Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-30

bag and grasped his hand in strong
but nervous manner Solemn, strange
ly set faces looked out of the dusk at
Him
Whats the matter, doctor?" asked
Stuart, trembling at something, he
could not think what.
your father, my boy
as he worse?"
Come this way. My buggy is right
here. will drive you out to the
house. Get right in"
Stuart got into the buggy mechanic
ally. The doctor threw himself in,
and the horse made plunge into the
dark
''Tell me the truth, DOCTOR" Stuarts
voice was steady, but faint
The answer came after moment.
"iour father died, Stuart, an hour ago.
He had stroke of apoplexy. There
was some heart trouble. He did not
suffer-
For moment everything in the uni
verse reeled about Stuart Duncan.
Then he found he was asking questions
and DR.. Saxon was answering them.
When they reached the house, Stuart
met Louise first. She came to the front
door and threw herself into his arms,
crying Historically. Stuart had not
| shed u tear yet. They. led him into the
room where Ross Duncan lay The son
stood and looked down ut the cold
face with that newly made scar on the
forehead. There was no thought In his
mind that he was now, the. owner of
several millions of wealth. He. was
thinking of the last interview he had
with that father and his parting with
out a word OF affectionate farewell.
And still the tears would not come to
his relief.
AT last he went out, and the sight of
his sisters grief and fear brought the
tears to his own eyes. He ,wept with
her. They talked together. The doe
tor remained an hour and then took his
leave. The night wore on. Louise, ex-
hausted with the shock, had gone to
her room. Stuart was finally left alone
He sent the servants all away He
could not sleep. He paced the long
hallway until daylight. Just as the
sun rose he went in where his father
lay and looked ut him again Ross
Duncan's millions were of no use to
him now. OF what use were they to
the son? What load of responsibility
had come to him now! These mines.
these labor troubles. this strike, these
wages what difference II he let them
all go? He had right to do as he
chose with his own. lie would dispose
Of it all and live abroad. He, would
what. He was planning all this and
his father dead less than "a hours!
And, then. what responsibility did rest
upon him? What difference did it
make to him what wages the men re-
ceiyed? Was he his brothers keeper?
Were they his brothers? The whole
thing was complex, irritating. His ia
Tiers death had thrown Il burden on
him that he did not want TO carry.
He was disturbed by noise in, the
street before the house. He went to
the window and drew aside the cur
tain. The measured tramp of heavy
feet was heard coming down the road.
A column of men, four abreast, came
into sight, with one man little in adj
teace of the others carrying Il banner.
1t contained very rude drawing of
rich man and a poor man. The rich
man was saying, "What do you want?"
a'he poor man was saying, "CfRnls
from the rich mans table" 1t was all
very crude and one SIDED IN every way.
The column &C mea wing by, nearly
eco mineis on their way from the mp
PEI range 10 Join the strikers in Cham
piqn III tleir reSGlar morning gatller
ing at the park. Every man as he
went by tuiEad his head and looked
up al the house where the dead mine
owner lay. 1t is possible that they
saw the son standing there. he watch.