The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-04
Chapter v.
THE NEW MANAGER.

Il The sleep of Mr.. Ellery that night was
troubled. Twice he rose and lit candle, to
consult looks which he drew from reeep-
tacle in the WALL They were great ledgers; a
duplicate set, it would seem, and as he pored
over them be frowned in the endeavor to
think of way out Of his difficulty. For. as
Ann had said to Dickie only Humphreys.
sending directions from the sick room, had
kept the Elery business on its feet. : -.
Mr.. Ellery began to perceive the result Of
meddling, and to- wish, too late, that he had
held his hand. For the trustee could not keep
himself from Interference, and by little
changes here and there-notably the reduction
OF the workmens pay, and a crafty and sus-
picious manner toward old customers-in less
than six months brought the business to the
verge of ruin. The old hands left in body
to be snapped UP by rival ropemakers. New
hands, unskilled, made rope which customers
refused to buy.
But porting over accounts did not help him
unless the reminding Of an ambition unful-
filled were help To realize his own incom-
petence was small comfort The fulfllment
of his plans depended upon the aid of some
one who could manage the rope walks. With
this unsatisfactory conclusion he put away the
books and extinguished the candle for a sec
ond time. =. 49, sas:s,
Dickie, fldgeting at the breakfast table, kept
gancing at his uncle's face, and at the end
L.
'Ellery, always keenly apprehensiye at any
change in his nephew's manner, wondered
what was to come. Dickie himself had spent
a night Of thought, and after one or two
false starts succeeded in broaching the subject
nearest to his mind.
'.Uncle,'' he blurted at last, Il hear that
the business is In difficulties
An abyss long dreaded, opened before Mr..
Ellery's feet. It was as if Dickie had as
sumed the face and voice of his dead brother
and begun again the old-time war interests
Mr.. Ellery'sa heart began to futter, as fear of
consequences rose up. This was the most in
convenient time Of all for his nephew to rebel
The business known to be in straits, Dickie in
opposition next would appear Dr. Warreri to
repeat his threat of suit to change the
guardianship. On this last account there was
no possibility Of driving Dickie to Frank S
fate, therefore Cancellation was the only way,
But at the moment he could not smooth his
face, and like the fox that shows his teeth
he snarled.
Who is meddling?" he demanded; who
told you that?" ri
Why, Ann he confessed
What do you wish, to say?" asked Mr. Ell
lery. ~ -
Dickie stated with hesitation what was in
his mind. II thought that maybe l., since
am to own them some day, ought to enter
the repewalks and learn the trade
MI. Filery perceived from MS nephew s
tone, diffdent and apologize, how complete
his own ascendancy was, and suddenly re-
-lieved, went confidently forward.
Out of the question: declared the uncle,
and then more kindly, .'out Of the question,
Dckie boy.s It's very good of you to wish
to help me, but can carry it through alone.
Ask me nothing just now, in few days I
will tell you all about IT. And SO having
gained time; having, also, caused his nephew
TO forget that the offer to enter the business
sprang not so much from desire to oblige