The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
THE MUTABLE MANY
BY
ROBERT BARR.

P XII.

NNtA
Jion 10 his Office every morning at his usual
hour. as II everything were going on TO his en-
tiro satisfaction. He was always dressed with
scrupulous ncatness, and ho invariably car
ried in his hand q trinity folded umbrella.
which no one had ever seen him undo. for
when Il rained he took a cab. The umbrella
seemed q part of.him. and a purely ornamental
part: he was never met on the street without
II. No man could say when Sartwell pur-
chased anew suit of clothes; each suit was pre-
cisoly the same "a the one which had preceded
IL. and IL was always put on before its prede-
ccssor beran to show signs of wear.
There was as littlo change in Snrtwell's de-
meanor 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 vas there, on the other hand. any
belligerenoy in.his manner. The mon had gone
out; that was their affair. He nodded to
them. or babe them n curt Good morning."
as had been his habit before the trouble. Few
of them had the presence of mind to do other.
wise than raise their fingers to their caps. or
answer. with tho customary humble, Morn
in SIR" Habit Is strong In the h~uman-ani-
NAL. as has often been pointed out.
No one OF all those concerned was moro anx-
ious 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 ar
NOR through which. with q blindness not un-
derstandable to the manager, Gibbons neglect
ed TO thrust.
Curiously enough. 1t was not Gibbons that
Sartwell feared in this contest. but Marsten.
He knew the young man had been strongly
against the strike. but he also knew that he
had thrown In his lot with tho men; and a.
though the leaders of the strike, up to that
time, had held aloof from Marsten. pretending
to look upon him as n covert traitor to the
cause. still Sartweil feared they mightss,take
him into their counsels at laet. sand that he
would show them the way out OF their DIM
culties. The Smnnager had made It his bust
ness to lie ,rn all he could.o of what was done by
his opponents, and he had been amazingly
successful. He knew OF Mnrsten's visit to
Barney and Of the generally futile result OF
that conference; but he had so slight q conf
dsnco In Barney's good sense that he :eared
some hint might have been dropped by the ar
list which would sho n the men how anxious
Monkton d Hope were for n settlement on al
most any terms. AS time passed, and Sart-
we'll saw that Gibbons still held Marsten at
arms length. he became less and less anxious.
Affairs were RAPIDLY approaching a crisis when
Marsten's aid would be useless.
A few days after the announcement of the
reduction in strike paw had been made. Sart-
vel. approaching the gates in the morning,
saw Marsten standing alone at the street cor
ner. 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, Marsten7"
mo. Mr.. Sartwell."
Not in their confidence. perhaps"
II suppose I am neither In their confidence
nor in yours. Mr.. sar:well."
Rather an uncomfortable position. is 1t not?
I should like to be one thing or the other II l
were in your place, Marsten.'"
II am one thing. I I'M 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
II am not afraid to he seen speaking with
anybody. Mr.. Sar;well."
"Ah. you are young; therefore you are brave.
I have known a smaller thing than this con-
v%ersatfon TO cost a man his life. but perhaps
times and methods have changed since my
Early days. It is a pity you are on the wrong
side for your bravery to he appreciated. The
masters Of this world always value talent and
courage and pay we'll Cor them. The men do
neither. That is why they are usually beaten
In a fight. and 1t is one of the many reasons
why they should be. | have n few words to
say to you; the street corner is not n good
place for a private conversation: will you come
10 my Office in an hours timer"
do you wish to speak about the striker"
Yes" said Sartwell. looking with intent
ness at the young man. I'VE have no other
subject of mutun Interest that I know Of"
Very good. / merely asked. because what
ever you ma have to tell me 1 shall use in
the interests of the men,"
Sartwell shrugged his shoulders.
You are quite welcome he said. ito mnke
what use you p.ease of the Information / shall
give you. | am we'll aware that your ad Vice
is in demand by the men and their leaders,"
The elder man walked briskly on: the
younger Redeemed at the covert sheer In his
last remark.
My God" he said to himself, angrily, IT
wonld like to fight that man."
Marsten turned and walked rapidly tn the
strike headquarters. There he found Gibbons
and the committee in consultation, while a few
of the men lounged about the place. The talk
ceased as Marsten entered tho room. the COM
mittee and its Chairman looking loweringly
ut him.
"What do you want?" asked Gibbons. shortly.
II met Mr.. Sartwell a moment ago in the
street. and he said he had something to tell me
about the strike. He ask.d me to call at his
office in an hours time. ! promised TO do 30,
but told him any he gave me
should use in the interests of the men,.
And so you came here, suppose. to get
some to give in return"
Marsten had resolved not to allow himself
to be tainted Into anger, but he saw that he
had no easy task before him. He WAS going to
do his duty, he said tn himself, and.help his
comrades II he could. The situation was too
serious for recrimination.
mo, / shall tell him nothing. II he wants
information / shall refer him to you. / thought
he pei haps might say something that would
Do OF. value for us to know. and so ! came to
tell you that l am going to his Office"
"Us2 Who do you mean by usl"
1.-THE men on strike. l am on strike as vol
rs the others. 1 have lose n situation, II you
haven't" retorted the young man, knowing
that he was not keeping to his resolution.
WELL" said Gibbons, taking :no notice of
the others insinuation. you don't need to
como here for permission to visit Sartrell's
office. I.suppose you have been there BEFORE"
Not since the strike began"
'Oh. haven't your