The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-02

keen inquiring glance at his helper
You've found me steady. reliable, and
not afraid of hard work, Mis-Gaffer?'
That I'll none deny. Well?"
When 1 came here. L told you 1 was
moulder by trade Our lads at Shelf
field had seen fit to go out on a strike
and we'd been out two months, and
was jolly we'll sick of it, and cut away
to find something to dol didn't care
what You gave me a lob at a wage
nothing like what I'd been used to-yOu
promised me more, TO be sure-but-"
4 knew knew cried Hidden. "All
that mastering last night meant more
wage"
You're wrong. CATER: I've not asked
you for more wage, nor am 1 going to-
for I'm intending to leave you
What! leave me-leave me"' gasped
Hidden. Then what in blazes is it yo'
want wi a this 'mistering?' f"
l want" said Dan, looking Hidden
resolutely in the eye. ito marry your
For a moment the CATER was struck
dumb; then. looking the young fellow
over with sinister smile, relieved him
self with an oath. Hum! that's the
game, be ii?
Dan nodded a firm assent
Then, as usual when bafled, Hidden
fell back on a snarling, ironical tone.
''Ho! no! Yo' only want my daughter?
An belize yO' wouldn't mind me chuck
ing In a cottage, an a f100 TO furnish ii
wi? An a pony an trap TO ride round
during tn honeymoon"
Come, come-this is nonsense. Hib-
den,' said Dan. Janet has promised 20
marry me with your consent
"Ho, no! her has, has herr fiercely
iTonical.
Many young chap hereabouts would
have run away with her first and asked
your consent after. I've been open and
fair with YOU | -
'Ho ay; yo'n been open an fair. Open
an fair as a weasel as collars little ten
der chicks at night wen tn old watch
dog is doing. I'm the old Watchdog;
I've been doing; but yo'n find I'm
waken in time. Yo' hav' ma got my
chick, nor yo won't"
You refuse me. then
"Ay, l refuse yO"-doggedly.
For what reason?"
4 does ma need much reason. My
helper works for me two months; he
finds out as I've a row o ten houses,
that brings me i'm forty shillin' a week.
an a handsome thrifty lass Hol he
says, this shop will just do for me; an
so he slyly makes love to my daughter.
He's a tramp when he comes to me
That's not true. and YOU know IL! L
only tramped from Birmingham. reduced
10 that by a loyalty to a long hopeless
strike. in which l had no sympathy"
Dan was fast losing control of that dip
lomat tic calmness which he had intended
To maintain for Janet's sake.
Il say yer wer a tramp"
And | say you lie!' flashed back the
young fellow. his blue eyes blazing forth
the Indignation he could no longer sub
due.
There's nobbut one thing for that. -.
exclaimed Hidden, deIibera tely taking
off his waistcoat; an that's a good
drubbing for one of US No mon calls
me liar wfout paying for it
Keep of, Hibdenr' warned Dan, as
he parted a blow savagely aimed at his
ear 1T don't become me to fight a man
of your age, and l don't want to. but
Hidden iunged at him again. The
other mates came rushing up to see the
bout. Finally, after a brief tussle. Hib-
den had, for the first time in a long
pugnacious career. to see himself hu-
inflated before his shopmates. Gradua-
ally, Hidden became winded. and Dan
at length held him pinned against the
brick forge
''Youm beat Hidden! you'm beat,
you getting too old fort now" cried
one Of his men as Dan released him.
gasping for breath.
If you ever cross my path again.
cried Hidden, in helpless rage, "Tll do
for you
Tut, TUT scornfuny retorted Dan. as
ne leisurely left the shop with some of
the younger men,
ana then trudged off by himself in a
turbulent frame Of mind
IL was early morning when he
reached home Janet was sleeping sound
~. He went into Lhe scullery. and thor
oughly douched himself with cold water
as usual. and then went to bed: but he
could not sleep
AT he heard his daughter busy with
her morning duties: usually she brought
ms ms substantial breakfast to his bedside;
out on this occasion he was too restless
10 wait so dressed, and planted himself
before the kitchen fire. lit his pipe. and
contemplated the girl in sullen silence.
Palmer than words his actions told
Janet the worst had happened. As she
1itted about laying the table his eyes
1oilowed her and though avoiding his
glance she was fully conscious of its
purport. Never before had he noticed
how quietly end methodicaiiN She
worked-how comedy and tidy she lcokro
how scrupulOusly clean and white the
hearth-hOw brightly polished the FIVE
irons. the bits of brass about the kitch-
ener. and the Furnished copper kettle
given TO her mother as a wedding pres
ent by Aunt Janet.
Here's a lass to be proud on" Hib
den said to himself: but her shan't
throw herself away on a tramp helper"
His bull-pup, Bendigo. lay blinking at
MN In corner Of the room, we'll out of
reach of his masters hobnaiIed boot.
for he instinctively OWNED his savage
mood
Placing the bacon on the table and
pouring out his coffee. Janet timidly
said: Breakfast is ready, daddie." She
had never called him anything but dad
die from the day she could first lisp his
name.
Mechanically he seated himself before
his plate. She helped him as usual TO
TWO substantial rashers, cut the bread
sweetened his coffee, and then sat down
opposite him.
He took one mouthful. then pushed
back his plate, and exclaimed: Il can't
eat ony breakfast TAX it away
Are you III, daddie?'
Yo' know blessed we'll I'm none
I'll -"
What has happened?"
Yo' know blessed we'll what's hap
pened; yO' know what underhand games
has been goin' on between yon helper o.
mine an yo'''
'Daddie. daddie! don't say that. Don't
say underhand. Oh don't. I've never
been underhand with you I'm all nv life"
Then why didna yo' tell me he were
follerin' yo'?'
Because; l did not know that he
that he liked me till last Wednesday
night And II feared you"
An rightly yo' should fear-an' right
~ 20 should hang yer head T. shame,
for takin' up wi such a whelp o. a
tramp this"
He's not a tramp For the first
time this gentle girls eyes flashed de-
fiance at her father
What Do yo' TAX sides wi him
again meme, as has clothed an fed
yo', an saved for yo' for over twenty