, 1901-06-12
An UItiinatum.
BY WILL T. HALE.

Copyright, 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
OF the various companies working
the Mill Valley phosphate lands. the
most popular among the employees was
hat OF Thomas & Jay-a fact chiefly
due to the kindly department and Just
ideas of its members. Walter Thomas,
the junior partner. had gone from
Sibley to Mill Valley and purchased
a considerable tract. and as it proved
rich in p~hosphates, he was soon On
the road to fortune. A few months
afterward he had sold an interest to
Jay, who was in needy circumstances,
although a capable business man. rhe
esteem in which the partners wsre
held was especially demonstrated dur
ing the first strike of the laborers-
a week of %rioting, called Black Week
by some Of the companies; for Thomas
< Jays men remained at work in spite
of every effort made to bring them
out.
A few days before Black Week
Thomas announced that he vas 60
ing to claim a month off, averring that
he needed a change.
That's all right, of course" said
Jay. But | trust your health is not
failing. Waldo?"
No." replied the latter. There
are rumors that many of the men are
dissatisfied with the scale of wages;
do you think you al get along by
yourself il they go OUT"
81 think l can. The truth is, l have
no fears as to the course Of u en-
ployes. l trust you will return re-
juvenated, so to speak"
There was something in his part
ner's tone that caught the attention
of Thomas. He looked up and noted
a droll look on his friends features.
Come, now" said Thomas, slightly
irritated, what is the meaning Of
that horrible look?"
as it horrible?" Jay laughed. 1T
was intended for a look Of commisera-
ton. L.9k here, Waldo-1'm on!
Will you consider me ~presumptuous
If l volunteer a little adviee?"
What is IT." was as much as
Thomas would agree, drawing at his
cigar with unusual energy.
Appeal to Miss Lovelrs fear, II
reasoning accomplishss nothing" be-
gan Jay. Il do not always sanction
the methods OF young Lochinvar-
but old Colonel Lovell's objections to
those who seek his daughters In mar
riage has become chronic. At least,
In this case. he has no right to OBJ
ject. ! suggest for once a runaway
match"
Jay had correctly surmhed the cause
OF his friends discomfort. Love at
fairs are more difficult to be kept Sc
cret than the schemes Of armies. All
the parties concerned were residents
of Sibley, and the unsuccessful WOO
ing of Thomas was known and dis
cussed by the gossips, though the
young man was blissfully ignorant of
the talk.
Thomas was handsome, prosperous
in his present undertaking, il he had
not been before in other enterprises,
and was the soul Of honor. He had.
however, at least w reasons for be-
lieving In the assertion OF Joaquin
Miller, that
II tell you thai love Il the bitterest sweet
That ever laid hold IN the heart OF a
man"
One was hat Colonel Lowell wa
unalterably opposed to his marriage
to his daughter, Mary: the other was
that Mary, while contrasting her love
for Thomas, was averse to becoming
his wife without the consent of her
father. Two Of Colonel Lovell's
daughters had been compelled to elope,
for their lovers met no favor in his
eyes. His wife considered them with
more favor, and when she asked him
timorousIy why he opposed them, had
to put up with the reply. Just be-
cause | am, and that's sufficient"
The truth was that Thomas was in
need of a little advice at the time his
partner made his suggestion. Like
a drowning man. ready to grasp a
straw, he listened with patience to
Jay, now that the subject had been