　you　go　that　minute　to　the　secretary　of　whatever　Union　you　are　wrong　with；　and　you　don't　argue；　or　he　bids　you　good…morning；　you　give　in　to　whatever　he　asks；　and　then　you　get　civility；　and　justice　too；　according　to　Trade　lights。　If　you　don't　do　that；　and　haven't　learned　what　a　blessing　Peace　is；　why；　you　make　up　your　mind　to　fight　the　Trade；　and　if　you　do；　you　have　to　fight　them　all；　and　you　are　safe　to　get　the　worst　of　it；　soon　or　late。　　Cheetham　has　taken　no　notice　of　these　letters。　　All　the　worse　for　him　and　you　too。　　Read　that。〃

No。　3　ran　thus：


〃DEAR　SIR；I　take　the　liberty　of　addressing　you　on　the　subject　of　your　keeping　on　this　knobstick；　in　defiance　of　them　that　has　the　power　to　make　stones　of　Hillsborough　too　hot　for　you　and　him。　　Are　you　deaf；　or　blind；　or　a　fool；　Jack　Cheatem？　　You　may　cheat　the　world；　but　you　don't　cheat　the　devil；　nor　me。　　Turn　cockney　up；　with　no　more　ado；　or　you'll　both　get　kicked　to　hell　some　dark　night　by

〃BALAAM'S　ASS。〃


Henry　was　silent；　quite　silent。　　When　he　did　speak；　it　was　to　ask　why　Mr。　Cheetham　had　kept　all　this　from　him。

〃Because　you　shouldn't　take　fright　and　leave　him；〃　was　the　unhesitating　reply。

〃For　that　matter　they　threaten　him　more　than　they　do　me。〃

〃They　warn　the　master　first；　but　the　workman's　turn　is　sure　to　come；　and　he　gets　it　hottest；　because　they　have　so　many　ways　of　doing　him。　Cheetham；　he　lives　miles　from　here；　and　rides　in　across　country；　and　out　again；　in　daylight。　　But　the　days　are　drawing　in；　and　you　have　got　to　pass　through　these　dark　streets；　where　the　Trades　have　a　thousand　friends；　and　you　not　one。　　Don't　you　make　any　mistake：　you　are　in　their　power；　so　pray　don't　copy　any　hot…headed；　wrong…headed　gentleman　like　Cheetham；　but　speak　them　fair。　　Come　to　termsif　you　canand　let　us　be　at　peace；　sweet；　balmy　peace。〃

〃Peace　is　a　good　thing；　no　doubt；〃　said　Henry；　〃but〃　（rather　bitterly）　〃I　don't　thank　Cheetham　for　letting　me　run　blindfold　into　trouble；　and　me　a　stranger。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Bayne；　〃he　is　no　worse　than　the　rest；　believe　me。　　What　does　any　master　care　for　a　man's　life？　　Profit　and　loss　go　down　in　figures；　but　lifethat's　a　cipher　in　all　their　ledgers。〃

〃Oh；　come；〃　said　Harry；　〃it　is　unphilosophical　and　narrow…minded　to　fasten　on　a　class　the　faults　of　a　few　individuals；　that　form　a　very　moderate　portion　of　that　class。〃

Bayne　seemed　staggered　by　a　blow　so　polysyllabic；　and　Henry；　to　finish　him；　added；　〃Where　there's　a　multitude；　there's　a　mixture。〃　Now　the　first　sentence　he　had　culled　from　the　Edinburgh　Review；　and　the　second　he　had　caught　from　a　fellow…workman's　lips　in　a　public…　house；　and　probably　this　was　the　first　time　the　pair　of　phrases　had　ever　walked　out　of　any　man's　mouth　arm　in　arm。　　He　went　on　to　say；　〃And　as　for　Cheetham；　he　is　not　a　bad　fellow；　take　him　altogether。　But　you　are　a　better　for　telling　me　the　truth。　　Forewarned；　forearmed。〃

He　went　home　thoughtful；　and　not　so　triumphant　and　airy　as　yesterday；　but　still　not　dejected；　for　his　young　and　manly　mind　summoned　its　energy　and　spirit　to　combat　this　new　obstacle；　and　his　wits　went　to　work。

Being　unable　to　sleep　for　thinking　of　what　he　should　do　he　was　the　first　to　reach　the　works　in　the　morning。　　He　lighted　his　furnace；　and　then　went　and　unlocked　the　room　where　he　worked　as　a　handle　maker；　and　also　as　a　cutler。　　He　entered　briskly　and　opened　the　window。　　The　gray　light　of　the　morning　came　in；　and　showed　him　something　on　the　inside　of　the　door　that　was　not　there　when　he　locked　it　overnight。　　It　was　a　very　long　knife；　broad　toward　the　handle；　but　keenly　pointed；　and　double…edged。　　It　was　fast　in　the　door；　and　impaled　a　letter　addressed；　in　a　vile　hand


　　　　　〃TO　JAK　THRE　TRADES。〃


Henry　took　hold　of　the　handle　to　draw　the　knife　out；　but　the　formidable　weapon　had　been　driven　clean　through　the　door　with　a　single　blow。

Then　Henry　drew　back；　and；　as　the　confusion　of　surprise　cleared　away；　the　whole　thing　began　to　grow　on　him；　and　reveal　distinct　and　alarming　features。

The　knife　was　not　one　which　the　town　manufactured　in　the　way　of　business；　it　was　a　long；　glittering　blade；　double…edged；　finely　pointed；　and　exquisitely　tempered。　　It　was　not　a　tool；　but　a　weapon。

Why　was　it　there；　and；　above　all；　how　did　it　come　there？

He　distinctly　remembered　locking　the　door　overnight。　　Indeed；　he　had　found　it　locked；　and　the　window…shutters　bolted；　yet　there　was　this　deadly　weapon；　and　on　its　point　a　letter；　the　superscription　of　which　looked　hostile　and　sinister。

He　drew　the　note　gently　across　the　edge　of　the　keen　knife；　and　the　paper　parted　like　a　cobweb。　　He　took　it　to　the　window　and　read　it。　It　ran　thus：


〃This　knifs　wun　of　too　made　ekspres　t'other　is　for　thy　hart　if　thou　doesnt　harken　Trade　and　leve　Chetm。　　Is　thy　skin　thicks　dore　thinks　thou　if　not　turn　up　and　back　to　Lundon　or　I　cum　again　and　rip　thy　　carkiss　with　feloe　blade　to　this　thou　　cokny

〃SLIPER　JACK。〃


CHAPTER　IV。


Any　one　who　reads　it　by　the　fireside　may　smile　at　the　incongruous　mixture　of　a　sanguinary　menace　with　bad　spelling。　　But　deeds　of　blood　had　often　followed　these　scrawls　in　Hillsborough；　and　Henry　knew　it：　and；　indeed；　he　who　can　not　spell　his　own　name　correctly　is　the　very　man　to　take　his　neighbor's　life　without　compunction；　since　mercy　is　a　fruit　of　knowledge；　and　cruelty　of　ignorance。

And　then　there　was　something　truly　chilling　in　the　mysterious　entrance　of　this　threat　on　a　dagger's　point　into　a　room　he　had　locked　overnight。　　It　implied　supernatural　craft　and　power。　　After　this；　where　could　a　man　be　safe　from　these　all…penetrating　and　remorseless　agents　of　a　secret　and　irresponsible　tribunal。

Henry　sat　down　awhile；　and　pored　over　the　sanguinary　scrawl；　and　glanced　from　it　with　a　shudder　at　the　glittering　knife。　　And；　while　he　was　in　this　state　of　temporary　collapse；　the　works　filled；　the　Power　moved；　the　sonorous　grindstones　revolved；　and　every　man　worked　at　his　ease；　except　one；　the　best　of　them　all　beyond　comparison。

He　went　to　his　friend　Bayne；　and　said　in　a　broken　voice；　〃They　have　put　me　in　heart　for　work；　given　me　a　morning　dram。　　Look　here。〃　Bayne　was　shocked；　but　not　surprised。　　〃It　is　the　regular　routine；〃　said　he。　　〃They　begin　civil；　but　if　you　don't　obey；　they　turn　it　over　to　the　scum。〃

〃Do　you　think　my　life　is　really　in　danger？〃

〃No；