The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-25
copntgnt, 1908, IN r. {. Mcclure

i. -. 30 ..s ~ ~ ~ .. ~ -! .| ~ .! ~
Mike Carney sat loosely on n heap Of
Stag during the last two minutes Of the
noon hour, the empty dinner pail which
hung from his locked fingers swinging
backward ana forward rhythmically
between his knees.
His blue eyes, looking straight ahead,
held that blending Of guilclcssncss and
mysticism whic. Is the birthrlght Of "A
religious people. Down To the end Of
his short nose Mikes face might have
been fit study OF n fifteenth century
monk. but his mouth bclicd all that,
apparently having been formed for no
reason ON earth but TO whistle an Irish
liz, and the sight OF II thus engaged
was sufficient TO cure one forever Of
the idea that life was dun.
At present his lips puckercd more
than once but only Il lone note, which
seemed to have gone astray from the
rest of the tune. issued from them.
Something began TO grow I'm his eye,
burning away their mysticism and re-
vcaling substratum of quicksilver.
"'Tisn't fair, be COB"
He stood up and faced the brick " !
opposite, as though ii was the presidc.h
Of the wire works himself.
"'Tis chances enough the workinm
has to take anyhow
His voice stopped as If broken.
Cringcd into himself, he sank back on
the Stag, torn between the conviction
that "twas fair" and the Irishmau's
inherent adherence of "lnforming."
"An' sure, where'd be the uscI' lac
solloquizcd, his mental attitude seem.
ing to descend dcspondently with h,S
body. Don't they know It's done, an
every day tooT
But an hour later when the foreman
ordered him to replace II large belt
from shaftlng To- a countershaft
while the machinery was In motion
Carney looked him quietly in the eyes
and refused.
His glance had measured the danger
first. 1t was particularly ugly joy,
crammcd near the ceiling, compared 10
which the belt he had replaced that
morning was as child's play.
you'll not do itF'
Not while she's running I'll not do
IT,"
The foreman's strong young hands
closed and Enclosed at his sides. He
was ten years the lrishmans junio>
with his record still to make. TLt
eyes which answered Mikes narrowC"
To points of steel. For moment tht
two men regarded each other with q
peculiarly still, Hat look.
"You Kerry coward!'
The measured words were like the
hiss of escaping steel scalding the
Irishman's face. All the fighting blood
shaft of blue light that lcapcd from
his eyes. Like n relied log the TO, g.
man went down.
Very quietly Mike picked up his be.
longings and left the shop. Not even
the certainty that he had lost his joh
and tho beating thought of five small
mouths at home To be fed could qucll
| the fierce satisfaction in what he hal
done For an hour he walked, huS-
glns il savagcly To his breast. Then,
ms he asccndcd the steps of his teuc-
mcnt, il seemed suddenly To oozc out
ut his finger tips Nora's eyes, wh"C
she stood on the small piazza hanginI
out clothes, were as mirrors from
which all the grim. bare facts attendant
on being "out of job looked back al
him with cruel distinCtucss.
Margaret Hartman leaned her arm,
on the table and looked across the sill
yer and cut glass Mt her husband Her
white face and wide open eyes stil
held the trcmulousncSs of one who ha,
recently been I'm the darkness of d
great fear.
"But the man." Hartman said, fin
gering his glass. II wish you ha,
found out his name. Constance
IL know, dear; but Henry" - hcl
hand went To her heart; Hartman fcl
reproached as he watched the addC,
pnllor of her face-"oh. IL was all -,
sudden. so awful. those mad horse
with the trailing harness and wrcCkc,
carriage, the fearful rccklcssncss OF it
as they came down the street! An,
| then when baby left Anna and cam
: toddling unconsciously across TO whcr
b | sat on the piazza
b "Thcrc. dear, don't GO over II an!
: more" Hartman came around the "a
BILE and put his hand on his wife
, shoulder.
q. The man." she went on after
. pause. has been hanging about her
Z lately. have fancied sometimes tina
Z he wished to speak TO you or me. Whe
] had baby safely In my arms locke
nj him-he had the kindliest blue eve
, and saw that he was very whit,
5 But when | asked him II he had bee
2 hurt he said no. only n bit of bruis,
a where the shaft grazed his shoulde
< II was the quickness and GOODNESS wit
? which he did IL. Henry. that stunh
. me. And no sooner had he grabh
baby than his mouth puckered In g.
. funniest way. and he sauntercd up
5 me whistllng an Irish jig"
Hartmans brows drew together.
"It couldn't be-of course not
"Who dcarT