68 GALA DAY BOOKS.

no hope of doing more. There were no
fire engines at Cottonville. The mill was
provided with numerous buckets, hose-
pipes, and fire extinguishers, but these
would be useless so long as the work-
men were angry and unwilling to employ
them. ,

The cotton was blazing in all direc-
tions. It was dangerous beyond measure
to enter the building, but Grant Murray
darted up the mill stairs in spite of Mr.
Kelsey’s commands for him to return, and
in spite of Philip’s strongest protests.
Grant believed the men would try to save
the mill if they could be summoned to
the spot. He wanted to get at the rope
of the great factory bell and to ring it as
it had never been rung before.

The strikers were holding a meeting
in the town hall when they heard the fac-
tory bell. Instantly a rush was made for