Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-15
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BrefoDWlllS
BY CHARLES J. BELLAMY.
Copyrighted by the Author, and published
by arrangement with him
BY CHARLES 7. BELLAMY.
CHAPTER XVII.
TTJH s-ITuy uTnru- ,,a..p.

The terrible seeds of suspicion sown in
Philip Breton's mind bore the bitterest fruits
through the dreary winter months No efforts
of his will, nor course of reasoning could com
fort him. For moment I've might find re-
lief, but his torment would only return
afresh. Humanity are slow TO believe good
of fellow creatures, but nothing seemed too
bad to be true. He thought it might have
Gained him to have been assured even of the
worst, He believed that he might despise
the woman he had elevated TO the highest
pinnacle of his ideal temple Of wOmanhOod,
If she had made So little of the most sacred
gift of God. But it would have been vio-
lence to his feelings to inquire of those who
must know. Her father must know, but his
smiling face will reveal nothing, and his
very reserve was peopled with horrors for
Philip. His wife Jane must know, too, but
he could not bear TO think of the malicious
pleasure she would take in detailing the
shameful story to him She would safe her
hate in his misery. But what if it were not
shameful story Still he could not form his
lips to ask The humiliation Of such a cues
ton from him, discarded lover, about her
at whose feet he had been proud TO sit,
shocked him into silence, lie even dreaded
lest they might speak to him Of her, although
it had been months since he had heard Ber-
tha's name once brcathed.
One evening at the very close of the winter,
Philip Breton called meeting Of his help,
and the old market hall was packed from
door to platform. Reporters were planted
by their tables, to catch every word of the
mysterious proceedings Representatives
from all the factories in the country elbowed
the crowd for their three feet of standing
room, eager TO learn some new device for
making money out of their help as good as
the other. But the great audience was
strangely silent 1t knew not what to ex-
pect. Perhaps the economical mill owner
was going to announce new reduction in
their wages; everybody said he was reducing
everywhere. The feeling in their hearts was
more of fear than hope and it was look of
piteous terror, almost, that they cast at the
slight form in black that came forward on
the platform. They reminded Philip of a
flock of frightened sheep that had never had
IA shepherd Then he thought of great
army massed before the smoking cannon
mouth, an army that had never had gen
eral He saw they feared him.
81 have been for a long time trying to think
of some way to make your lives more fair for
you, and yet be fair to myself and my class
! have been cutting on expenses to make the
whole business machinery as economical as
knew Now, at last L am ready to take you
into my confidence and make you proposal. {"
There was a stir in the great audience, as if
every man changed his position at the sane
moment, SO as to be sure not to lose one
precious word of the new gospel.
II cannot feel that l ought to give you
anything. And | cannot see that it would be
reasonable to pay more wages chan others
pay; that is, than you have now.nA
A hush had fallen upon the people like
death There was no hope forthem, then
Still the speaker went on.
"But if your labor is profitable to mo, SO
that can pay you yourSprice, and pay my
other expenses, and pay me for the time /
give to the business what such service as do
is paid elsewhere and then have something
tJesides"-
The reporters dropped their pens in aston
ment; was the man made
81 am disposed to think that you have
earned a share in it, He paused to catch
his breath, and ono could have heard II pin
fall in that crowded room. my capital
should be allowed for, too. In word, pro-
pose to divide the profits of my mill, after
all expenses are paid, into two equal parts
hereafter, one for labor, yours and mine, and
!, one for the interest On my money The part
which belongs to labor will be distributed
according to the worth of each ones years
work. The one that earns the largest years
sy will have the largest per cent. of that
vidend. We shall all be stockholders
gether, each with share large or small &C
ling to the value Of his work"
ie building trembled with the roar of APP
lse that went up, and it was several mo
r9nts before Philip could make himself
I'd again He had thought there was
hing left in his life, with love gone out OF
but as he stood that moment with the glad
butts of the poor ringing in his ears, ana fell
had led them out Of bondage, his heart
filled with proud joy that was almost
ectasy. His wealth had brought him hap
piness that made even life like his worth
living, had conferred on him glorious
sense of the dignity of manhood which lifted
him on wings.
They must listen while he explained the
terms of his plan more fully. He motioned
to dozen boys and took printed sheet OF
paper from the pile of similar sheets which
he ordered distributed among the workmen.
He then read aloud the following from the
paper in his hand:
The first divided will be distributed Aug. ]
for the year ending July l. The surplus Is
800, 600; 100000 is set apart rs the allow
ance for capital invested, which leaves $780,.
600, to be distributed to the labor in proper
ton to the wages or salary earned by each.
The whole amount of wages and salaries
earned in the mills was about $3.50 600. There
fore the rate per cent. of dividend is about
q ITO to be calculated on the wages or salary
Of each man. woman and child as shown by
the paymaster's book for the past year For
example the man whom the pay roll shows
to have earned $500 for his years work,
will receive 81 7-10 per cent. on $500 in adj
dition OF about SSH as his dividend.
The paymaster, who received a salary
of $1,000, will receive about S544,
and as manager worth a salary of 5000,
fyH-cn the dividend
of the paymaster. Certain restrictions will
be imposed. First, only onehalf of the an
nual dividend will be in cash, for it
would hurt the interests of the mill
to withdraw 50 much from the bust
ness. The other half will be in stock,
which will draw dividends as the rest of the
capital. Second, stock cannot be transferred
except to operatives, but will be redeemed at
the counting room, after notice, when
holders leave the mills, as stock will yield
dividends only while holders work in the
mills Holders of stock may hold meetings
and choose a committee to examine the books
of the company before the annual distribution
of dividends.
When Philip Breton sat down a noisy hum
of voices followed as the people read and
commented upon the prospectus The figures
looked anything but dull to them. The bright
possibilities that came up before their imag-
nations as tney Teau were sucn rs no SenJle
cadence of poetry could have given them
Apparently they would never have tired of
reading the wonderful words of hope and
good cheer over and over, except that the
outer door swung open and tall mans form
entered. Philip Breton from the platform
saw it and the pride sickened on his heart
The crowd about the door passed the whisper
around, and it was hardly one short minute
when the building shook again with cheers
as they shouted the name of Curran.
Yes, it was he who pushed his way well