Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-11-04
CHAPTER r

10 me
Just what / say"
The sentence cut the air like whip.
There was snap in the words, snap in
the tone. snap in the expression and atti-
tude Of the speaker.
The two men locked at each other.
They were not unlike in general appear
ance and age Possibly the man with
the flannel shirt, ard check cap on his
head, was the stronger and finer looking
of the two. Just now his eyes were flash
ing with anger His face was red with
the heat of the furnace he had faced and
the exertion he had put forth in pudding
the iron. His shirt was unbnttoned, ex-
posing a neck and shoulders that would
have delighted sculptor. His shirt
sleeves, rolled up to his shoulder, reveal
ed a muscular arm. His frame was mass
i've, his head well set on his shoulders,
and as be faced Peters he looked like
man capable of holding his own with any
man, as, indeed, Dan Atherton had dem
onstrated tine after time.
The man facing him was plainly but
decently dressed. But he did not meet
Dan Atherton's eye boldly. His manner
indicated restraint He ought TO have
had the advantage in the wordy encoun-
ter, but he seemed to be at disadvan-
tage. One was the manager, the other
was a workman in the Star Iron Works.
I'VE may as well understand each 9th
er, Bob Peters said the puddler, cross
ing his arms and looking defantiy at the
manager.
you talk like fool, Atherton. Are
you crazy? If you want to quit, your
money is ready for you at the Office" said
the manager.
Look here, Peters-if l take that
money to-day. and through you, you'll
hear from me-"
Pooh! Now you are childish"
'I've warned you"
Who cares for your warning" ex-
claimed Peters. who is running this
millT
That Just what I'd like to ash he
owners. You are running it, and nice
mess yol are making of it. Ever since
We worried in the old Hope mill you've
had grEdse against me, Bob. I'm not in
debted 70 you for any good will, nor for
my furnace. You want to run it cry
economically, to please the owners, hut
you do it at our expense. Oh. you needn't
swell now. and curl your lip-it's plain
truth, and hundreds in this and other
mills know just as well as you and know
how things are working"
Have You done, Atherton" demanded
the manager. in a grave tone"
In minute The furnace you put me
on was run down. It's one of the hard
est furnaces in the mill-every body knows
that"
There, that's enough. Atherton.'
I'm not through. Peters. You haven't
had a man on Number Fourteen in two
years who brought as much iron out of it
as | have. Aud because | have done it,
and held up my end better than some of
your pets, YOU don't like me. The whole
trouble the last two weeks was our
fault, not mine. I've asked you twice to
repair it, but you've pretended it didn't
need it. or YOU hadn't time-all to get me
in disfavor--and like as not, when the
time comes. you'll lie about it, and say
you wasn't notified. Is that plain
enough"
Peters at that moment was in such a
rage he could scarcely speak. He STAN
mered, gulped then, with a white face,
elenched his first.
"Oh, if that's your kind, I'm your man.
Come on"
But hand was laid on the managers
arm at that critical juncture and a voice
each recognized said:
Hello! What fool nonsense is this?"
The workman turned to the newcomer
with an angry look The manager lcok-
ed crestfallen. lie wondered how much
the newcomer had heard; he suspected
he had heard all that passed.
"Nothing's gained BY hghting-you two
ought to know that"
The remark was n unfortunate one.
1t recalled contests between these two
when they were you .ger-contests which
always exposed Peters to the ridiculc of
his fellowworkmen. If he could not van
quish Atherton in Il hand-to-hand contest,
he could show him he was his superior by
discharging him.
What's all the fuss about?'
The manager and workman glared at
him. Both thought he knew. 1t was the
puddler. however, who blurted his belief
out boldly.
Il guess you know, Grip. But if you
don't, I'll let you into it, If Bob Peters,
here, undertakes to ride over me, find
ing fault with me for not bringing as
much out of my furnace as other men in
TIC hAAASf Ia kOlAS W tuEA every
I'm going TO tell him just where the fault
is. I'm not going to play dummy, and
let him or any other man put me in a
false light with the owners. l don't care
If he WAS manager of forty mills. he FOR
no other man can make me say whites
black. or blacks white. There you have
it, Gripp."
Anterior, you are discharged" said
49, IL
money"
Suppose don't take my discharge
from youp said Atherton, with sneer-
ing smile.
He looked around. They were standing
under shed cut entirely off from the
view OF the Iahorers in -.e yard They
had met near il, and inv0luntarily stepped
aside 70 engage in the wordy encoun-
ter both anticipated.
The person who came upon them here
was Mr. Jackson Grip, gentleman
whose business transactions with iron
manufacturers led him into and sbout
the mills. He was wen known to work
men and owners.
Suppose | give you something to dis
charge me for, Peters. You haven't got
grounds-Tll give you some"
The iron puddleg faced the manager de
family. placing lis hands before MIN,
ready to strike or ward of blow. His
eye was fixed on Peters warily. Grip
hooked ut the manager, then Mt the pud-
dler. curiously. The manager was irres-
dilute
"Gripp. here. viii see fair play. | dare
say. I'll trust him. Come on. You've
discharged ME. II want TO. can stay
on. The man you think You can ride over
has a friend in the office more influential
than you. Peters. He controls the stock
land can control You. But il you want
my furnace for another pet. you are vel
come to IL Only I'd prefer TO give You
better grounds for my discharge. Are
you ready y
For answer, Petess Suddenly seized an
Ak handle from a bundle standing on eEG
At his right hand. The iron worker sprang
back. Then he called himself a coward
Tor recoiling. his rage was expressed in
his face as be said between his clenchsd
teeth: