The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-03-23


Yes. Report progress to inquirers."
"Um. don't see it,"
"What?"
"The progress"
We'll. you will. Just remember this
still-hunt was your idea"
Yes, but this is little too still.
Hope you'll have something 70 tell me
soon"
Hope so, too. Good-by."
"Good-by."
McMannis hung up the receiver on
the hook, paid double charge without
protest. and FASTENED toward the Of
flee of the Milling Companies. His
present business with Mr.. Harlan could
not well be conducted by telephone.
The vice president of the Milling
Companies was somewhat inaccessi-
bic person, and the stranger within
his gates seldom got any further.
McMannis found his progress OBJ
structcd by brass ratings, office boys,
ante-rooms, private secretaries and
every other protection that hedges the
New York financier. BY the time he
had run the gauntlet of the sentries,
written out his name and business
on printed form, cooled his heels in
three waiting-rooms, and been cross
examined by the head Office boy, a
confidential clerk, and Mr.. Harlan's
private secretary, he was in no very
affable mood, and the atmosphere of
the sanctum sanctorum itself, when he
did reach it, was not calculated to re-
store his geniality.
Mr.. Harlans reception of his visit
or was irigidly polite, but entirely free
from cordiality. Neither was his fund
Of information excessive. Had he
heard any talk of combination in
yolving John Kennard's Sons? Mr..
/ Harlan wondered II his visitor had,
and answered evasively. Why did Nc
Iannis ask? Because he was interest
ed In protecting the workmen there.
Mr.. Harlan smiled the quiet, irritating
smile of which he was master, and
, gave other evidences of being frankly
amused. II was easy to see Peter was
new at his business, he observed, since
he proposed wasting his time in trying
10 work against John Kennard, whom
everybody knew gave his worllmen all
they wished and would give any agita-
tor more than he wanted. 1t was some
think of Peter McMannis posing as
! champion Of downtrodden labor, and
his selection of Kennard's men as his
wards completed the comedy.
The expression on McMannis' face,
as his patron joked and ridiculed him,
was sinister in the extreme. Almost
any other man would have taken warn
ing at once, but Joshua Harlan gave
no heed until the delegate-at-large
snapped out that it was evident some
body had his own reasons for wanting
Kennard left alone.
To his utter surprise Mr. Harlan ad
mitted 1t, accompanying the admission
with sneer which was at once
threat and challenge. His change of
manner was as complete as II was sud-
den. From amused contempt 1t passed
to cool, commanding scorn, and from
familiar jesting his tone turned to a
domineering insistence. II the former
had irritated McMannis, the latter
reused every slumbering devil within
him. until he fairly rocked with anger.
1t almost seemed as though Mr.. Harlan
was bent on enraging his visitor to the
last possible degree.
Yes, he was interested in the Con-
federated Machine company, Mr.. Har-
Ian repeated, and It was just as well
McMannis knew 1t. Why? So as not
TO run counter to his patrons plans.
Suppose he didn't approve those plans
He must approve them. Must he?
Certainly. How could he do otherwise,
what would he dare do?
The visitor, bursting with anger,
mentally put a price on each sneer and
insinuating infection, and responded
with question asked with half-closed
eyelids and an attitude, part crouch,
part cringe. What was there in 1t for
him.
The answer was laugh, low mock
ing laugh mingled with note of as
tonishment and wrath.
There was another question to be
asked, and the labor agitator shot an
| ugly glance at his companion as he
put 1t. Was Mr.. Harlan looking for
trouble? What did the walking dele
gate mean? The question was repeat
ed Did Mr.. Harlan want trouble? II
not, he'd better talk plain and quick
to the speaker. Mr.. Harlan would talk
both plainly and quickly. The man
wasn't born who could blackmail him,
and the last man in the world who'd
better attempt 1t was the rum-soaked
individual who was polluting his Office
for the last time. 1t was we'll Peter
McMannis should understand with
whom he was dealing. Did he think
to frighten or dictate to a man OF Mr..
Harlan's caliber? Cowards frightened
nobody, and 1t required men Of ability
to dictate. Let him keep the company
Of those with whom bullying was ef-
fective and blackmail was easy. 1t was
waste Of words to talk about grati-
tude or obligation. Those expressions
were meant for the ears OF gentlemen.
He would talk language which ours
could understand, and this was the
word that the honorable walking dele
gate had better carry away with him.
The slightest interference with John
Kennards wt'rkmen or anything else
which interested Mr.. Harlan, would
bring Mister Peter McMannis up with
round turn. Let him mark that well.
Mr.. Harlan did not propose to speak
THr "a -. <>wux'