Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-27

CHAPTER NJ.
Sartwoll showed little sign Of the wear
and tear Of the struggle. He walked from
the station to his Office every morning at
his usual hour, as II everything were going
on to his entire satisfaction. lie was al
ways dressed with scrupuous neatness and
he invariably carried in his hand trinity
folded umbrella, which no one had ever seen
him undo. for when 1t rained he took a cab
The umbrella seemed a part of him, and
a purely ornamental part he was never
met on the street without it. No man could
say when sartwel purchased new suit Of
clothes; each suit was precisely the same
as the one which had preceded it, and it
was always put on before its predecessor
began to show the signs of wear.
There was as little change In Sartwell 8
demeanor toward his men as there was In
his clothes. He did not keep his eyes on
the ground as he passed along the street
TO the gates nor was there, on the other
hand, any belligerency in his manner. The
men had gone out; that was their ahair
He nodded to them, or bado them curt
Good morning." as had been his habit be-
fore the trouble. Few of them had the pres
ence OF mind to do otherwise than raise thclr
fingers to their caps, or answer with thelr
customary humble, "Mornin', sir" Habit
is strong in the human animal, as has often
been pointed out.
No one OF all those concerned was more
anxious for the strike to end than Sartwell
but none the less was he determined that 1t
should end his way. He saw the openings
in his armor through which, with a blind
sess not understandable to the manager,
Sibbons neglected to thrust.
Curiousy enough, 1t was not Gibbons that
Sartwell feared in this contest, but Marsten.
He knew that the young man had been
strongly against the strike, but he also knew
that he had thrown in his lot with the men;
and although the leaders of the strike, up
to that time had held aloof from Marsten,
pretending to look upon him as a covert
traitor to the cause still Sartwell feared
they might take him into their counsels AT
last. and that he would show them the way
out OF their difficulties. The manager had
made IL his, business to learn all he could Of
what was done by his opponents, and he
had been amazingly successful. He knew
OF Marstons visit to Barney and Of the gen.
orally futile result OF that conference; but he
had go slight a confidence i'm Barney's good
sense that he feared some hint might have
been dropped by the artist which would
show the nen how anxious MOnktOn & Hope
were for a settlement on almost any terms.
AS time passed, and Sartwell saw that GiO-
bons still held Marsten at arms length, he
became less and less anxious. Affairs were
rapidly approaching crisis when Marsten's $
aid would be useless.
A few days after the announcement of
the reduction in strike pay had been made.
Sartwell, approaching the gates In the morn
ing saw Marsten standing alone at the
street corner. The manager had almost
passed him without greeting on either side.
when the elder man suddenly stopped,
turned half around and said sharply:
"On picket duty. MarstCn?"
mo Mr.. Sartwell."
mot In their confidence, perhaps"
81 suppose | am neither in their confidence
nor in yours, MIR. Sartwell."
Rather an uncomfortable position, is 1t
not? | should like to be one thing or the
other If | were in your place, Marsten."
81 am one thing. | am entirely with the
men"
Perhaps in that case you are afraid to
be seen talking with me. Some of the men
might happen to pass this way"
IL am not afraid to be seen speaking with
anybody, Mr.. Sartwell."
"Ah, you are young; therefore, you are
brave. | have known Il smaller thing than
this conversation to cost a man his life, but
perhaps times and methods have changed
since my early days 1t is a pity you are
preciated. The masters of this world al
ways value talent and courage and pay well
for them. Tho men do neither. That is
why they are usually beaten in a fight. and II
is one of the many reasons why he Z should
be- ! have few words to say TO you; the
street corner is not a good place for pri-
vate conversation; will you come to my Of
flee in an hours time?"
"Do you wish to speak about the strilie?'
yes" said Sartwel, looking with some
intentness at the young man. I'VE have no
other subject of mutual interest that know
Of"
every good merely asked, because what
ever you may have to tell me | shall use
In the interests Of the men"
Sartwel shrugged his shoulders.
You are quite welcome he said, "to
make what use you please of the information