The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-10

| lie says Don't YOU fret. Mrs. Hoff-
! man; it'll all come right in the wash!'
You know bis joking way. And I'm
| hoping more now I"
Billy's own hopes began 10 warm his
| heart again. He left the widow S com
| forted. But Harry LOSING frowned.
| Tommy's handsome Irish face was as
| impressive MS a mask
I They drove to many places after the
| alderman. They heard OF more than
| one saying and doing of his. Here it
| was joke and there a shrewd bar
| gain. and most often a trivial. good
| natured kindness But they did not
| find him. And presently Fitzmaurfce.
/ who had grown thoughtful. spoke tes-
! tily: ~ hope to the Lord. Mae amt
| lying loW, waiting for the eat to Jump
before be commits himself. But it
looks like H. II he is. it's all up with
heading of the strike"
Maybe he's IN MeseIev." suggested
! Billy, "he goes there sometimes or
| maybe home"
lie isn't home: did you see that
/ boy talking to me ut tho lasc place we
stopped / sent him to Macs and
| he'd just got back Mac hadn't been
! home and he'd sent word he wouldn't
| he home TO dinner ! don't like the way
| things look. But we can try Nose
ley's. No harm in trying as the bur
| glar said of the latchkey."
Moseley kept the corner grocery He
was summing himself on his store steps.
smoking one Of his own elegant ci-
gars" which he retailcd at a nickel
apiece.
'Mac?" he said why certainly.
seen him not two hours ago, ne was
driving by with Capt TimberIy.
Much obliged" said Tommy Har-
ry's jaw dropped
Say they're going to have n strike
at HOLSTERS" the grocer continued,
while the two young men stood I'm.
certain. II hope not, Strikes's a fearful
bad thing for business. fearful | got
lot of HOLSTER men on my books
They're good pay: there amt no bet
ter pay than workin' people, but when
you amt got the money--where are
you?"
That's right" said Tommy, good
morning" He looked at Harry. Mar
ry was driving very fast.
What's your next moye?" said he.
I'm going to Hollister, himself"
said Harry, "McGinnis doesn't mean
to risk his popularity or his job. He
has no more conscience than a saloon
sign I'll drop you, wherever you say;
and Hunter and / viii go TO Hollis
teri know he's at the office, this
morning and wen talk to him as two
honest men to third and we may do
something"
II may not be an honest man, said
Tommy quietly, but if you let me,
IN go with YOU. | can't help it if |
didn't find Mac"
Harry gave his friend a CLEAN of his
blue eys. which missed fire, however,
for Tommy was scOwling at the off
horses head They drove along the
wide street lined on either side by one
and two-story houses, many of them
freshly painted, all with their little
gardens. The windows, in general, had
white lace curtains to one side. You
could see that families in the Eighth
Ward kept a parlor. There were few
people on the streets. The plan church
with the cleaning red walls and white
spire that bore aloft the symbol of
sacrifice and peace, sent forth single
peal of bells Tommy, half unconsci-
ously. bent his head and crossed him |
self He looked up and saw the grim
walls of the great foundry where Hol-
lister meant to run his own business.
The smallest of the doors opened,
through which four men emerged IN
haddle. One of them swung the door
half open, again, for parting speech.
He was a portly men, still young, with
black curls that shone in the sun. He
wore a dazzling, spring suit of gray
flannel and a scarlet tie; and one
large, white hand swung a gold-headed
cane.
"If there isn't Mac, himself!" eN-
claimed Tommy, and Robb and john
nv Lake with him!" gasped Hunter.
The three men looked up and nodd-
ed. johnny Mellin bestowed furtive
wink and smile on the astonished
Hunter. who barely noticed him, for
Fitzmaurice had asked;
How about the strike?" And the
Alderman had answered, "Oh, the
strikes off, / guess. Good morning
Mr.. HOLSTER. / want a word with Mr..
Fitzmaurice and Mr.. Hunter, i guess
he and | will agree on this business,
though we don't always. Hey, Mr.
Hunter?"
Billy colored and choked. But he
was spared necessity for reply, since
fine Alderman towards whom he now
felt a veneration similar to that eN-
pressed by the young Russian) had
rested one foot on the hub of the
wheel and was explaining the morn
ings events to Tommy and Fitzmaurice
with much relish.
II heard something down town last
night that made me open my eyes The
idea of their cooking up such thing
when my back was turned! Well, |
didn't lose no time. went straight to
HoIlister and saw how he felt; he knew
would give him straight goods and
treated me nice, and / got him to
promise to see the committee, Robb and
all-he wined the eye further from
Billy, slowly, at the young man on the
front seat; and Tommy nodded grave
l. 10 irnnl.- that he annreciated how