Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-08
=':.z-a :s.-== s;

~e7@' He held tn hts hand long handled spade. out Richard noticed that, although the veranda was now all open to the light and air, the posts which supported it's roof were fitted with heavy wooden shutters.
 "These are very heavy and solid" he said.
 "Yes, you see they have great storms here, but l am very glad they have them," Hackett continued, as he looked about him cautiously "These coolies are bad lot MT. Joosten is too easy with them. think, between you and me, he is more than half afraid of them"
 "That is rather bad"
 Yes, but the old lady has pluck enough for half a dozen. She is true through and through-but here he comes."
 MT. Joosten, as he joined them, spoke some cheerful words of greeting; but Richard thought he detected signs that the old man still found the affairs of the world very troublesome, Richard won dered little why such a man should have gained so great share of fortunes favors, and why upon shoulders so un- willing to bear any burden had been placed so great one. But Joosten was more indebted t0 circumstances than even most men are, and the courage of his wife had never failed them. Other wise, he would long before have given up the contest Now, his wife helped him to believe that in a few years more they would be rich enough to live where and as they pleased
 During all that day, and indeed dur ing many days, MT. Joosten was occu- pied in showing Green what work he would have to do and ill making him ac- | quainted with the large establishment in all its parts. Mainly, it seemed to l Green, he showed him what difficulties he would have to contend with, how ac- tive and hardwosking he would have to ! be; but the young man was not easily | discouraged and he foresaw no great hardships. To be sure, he was conscious that he knew nothing of the practical methods of growing sugarcane or mak- ing sugar, which, as he learned at once was MT. Joosten's chief business; but he was assured by the old gentleman that practical knowledge was not needed by him. He would soon know enough to see whether the small bosses shirked their work or not, and il Ae did that and kept the accounts in good order nothing more could be asked of him.
 To Green it seemed as he met the men at work that they looked at both MT. Joosten and himself with i'll concealed dislike; but he laughed his fears away and thought that Hackett's alarming words had had greater effect upon him than they should have had.
 But before long there was unmistak- able evidence that trouble of some sort was brewing. MT. Joosten seemed help less, and Richard Green himself was hardly enough familiar with the men and the situation to easily decide what was best for him. From the watchful Ieye of Mrs. Joosten nothing could be hidden, and although she did not urge Joosten to any definite action she encour- aged them all.
 "A little firmness and energy will settle it all when the time comes," she said to Richard.
 "What is it you fear then?" Richard asked her.
 "Oh, hardly know. Nothing per haps; but no one can tell how these men will act"
 "Can anything be done in the mean time to make us safer2"
 q dare say it is not necessary"
 But Green was determined. that they should not be caught altogether unpre- r pared, and he saw that such firearms as 3 there were about the house were in proper condition Then he remembered the heavy shutters with which the ve- randa could be closed in. These he closed and locked himself every night, f except those at one end. He thought that that open end might be defended. It was fortunate that these precautions were taken, for before many nights word came to them while they were at supper that the men demanded to see MT. Joo- sten.
 "Promise me you will not yield any. thing, Hans" Mrs. Joosten said to hel husband. "If you do we shall always live in fear. No one can tell what they will ask next"
 "It shall be as you wish, he promised but plainly Mrs. Joosten was fearful that all would not be as she would have it, and Green and Hackett followed Mir Joosten out upon the veranda. This closed in upon all sides but one, was like o long, narrow room dimly lighted by { lantern hanging to the roof near thS open end Gathered at that end, with out and about the steps, there were per haps dozen men, while one was stand i ing by Mr. Joosten talking quickly k him and gegEiculating violently Thil