Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-15

 6fEach in cur old eelations, with each ls6ther: Ofradrse I Relieve ins the strike or wouldn't be the leader of It."
 ''It seems like bad way to get at what you want" said Stuart. M
 'Have you studied into the details of the situation? Do you know all the facts which have led up to this move ment?'
 q know what my father has told me. He says the men did not consult with l the companies and went out without warning or notice of any kind"
 Erie rose to his feet. ~It's liev' he exclaimed, with sudden passion that no one would suspect existed. It was like an explosion that transformed the man into another being.
 Stuart also rose. ''Do you mean to say that my father lied to me about the facts?''
 q do!' retorted Eric. "He lied, and he knows he lied"
 Stuart took one step toward Eric, and the two young men confronted each other. Suddenly Eric turned on his heel and without word walked down the hill. For moment Stuart seemed on the point of going after him or cali ing out for him to stop, but the next moment he stepped back to the stone and sat down. When Erie had disap- peared behind clump of trees, Stuart l rose and went toward home by another path.
 When he reached the house, Louise i met him and told him his father want ! ed to see him at once. He went in and stood by the bed, his whole being stir red by the interview with Erie. It was the first real passion to speak of that had reused his self controlled na- ture. His father spoke with the blunt ness that always marked his speech. Stuart, want you to go to Cleve- land for the company. This strike has caused complications with our local agents. There is important business that l ought to see to in person. Can you go at once? The eastern express is due at o'clock"
 ''I am at your service, father" re- piled Stuart. He was still going over his recent interview. with Eric.
 Here are the papers. I can explain the business to you in few minutes"
 Stuart drew up a, chair, and his fa- ther gave him instructions. Then as l Stuart put the papers in his pocket Ross Duncan said, his face and man. ner softening a little as he fell back on his pillows:
 Stuart, lad, in case anything hap pens to me, of course you know I have l left everything to you and Louise. The mines, with other property and invest ed funds, besides New York property and bonds not connected with the mines, are worth over $4,O0O,OOO. I have left Louise S1,O0O, GOO in proper ty. You will be left in the sole charge of everything in case die. Of course you understand thatI am the compa- n.y. This strike isss against me. If die, it will be againsf you. believe can depend on yousto defend the mill lions I have worked so hard all my life to get together,,s said Ross Dun can. Then in his old manner he said, You will have to$hurry to get that train."
 Stuart rose, and asconf1ict of feelings rose with him. What his father had just said moved him one way, the aft .ernoon with Eric moved him another. He wanted to ask his father one Ques- ton before he went away.
 Father" he asked almost timidly, "did you tell me that the strikers went out without giving the companies any notice or Warning" -a.~
 "Yes."
 "Do you mean that they gave abso- lutely no hint of their intentions to any one?" - Ross Duncan rose up a little, and his | face changed. gro m
 "They sent their representative, as they called him, to me about two weeks before the morning of the strike to confer about wages, but . wouldn't recognize any such representative with any right to interfere with my busi- ness and tell me what wages I ought to pay"
 | "Who was the representative" Stuart asked the question, well know | ing the answer.
 "Who was it? Who but that pray | ing. pious friend of yours, Eric Vas sall"' Ross Duncan sat up, and the wound on his forehead grew purple. Stuart was frightened at the sight. He could not say anything. His father sank down again, exhausted with his anger. Stuart went away without even word of farewell. There was | u DlttCFueSS III HIS ueuEL IudC was uCW to 1t. Eric had been right, then, ac- cording to his view. The company had received notice. There had been an attempt at consultation. As the train whirled him on he cursed in his heart the whole social perplexity.
 He reached the city, attended to the business and started backNthe next day l to Champion. It was just dusk when he stepped out on the station platform. He thought crowd of curious looking people was there. Something had hap pened. Dr. Saxon came up, seized his l l Y I 26l|l |lEEB[ J E[