The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-22
THE MUTABLE MANY
ny
ROBERT BARR.
Copyright, 1896. bv Robert Barr.
CHAPTER !

tory hung between heaven and earth, and al
tho particular moment John Sartwell, mana.
ger, stood looking out OF the window toward
the gates. Heaven consisted Of a brooding
London fog suspended n hundred feet above
the town. 'hesitating 20 fall, while earth was
represented by n sticky black-cindered factory
yard bearing the imprint Of many q hundred
boots. The Office was built between the two
huge buildings known as the Works" The
situation of the ofico lad evidently been an
Rfter-thouGht-it was of wood, while the two
great buildings which IL joined together SSH
they were Siamese twins of industry, were OF
brick. Although no architect had ever fore
seen the erection OF such n structure between
the two buildinEs. yet necessity, the mother of
invention. had given birth to what Sartwell al
ways claimed WINS the most conveniently sit
uat.i office in London. More and moro room
had been acquired In tho big buildings rs bush
ness increased, and tho Office the soul OF the
whole thing had, as It were. to take uu a po-
sition outside its body.
The addition. then, hung over tho roadway
that passed between tho two buildings; IL COM
mandcd n view of both front and back yards.
and had. therefore. more light and air than
the Office Sartwcll had formerly occupied in
tho left-hand building. The unique situation
caused it to be FREQ from the vibrption OF the
machinery TO II large extent, and as q door led
u Y ehCu DulluluEs III ollCc caoS aCScSS W
both. Sartwell was very proud of these rooms
and their position, for no had planned them.
and had thus given the firm much additional
space, vith no moro ground occupied than had
been occupied before-a most desirable feat to
perform in II crowded city like London.
'rwn rooms at the back were set apart for
the two members of the firn, while Sartwell's
Office /. the front was three times the size
Of either OF these rooms. and extended across
tho whole suace between the two buildings.
This was as it should be. for Sartwell did three
times the amount OF work the owners of the
business accomplished. and, If it came to that,
had three times the brain power of the two
members OF the firm combined. who were there
Simply because thsT were the sons OF their
fathers. The founders OF the firm mad with
hard work and shrewd management estab-
llshed tbs large manufectory, whose present
prosperity was due TO Sartwell. and not to the
two men whose names were known to the pub
lie as the heads of the business.
M.onkton and Hope were timid. cautious,
somewhat irresolute men. as capitalists should
be all the world over. They had unbounded
confidence IN their manager. and generally
shifted any grave responsibility or unpleasant
decision TO his shoulders. which bore the bur-
dens placed upon them with eauanimity. Sart-
well was an iron man, with firm. resolute lips.
and steely blue eyes that were most disconcert-
ing to any one vino had something not quite
straight to PROPOSE. Even the two partners
quaileh under these eyes. and gave way before
them if it came 10 n conflict OF opinion. Sart-
well's-rather curt 1T won't do, you know" al
ways settled things.
Sartwell knew Infinitely more about the
works than they did, for while they had been
to College the future manager was working his
way up into the confidence of their fathers
and every step he took advanced his position
in the factory.
The three men were as nearly as possible of
the same age. and the hair OF each was tinged
with gray; Sartwell's more than the others.
I. was difficult t. think of love in connec-
tion with the two partners, yet it is pleasing to
know than when love did come to them at the
proper time of life, it had come with gold in
one hand and a rigid non-conformist con-
science in the other. The two lad thus added
wealth to wealth by marrying. and, as their
wives were much .aken UP With deeds Of good
ness. done only after strict and conscientious
Investigation. so that the unworthy might not
benefit. and as both Monkton and Hope were
somewhat timorous men who were bound to
be ruled by the women they married, some of
their wealth fonnd its way into the Golfers of
struggling societies and organizations for the
relieving OF distress.
Thus there CO me to impregnate tho name Of
Monkton and Hope Limited IL certain odor Of
sanctity winch Is most unusual ia business cir
Giles in London. The firm. when once got at.
could be counted IN Tor a subscription almost
with certainty. hut alas! it was not easy to get
mt the firm. Tic apali can't had 10 come under
the scrutiny of those searching eyes OF Sart-
wcli'S. which had a pei turb!nG habit Of get
ting.riGht at the heart OF II matter with aston
,shing quickness; and when once he said. 1T
won't do. you know" there WAS no going he
hind the verdict.
A private stairway led from the yard below
TO the hall In the suspended building which
divided the large Office OF the manager from
the two smaller private rooms of the firm.
This stairway vas used only by the three men.
The clerks and the public came in by the main
entrance. where n watchful mai sat behind
a little arched open window over which was
painted the word Inquiries"
Outside in the gloom the two great lamps
over the gaterosts fiared yellow light down on
the cindsry oadwav and the narrow street be-
yond. Through tho wide open gateway into
the narrow stone paved street poured hun
dreds OF workIngmen. There was no Jostling
and they went out silently, which was unusual.
1t seemed as IL something lowered over them
even more depressing than the great fog cloud
lust above their heads. Sartwell. alone In
his office. stood somewhat back from the win
dow. unseen. and watched their exit grimly,
sternly. The lines about his firm mouth tight
ened his lips into more than their customary
rigidity. lie noticed that now and then a
workman cast a glance at his windows. and
he knew they cursed him in their hearts as
standing between them and their demands,
for they were well aware that the firm would
succumb did Sartwell but give the word. The
manager knew that at their meetings their
leader had said none was go hard on work.
ingmcn as a workman who had risen from