The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-03-16

I'm Mr.. John Kennard. I called to
see you about some matters In relation
to our factory which understand re-
quire attention"
The man favored his visitor with an
insolent glance.
You sit down till get through
with my friend and then I'll take up
your case"
without another word the official
slouched back to his desk.
Schooling himself to patience, Ken
nard sat down on the bench and
watched the scene before him. A pc
culiar collection of workers was as
sembled in that room. with but few
exceptions the men looked unintelli-
gent and unhealthy. Most of the faces
we're coarse and vulgar, not few were
steadily. the pens of the writers NOV
ing stifiiy and heavily. as though the
fingers manipulating them were unac-
customed to their labors. A steady
flow of conversation and cheap, school,
boy banter passed between the desks.
Through confusion, cat-calls, and
laughter the women worked on stead
lily, their fingers flying fast and their
instruments clicking in busy chorus.
With the exception Of these the room
had an insuffcrable atmosphere of idle
responsibility.
"Hi there, you!"
The cry was only one of many fiy-
ing about the room.
Say, you feller on the bench. Are
you asleep? Don't you hear Inspector
Campbell calling your"
Kennard looked up and met the eyes
of the newspaper reader glaring at
him.
mo, didn't hear him." he an
swered. "Am to go through this
gate?"
Damned If care! You can jump II
II you want to-" was the response,
which was greeted with a salvo of
outlaws from the neighboring desks.
Kennard opened the small gate and
passed to where Campbell sat, bunch
of papers in his hands and pen in his
mouth. The inspector motioned with
jerk of his thumb to the seat at his
side, and Kennard accepted the invita-
ton. For few moments neither man
spoke, and the official fumbled among
his papers. At last he looked up.
We'll, what do you want of me?" he
asked.
mot much" Kennard answered. "I
stopped to inquire what the trouble
was"
"The inspector smiled slyly.
81 guess you know
81 do. not"
"Aw, come off, Kennard. How long
have you been at this gamer"
What gamer"
Employing minors against the law"
II didn't know did so."
well, you know 1t now. then. Phil
ip Grout, aged ten, and Torrance
Hume, aged nine, kinder sneaked in on
you unbeknownst, suppose?"
"Oh. those two? l never knew their
ages, or, II I did, I had forgotten.
There was sickness in their families,
and permitted them to do some work
to help out, without asking their birth
days; they are only temporarily en-
plOyed and can stop at any time. That's
all there is to that"
Don't you believe tit amt. II
YOU think you can employ minors when
it's convenient and discharge 'em when
you're caught, you make a big mis-
take"
Kennard's face flushed with anger,
hut ha pozod cpp an, M NJ "a
speaker and answered quietly:
81 am well aware of the law, in
spector, and have no intention to evade
it. II the boys are under age, l as
sumo all responsibility and they will
be laid off at once"
Don't fret yourself laid 'em off
all right"
"You?"
"Yes, me. See here, Kennard, don't
put on any frills with me- You'll find
it won't pay"
"Have you any further complaints? ?"
Eyes, have; but II you don't change
your tune, I'll guess I'll send In my
report as it is. I don't have to give
you no notice"
Kennard glanced at the surly, cum
ming face of the man, and suppressed
an inclination to defy him. He had
power to cause infinite trouble and
loss, and up to certain point 1t was
better to humor him.
"If you had not been appointed sc
recently, Mr.. Campbell" he began
you would know have no desire tt
evade the law or insult officials.
always managed to get along pleas
antly with Inspector Pollard"
"Yes, l bet you did. But he amt in.
spector any more now, and am"
81 see. And you find matters wan
changing at the factory. Let me heal
what they are"
The man fused over his papers fo
few minutes, and spoke into then
rather than at Kennard as he an
swered:
II don't want nothin' except what
right. But won't take any dude-tall
neither. Pollard's gone, so don't yo1
quote Pollard at me. I'm the man now
Understand"
Kennard nodded as his questione
glanced up.
We'll, inspected your joint las
week. You didn't know it? That
the way do my work. Old man Pol
lard used to blow horn and ring
bell for week ahead SOS you coul'
get ready for him, spose. don't
and ! seen things that's got to b