Evening star., 1897-03-27
mously. Once more Gibbons rose to his

nce He has been staying late for some
| time past, so 1t struck me he might be
there now. l will go at once and confer
with him, and will return soon as possi-
| BILE and give you the result of the confer
ence. Meanwhile you can transact eny
other business that may come before the
meeting"
Sartwell, alone in his Office, expecting
Marsten, was naturally surprised when
Gibbons entered instead, but he greeted
the newcomer without showing that his
| visit was unlocked for.
''Mr. Sartweii,'' began Gibbons. going
straight to the point. Il have again teen
| made secretary of the union. If end this
| strike will you make me assistant man
! ager?"
| sartwelrs eyes partially closed and he
looked keenly at his visitor through the
| narrow Sits for moment or two before
] answering.
Gibbons fidgeted uneasily.
| I'VE all play for our own hand. you
know" the new secretary added. laugh
| ing. uncomfortably, land l know that with
| you it is better to say out what one means.
| I'VE all play for our own hand-yes."
said Sartwell. slowly. Can you end the
| striker"
You only think so. Well. Mr.. Gibbons,
| come back to me when you are sure, and
| will talk to you"
Il am sure, if it comes to that"
| "Ah. that is a different matter. The
| meeting, then, after making you secretary,
| passed a resolution to end the striker"
| Hardly that, Mr.. Sartwell. 1t has au-
| thorized me to negotiate with you. Now,
| If you promise me the assistant manager
| ship. will bring the men back tomorrow"
| The strike was bound soon to end with
out any promises from me. sent com
| munication to Marsten tonight regarding
| it. Do you mean to hint that he has not
| read it to the meeting?"
| He did not He tried to, but the men
had enough of Marsten, and they refused
| to listen.''
quite so. Then it is with you alone 1
have to deal? Marsten is out of it?"
THAT Is the state of the case"
| well. l am sorry l cannot offer you the
| assistant managership; although. of course,
1 hope that the strike will end as speedily
| as possible"
"Marsten said you offered it TO him; is
Il think Marsten generally speaks the
! truth. Let us stop beating about the bush,
! Gibbons. The men tonight have either re-
solved to come back or they have not. If
they coming back they will come,
whether 1 deal with you or not. If not.
then 1 don't see how You say more
than that you will do your best to bring
| them back. Now, all l shall promise is
this: Ii you bring the men back tomorrow.
l will see that your position in the works
is improved"
That's rather hard lines. Mr.. sartwelI.
| Marsten brought on the strike, and you
offer him the assistant managership. l end
the strike, and you will make no definite
terms"
| MaTSten the position beIOre
the strike began. Once the fight on,
it had to be brought to finish. The finish
has come. and / think you had better ac-
cept the only terms l can offer. Don't you
see that if l were not a man Of my word
could easily promise you any thing, and
then discharge you a month hence?"
well. I'll trust to your generosity. Mr..
Sartwell. Now. what will you promise to
the men?'
What do they ask"
"They wish you to discharge all the
blacklegs you have engaged"
| I'm afraid, Gibbons, / cannot promise
that. either. l will, however, send home
| all who want to go and can find situations.
but your men will not suffer on account of
the employees. 1 have work enough
for you all; there will be plenty to do to
make up for lost time"
You practically offer us nothing, Mr..
Sartwell." ;"
"Oh, yes. dos + am conceding more than
you think. 1 said in my wrath. when the
men went out, that l would never again
allow union man to set foot in the works;
but now that they have chosen a moderate.
them come back, allowing them to still re-
main in the union. Is that nothing? 1
think l have been most conciliatory under
the circumstances.
| THE meeting Is still in session. Mr.. Sart-
well. Would you mind coming with HE
and telling the men that you will Suaran-
tee every one place. and that you will
not interfere with their membership III the
union"'
II don't mind going with you. but you
can probably make more out of the con-
cessions than 1. for you are more eloquent
on your feet. will simply oorroborate
what you say and tell the men the gates
will be open for them tomorrow. Mean
while. just wait for me at the gate. l have
few orders to give my commissionaire. .
| The uniformed man answered Sartwell's
| call, and stood like statue to receive
his orders. The manager closed the door
Il am afraid there is not much sleep for
you tonight, commissionare," he said In
a low voice. but we will make that up te
you in some other way, and when the
men come back tomorrow you may sleeI
the whole of the following week, if you
like. AS soon as Gibbons and l are away
and you have closed the office l want you
to search for Marsten. You will likely fine
him in his room. l don't know where he
| lives but that you will have to find out
| quietly. you understand. Ask him from
, | me to give you back the letter you brought
| TO him this evening. II he refuses, ash
| him not to show it to any one until he sees
| me In the morning"
: The commissionaire brought his heels to
gether sharply and presently went forth or
| his vain search; for Marsten, unconscious
, had been taken in an ambulance to ST
Martyrs Hospital, with the remnants o.
{ | the letter firmly clutched in his clenchet
fist.
. Chapter XXXvIII.
/ | Again it was the last train to Wimble
|
:, home from the station with the srringy
. step Of a young man. Edna, waiting fc
) her father in spite of his prohibition. hearo
| the step with thrill of hope. When h,
: came in there was smile on his fac,
: such as she had not seen for weeks.
! "Ah, my girl" he cried. you can neve
o | guess what has happened
q Yes, 1 can." she answered; "MarsteI
! has ended the strike"
q mo, the strike has ended Marsten. H,
has been deposed. and Gibbons has beel
t elected in his place. Gibbons. unselist
man, at once came to me to make term
for himself. So the works will be open 10
J, morrow, and when the next strike comes
u let us hope. unlike John Gilpin. 1 won
- ! be there to see."
, And what does Mr.. Marstea say to thi
= sudden changer"
II didn't see him. l suppose he has gon
;, to his room to mediate on the mutablit,
> Of the workingman.'
Il am glad you didn't send that letter
"Ah but the funny thing about it Is tha
8 I did send It, My ccmmlsslonaire is prob
9 ably at this moment securing London t
: find Marsten and get it back. 1t would b
IL rather a turning Of the tables II Marsten
9 in revenge, were to publish the letter
don't think he will do 1t, but one can neve