Middletown transcript., 1900-06-02

! suppose the company would refuse
such request? Now, what is the
trouble with the rest? The company
is not In a position to grant holiday
at this particular time, and you know
it. Come, be fair, menI can't shut
down the shops all day to let you go
and see railroad wreck. Be reasona-
BILE! What do you want?"
"We want more pay and freedom
from Sunday work." said big fellow,
the Norwegian who ran the biggest
planer In the shop. He had more than
once proved troublesome to Burns, but
he was a remarkably intelligent and
skillful workman, and the foreman had
endured much irritation on that ac-
count.
Mr.. Hardy replied, still speaking
| pleasantly, "The matter of more pay is
one we cannot well discuss here now,
but l will say to you and all the rest
that as far as 1t is in my power there
shall be no more Sunday work de-
manded"-"while / live" Mr.. Hardy
was on the point of saying, but he
said instead, "of the men In the shops"
"Still, that is not the question" re-
piled the man in an insolent tone. Mr.
Hardy looked at him tHere closely and
saw. that he had been drinking. Sew
eral of the workmen cried out;
Shut up. Hermani Mr.. Hardy be
right! We be fools to make row now
at this timer
A dozen men started for their ma
chimes to go to work again, while
Burns went up and laid his hand on
the Norwegian's arm and said to him
roughly:
"Quit off now. You've been dipping
that beard of yours into O whisky bar
rel Better mind your pegs or you get
your walking papers"
"Mind your own, Burns" replied the
big man heavily. "You be something's
Of beard drinker yourself if you had
the beard"
Burns was so enraged at the drunk
en- retort that he drew back as If to
strike the man, when the Norwegian |
smote the foreman a blow that laid |
him sprawling in the iron dust. In
stantly Mr.. Hardy stepped up between
the two men before Burns could rise. |
We have spoken of Roberts intense |
horror of the coarse physical vices. 1t |
seemed totally wrong to him that
workman should degrade himself with
drink. Besides, he could not tolerate |
such actions in the shops. He looked
the drunken man In the face and said |
sternly:
"You are discharged! l cannot af-
ford to employ drunken men in these
shops. You may go this instant"
The man leered at Mr.. Hardy, raised
his arm as II to strike, while the man.
ager confronted him with a stern look.
but before he could do any harm two
or three of the men seized him and
hustled him back to the other end of
the shops, while Burns rose, vowing
vengeance.
The men went back to their ma
chimes, and Mr.. Hardy, with an anx-
ious feeling of heart, went back into
the Office, satisfied that there would be
no trouble at the shops for the rest of
the day at least. He felt sorry that he
had been obliged to discharge Herman,
but he felt that he had done the right
thing. The company could not afford
drunkards, especially not just at this
time, when it began to be more than
plainly hinted that the result of the
accident on the road was due to the
partial intoxication of a track in
spector.
That accident was a complication in
Robert Hardy's seven days. 1t was de-
manding of him precious time that he
longed to spend in his family. At one
time in the afternoon as he worked at
the office Mr.. Hardy was tempted to
resign his position and go home, come
what might. But, to his credit be It
said, even in his most selfish moments
formerly he had been faithful to his
duties at the Office. At present no one
could take his place at once. He felt
that his duty to the company and to
the public demanded his services at the
time of crisis in railroad matters.
So he staid and worked on, praying
IS he worked for his dear ones and
hoping, as no bad news came from
home, that Clara was better: He had
been TO the telephone several times and
lad two or three short talks with his
wife, and now, as it began to grow
lark in the Office, just as the lights
were turned on. the bell rang again,
md Mrs. Hardy called him up to tell !
liin that the minister Mr.. Jones, had
.alled and wanted to see him about
olne of the families that were injured
n the accident in the foundry room.
Tell Mr.. Jones l Will try to see him
t the meeting tonight" On Barton
he church meeting fell on Wednes-
ay) "And tell him will have Soma
hing TO give him for what he wants
low is Clara now?"
NO change yet Will is suffering
ONE from nervousness. He says he
ad horrible dream of the accident
his afternoon. Bess is about the same
Ter escape was Il miracle"
HAS George come home yetY
mo. / am getting anxious about
i'm. l wish you would inquire about
i'm at the Bramieys' as you come up
} supper"
II will. l must leave very soon. This
as been terrible day down here. God
eep us. Goodby." =
TO RE CONTINuFD