Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-12-02
The Iron Workers Daughter
BY
. HOWARD FORESTER.

1t is easier to tell ron what he is than
VINO he is. He deals largely in scrap
iron. Buys and sells all sorts of old iron
and rails.
Deals with everybody? ?"
Exactly"
Much money r
He must have some money
And you are sure Atherton hates
himy'
Positive"
Yet he goes to public concert with
him, and has his daughter with him all
the while
The man of law pondered.
My conclusion-no. my assumption
is, this fellow has grip on Atherton.
What do you propose TO do about itf
You have no interest in the process now Z"
"No-but | have in Grip"
The lawyer smiled. Mayberry's cheeks
Redeemed. The lawyer added, with a
merry twinkle of the eye:
II see"
mo, Nickerson. can't allow you to
think what is not true. I never met
Atherton's daughter but twice-in her
fathers house, while calling on him. She
is a highly accomplished young lady, 1
have reason to believe. Although her
mother died years ago, it seems she has
had excellent schooling"
My dear fellow" said the lawyer, "a
| witness may prove too much in the effort
to clear himself. Let us return to Grip.
You are sure he has everything his ,.sssn
way now in this matter"
Il have told you all know"
Il can see but one course to pursue.
You must convince Anterior that you
| may be relied on implicitly. Then, liz
Grip is holding anything over him, or is,
as you think, taking undue advantage of
Anterior, he may tell you"
THAT means | am to put myself in
Atherton's way. | am not sure | can
| bring myself to do it."
The lawyer was silent Mayberry was
silent, also. He realized the force Of his
friends suggestion. II Anterior had some
one to confde in. he might reveal the
cause of his extraordinary action. But
| to seek the good will of any man was
something Mayberry could not do. He
was obliging; would prefer to serve a
fellow being rather than not; hut to ask,
or appear to invite, confidence was be-
yond nim. His motto was, the largest
latitude for independence in selecting
friends. People could ike or dislike him
| 1T made no difference so long as he
asked no favors. He left the lawyers
office undecided what course to pursue,
but inclined to let matters take their own
course. He was so preoccupIed on his
way home that evening that he did rot
recognize his acquaintance until a re-
mark from passer-by attracted his at
tention
Hello, MayberryT'
| 1t was = workman, man who had
charge of one of the departments in Star
Mil-a pushing, wide-awake man, who
gave every indication of making his way
in the world.
"Ah, Dickson
Fine sunset, Ell? See that pool down
therel l used to catch fish there as big
as-wen as big as myself when l was
boy Fishing now-for different game
Maybe I'll tell you some of these days.
"Oh, l can tell you now" said May
berry, in motter-of-fact tone. You
would like to manage a MILL"
who told your
"Nobody-I guessed it. How would
you like to have an interest in new
mill?"
TTell-just try me-"
/ ''I'll remember. l was jesting--but
stranger things have happened"
IF you take the notion: if you are seri-
Gus, Mayberry, / believe you could get
the means to do it"
Thank you, Dickson Possibly we may
both have a chance one of these days. If
l succeed in matter have in my mind
there's nobody / would sooner have than
you"
| Thel conversation by common consent
changed. They were pausing at cor
ner where they parted to exchange good
evening" when a man passed them in
great haste. He was walking so rapidly
he did not observe them. His head was
bent; he was thinking intently-so intent
~ that he took no note of the passers-by.
"Athertonv' exclaimed Dickson, look
ing after the puddler. What is he doing
over here? He lives on the other side.
1T is Atherton," Mayberry replied.
''He is in great hurry"
He don't seem like himself the last
two days." Dickson added. II don't
think he will figure much longer on the
pay ron of Star Mill.
Why"
"He don't like Sam Gummitt. | sus-
pect the bottom reason is because Ather-
ton has more brains than Gummitt, and
Gummitt knows it. You know how that
works in MILL
Il do. | have observed it is the same
in mill as it is everywhere else. The
man with the most cheek and the least
brains is always jealous of a man whom
he knows in his secret soul is his supe-
rior'
There's another reason. Dan Ather-
ton is too independent for his own good
speaks too plain. I'd like to see the
man who would make Dan Anterior
crnge."
Diekson's parting words echoed in May
berry's ears as he continued on his way.
I'D like to see the man who would make
Dan Atherton cringe."
Why, that was precisely what the pud-
dler was doing now. He was cringing
now; he was dominated by one man, and
that man was Jackson Grip.
The thought was disagreeable to May
berry. The sensation he experienced wGs
novel, to say the least 1t was just as
though he in some way shared the humil-
iation.