Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-10

u have gone as Tar ~ | can see my way
Don't YOU think you had better be patient
with me-
BE You goin' to raise our payr Philip
shook his head thuughttully.
81 cannot understand IL Is my duty or my
right" -,-,.- -,....... ...., ,,,,,.-,,
asked the man ut the window.
81 cannot
TIE chief spokesman turned TO his com
panions. "Ther amt no use Wal, squire,
tomorrow you may wish you Ind Come
along, boys,'
Philip had dropped back heavily into his
chair He seemed To have forgotten the pres
ence Of Mr.. Philbrick, until that gentleman
began to explain his more perfect system
''How can you expect your help To be salts
fed, PhilbriCk was sayi "; "even IL they
were well paid 1t would he small object for
them to be shut up all their lives, as If they
were convicts But you don't pay them,
either IL isn't because the business don't
pay, for your fathers Lrubis and yours were
enormous. 1t is all the esult of a false valua-
ton of the worth of services. Now | shall
seek to remove the burdens that crush the
people and restrict there natural develop
ment.n
Philip said nothing. How well his old friend
had kept his enthusiasm through all the
years of his life Well, 1t would do no harm
TO let him talk ON.
you will ask me for details" Mr. Phil
brick took his seat again and drew up to him
q sheet of paper ana a pencil, GU Will ask
what burdens they are that are on the mil
lion, besides the common necessary burdens
of human nature Twill tell god the principal
burden, it is the intoerable tribute To ac-
cumulated capital land upon the working
classes, which makes Il tyrant of the man who
has saved n surplus out of his wages, and
caused the hopeless Wis mertl'p OF poverty.
Like all forms of slavery its effects are great
apparent luxury, which never penetlates
below the very surface of society, and tire
less industry which earns nothing for the
workers but food barely enough to support
his days work. 1t is benefit enough for the
man who has saved money that he can work
to better advantage; ii is IA lever in his hands
If we permit capital to take such enormous
profits as it does every day and year it in
creases, rs wealth increases, the crushing tax
on labor. | shall pay you but per cent
on the money | shall owe You on account of
the mill property The rest of the income of
the business above two per cent, belongs to
the labOror"
The reforrner glanced expectantly at
Philip. But the dull hopeless look that was
on his face an hour ago had not changed.
al am not sure but that Is too muCh,N pur
sued Mr. philbriCk, but it will only be a
little while before | shall pay up the debt
There was no use i'll stopping the enthusi-
astic old gentleman, whose great heart was
fountain of human kindness. 1t would be
time enough for Philip to tell him that he
had changed his plans later.
'But / snail also shorten the hours of work.
SlN hours OF tpllllutntnt III lllt iulllS Is
enough, and withouA leisure all the advant-
ages | can give my work people will be of
little avail l can let different sets of hands
relieve each other if it seems necessary or
build new mills and take in "A thousand more
hands to share the blessings of Justice"
Mr.. Phlbrick leaned back in his chair and
a great light of benevolence shOne in his
face. 1t was IA pity to disappoint him.
This is an opportunity have hoped for
whole lifetime / can show the world that
1oh pr tgrIt
and famished. 1t is more blindness than
>gillful cruelty that delays great reforms. If
| can once show the world what justice is
and how it works it will not be long be-
fore'--
But. my dear friend, said Philip, drop
ping his ewes to the floor, "did not tell you
il was too late! l am not going to sell. You
will have to select some other spot for your
Unconscious of his setislness, ne begrudged
the rest of the world the happiness he had
mi 'sed.
Then came a moment of intense silence
which was broken al last. not by voice. Eut
b. the loud ringing of Il door bell. 1t rang
So violently the great, silent house echoed
again Had the end come them Philip
leaped to his feet. Wild thoughts of desprl-
etc expedients rushed through his fcvreish
brain Int he vet stood like statue when the
Dtudy door opened behind him. lie tore
open telegram and read aloud:
Steamer Salvador delayed till tomorrow
morning at 81
For a moment he did not take in its mean
ing. Then he caught Philbrick's arm SO
tightly the old gentleman almost cried out.
do you want line mills as you SAID! on
We're not joking, OH, you were not J0lngt
rhilbrck gazad at him in hStonlShlnent.
Philip seemed in such n terrible state of eX-
citement Ills pallor was replaced by q
burning flush, his eyes that had been So dull
shone with unnatural brightness, "Your
plans will succeed better than mine, and you
can't tnd such a good place as this You
"Of course | will, but | thought you
saidn---
"Neyer mind" cried the young man,
"never mind what said. Draw the papers
ut onCe.r-i3ut no, | cannot watt Philip
turned on his heel as il no earthly power
could detain him a moment longer.
But the papers are all ready And Mr..
PhiIbricli took Il bundle of documents from
his breast pocket, and laid them on the table.
Where shall l sign them-quickt" de-
manded Philip.
mo, no, not there, that is my note to you;
sign here, and here, and here"
II can hardly see; everything dances before
my eyes. Is it all done nowN
He hardly waited to take the papers Mr..
Philbrick had signed for him. Then, with
out another word, he rushed from the room
and bounded up the stairs. Freedoml safety
oh, thank God, thank God He could save
her yet. A castle on the Rhine, palace in
Venice: he would find the rarest homes for
her How sweet it would be to hide with
her The awful sense of hourly peril would
lift from his soul
He pushed open the door of the white
chamber. Bertha had been sleeping. The
tear marks were on her cheeks that had lost
their beautiful flush. She was 50 disap-
pointed, poor girl; and yet she never
guessed
Wake up, wake up, my darling.n She
started from the bed and fell to weeping on
his shoulder.
II dreamed they were taking me away
from you, Philip But he dried her tears
with merry kisses.
We are in time yet. The steamer don't
go till tonight
CHA pTER TXXIV