Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-22
The Mutable Many
BY ROBERT BARR.


factory hung between heaven ana eaTth, anu
at the particular moment John sartweih
manager, stood looking out Of the window TO-
ward the gates. Heaven consisted Of a brood
ing London fog suspended a hundred ieet
above the town, hesitating to fall, whlle
earth was represented by sticky black
clnderod factory yard bearing the imprint
of many a hundred boots The Office was
built between the two huge buildings known
es the Works" The situation OF the once
had evidently been an after-thought-t was
of wood, while the two great buildings whleh
It Joined together as II they were Siamese
twins Of industry were Of brick Although
no architect had ever forcsecn the erection
OF such a structure between the two build
ings, yet necessity the mother CT inventloh'N
had given birth to what sartwen always
claimed was the most conveniently situated
office in London. More and more room had
been acquired in the big buildings as busi-
ness increased and the oflice-the soul OF
. the whole thing-had, as it were, to take up
a position outside its body.
The addition, then, hung over the roadway
that passed between the two buildings; IL
commanded view Of both front and BACK
Yards, and had, therefore, more light ana
air than the office Sartwell had formerly
occupied in the loft-hand building. Ihe
unique situation caused 1t to be free from
the vibration of the machinery to large
extent. and as a door led into each build
ing, the office had easy access to both'
Sartwell was very proud OF these rooms
and their position, for he had planned them,
and had thus given the firm much additlohal
space with no more ground occupied tnuh
had been occupied before--a most desiranie
feat to perform in a crowded city IKE
London.
Two rooms at the bacl, were set apart for
the two members of the firm, while Sart-
wells office In the front was three times
the size of either Of these rooms, and eN-
tended across the whole space between the
two buildings. This was as 1t should be,
for Sartwell did three times the amount OF
work the owners OF the business accom-
plished and, IL il came to that had three
times the brain power of the two members
of the firm combined, who were there simply
because they were the sons OF their fathers.
The founders of the firm had, with hard
work and shrewd management established
the large mandatory, whose present
prosperity was due to Sartwell and not to
the two men whose names were known
to the public as the heads of the business.
Monton and Hope were timld, cautious
somewhat irresolute men, as capitalists
should be all the world over. They had un-
bounded confidence In their manager and
generally shifted any grave responsibility or
unpleasant decision to his shoulders, which
bore the burdens placed upon them with
equanimity. Sartwel was an iron man.
with firm rcsolute lips and steely blue eyes
that we're most disconcerting to any one who
had something not quite straight to propose
Even the two partners qualed under these
eyes and gave way before them If 1t came
to a conflict of opinion. Sartwells rather
curt ut won't do, you know" always settled
things
Sartwell knew infinitely more about the
works than they did, for while they had been
at college the future manager was working
his way mp into the confidence of their
fathers and every step he took advanced his
position in the factory.
The three men were as nearly possible
of the Same age and the hair of each was
tinged with gray; Sartwell's perhaps more
than the others.
1t was dificult to think of love in connec-
tion with the two partners, yet 1t is pleasing
to know that when love did come to them
at the proper time OF life II had come with
gold In one hand and rigid -conformist
conscience in the other The two had thus
added wealth to wealth by marrying, and as
their wives were much taken up with deeds
of goodness. done only after strict and con-
sc'entiOus investigation, so that the un-
worthy might not benefit. and as both Monk
ton and Hope we're somewhat timorous men
who were bound to he ruled by the women
they married, some Of their wealth found Its
way into the Golfers OF struggling societies
and organizations for the relieving OF
distress
Thus there came to impregnate the name
OF Monkton and Hope 0imite-O certain odor
OF sancty which Is most unusual in business
circles in London. The firm. when once got
at, could be counted on for n subscription
almost with certainty but alas, 1t was not
easy to get at the firm. The applicant had
TO come under the scrutiny of those search
ing eyes OF SartwelPs. which had per
turbing habit OF getting right at the heart
OF a matter with astonishing uuickness; and
when once he said, "It won't do You know"
there was no going behind 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 was used only by tho three
men. The clerks and the public came in by
the main entrance, where n watchful man
sat behind little arched open window over
which was painted the word Inquiries"
Outside In the gloom the two great lamps
over the gatcposts narcd yellow light down
on the cindery roadway and the narrow
street beyond Through the wide open gate
way into the narrow stone-payed street
poured hundreds of worlSingmen. There
was no jostling and they went out silently,
which was unusual 1t seemed as IL somo.
thing lowered over them even more depross-
Ing than tho great fog cloud just above
their heads. SGrtwell alone in his Office.
stood somewhat back from the window un,
seen, and watched their exit grimly stornly
The lines about his firm mouth frightened
his lips into more than their Gus
then n workman cast a glance at his win
dows, and he knew they cursed him In
their hearts as standing between them and
their demands for they were we'll aware
that the firm would succrmD did Sartwell
but give the word. The manager knew that
at their meetings their leader had said
none was so hard on workingmen as a
workman who had risen from the ranks |
Sartwelps namc had been Kissed while the
name OF the firm had been chcercd but
the manager was not 10 be deferred by |
unpoDularity, although the strained relations
between the men and himself gave him good
cause for anxiety. |
As no thought over the situation and
searched bis mind to find whether he him. |
SELF were to blame In any way. there was |
rap at his door. He turned quickly ava, |
from the window, stood by his desk. and |
said sharply, Come in"
There entered young man In workman's |
dress with lis cap in his hand. His face |
was frank, clear-cut and Intelligent and he |
had washed II when his work was done |
which was weakness not INDUCED in By |
the majority OF his companions
An, Marsien," said the manager. his |
hro% clearing when no saw who IL was |
Did you get that job done In timer"
II was OF before half-past 8, sir"
Right Were there any obstacles thrown
In your way?"
None that could not be surmountsd.
Right again That's the way I like to
Ia 4 Nj. 4 ~