The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-28
BY ROBERT BARR.

Dhhh.
against fate They are at this moment
engaged in writing out their letter of
capitulation-as if it made any differ
! ence how you worded an acknowledge
! ment of defeat and a surrender of your
interests to a lot of ignorant, beer
drinking Doors who don t-but what is
the use of cursing? Another week of
this indecision would have democrat
lied me; IN fact, I think it has done so
already, for l don't generally growl."
viii you come home with me,
father?"
mo, my dear 1 shouldn't have let
you come all this distance merely to
hear what we both knew this morning.
Run along home, like a good little girl,
and don't sit up for me tonight. I'll
be late OF course, in spite of my
scolding. I'll stay till the last dogs
hung. I'll see the thing through and
wave the white flag myself. It wouldn't
be quite the thing, you know, to have
all the fun of the fight and then funk
! the submission. I merely came into
! this room because you were due at 6
and to rest my nerves bit. I'm going
back to the directors and will write the
letter of surrender myself, for they
will never summon up courage enough
to do even that if L am not at their
elbows. I'm going down with the ship,
my girl, pretending l like it; so off
you go, Edna, and We'll feel all right
about it next week-perhaps."
Haggard as he looked the night be-
fore, Edna now noticed, with a thrill
of fear, that for the first time he
seemed an old man. His usually well
set shoulders were bent, and even his
neatly fitting clothes hung loosely
about him. The hesitation and the
tone in which he said the last word,
perhaps" showed her like an electric
flash what was in his own mind, and
what had never occurred TO her before,
that when he was suddenly wrenched
away from the task that had been his
life's work, he would break up in idle
ness like a useless hulk on the rocks
Father" she cried don't let them
send that letter until tomorrow. A day
more or less makes no difference, and
they will keep it back if you ask them
/ to-
Sartwell shook his head.
There is no use in delay" he said.
1T has always been my habit to do
quickly what had to be done, and I am
getting too old to change my habits.
If you must walk the plank, walk it,
and get it over"
The girl did not urge him further,
but kissed him and said Good night.
He saw her into the hanson and told
the cabman to drive to Waterloo. At
the first turning Edna pushed up the
little trap door in the roof of the cab.
DO you know where the headquar-
tiers of the strikers are?" she asked.
Yes, miss; at the Salvation hall,
miss
We'll. drive me there as quickly as
you can
The cabby turned his horse and in a
short time was making his way
through the crowd of men who were
gathering from all quarters to the
meeting.
He drew up at the curb in front of
the hall. Edna stepped out, flushing as
she saw the men looking curiously at
her. She said to one:
Where can I find Mr.. Marsten?"
Hes in his room at the back of the
all, ma'am This wye, ma am. I'll
show you the door,
Edna followed the man down the
long, narrow passage at the side of the
hall.
For Gods sake. mates. what's the
meaning of ths?" cried Gibbons in
amazement, taking his pipe out of his
mouth.
Some of the men laughed. but Glib
bons looked serious, and they saw that
there was more in the incident than
appeared on the surface.
'sWho is it she wants to see?" cried
Gibbons, as the man appeared who had
led the girl down the passage
'.She arsked for Marsten. She's in
with him now"
Look here, mates" cried Gibbons.
What have 1 been telling you? We're
sold, or I'm a Dutchmani That girl
is Sartwell's daughter, and I'll war
rant she has come direct from him.
saw. cabbv. did you drive that young
lady here from the works.
Whats that to you? You're not
paying my fare" answered the cab
man, with characteristic disregard OF
the threatening crowd.
He came from the works; L saw
him" said one of the men.
Let's get inside and call this meet
ing to ORDER" cried Gibbons, decis-
lively.