Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-07

"Hi there, you!"
The cry was only one of many fly
ing about the room.
Say, you feller on the bench. Are
you asleep? Don't you hear Inspector
Campbell calling you?"
Kennard looked up and met the eyes
Of the newspaper reader glaring at
him.
mo, / didn't hear him." he an
swered. Am I to 80 through this
gate?"
Damned II l care! You can jump 1t
IL you want to-" was the response,
which was greeted with a salvo Of
outlaws from the neighbcring desks.
Kennard opened the small gate and
passed to where Campbell sat, a 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 a few moments neither man
spoke, and the official fumbled among
his papers. At last he looked up.
"Well, what do you want Of me?" he
asked.
"Not much" Kennard answered. 81
stopped to inquire what the trouble
was"
1.-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"
81 didn't know | did ST."
well, you know 1t now. then. Phil
lp Grout, aged ten, and Torrance
Hume, aged nine, kinder sneaked in on
you unbeknownst, suppose?"
"Oh, those two? never knew their
ages, or, if did, 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. If
you think you can employ minors when
it's convenient and discharge 'em when
you're caught, you make a big mis-
take. ---...r-.- --~... --- -; =.
Kennard's face flushed with anger,
but he gazed contemptuously at the
speaker and answered quietly:
81 am we'll aware of the law, in
spector, and have no intention to evade
it. II the boys are under age, as
sumo all responsibility and they will
be laid off at once"
Don't fret yourself. laid 'em off
all right"
Your"
"Yes. me. See here, Kennard. don't
put on any frills with me. You'll find
1t won't pay"
Have you any further complaints"
"Yes, | have; but if YOU don't change
your tune, I'll guess III send in my
report as it is. l 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 a certain point 1t was
better to humor him.
IF you had not been appointed so
recently, Mr.. Campbell" he began
you would know have no desire to
evade the law or insult officials.
always managed to get along pleas
antly with Inspector Pollard"
Yes, bet you did. But he amt in
spector any more now, and | am"
81 see. And you find matters want
changing at the factory. Let me hear
what they are"
The man fused over his papers fol
a few minutes, and spoke into them
rather than at Kennard as he an
swered:
Il don't want nothin' except what's
right. But won't take any dude-talf
neither. Pollard's gone, so don't yor
quote Pollard at me. I'm the man now
Understand"
Kennard nodded as his questionel
glanced up.
We'll, inspected your joint las
week. You didn't know it? That's
the way | do my work. Old man Pol
lard used to blow a horn and ring q
bell for a week ahead SOS you coulo
get read- for him, s'pose. | don't
and l seen things that's got to be
changed quick"
Kennard gazed steadily at the offi-
cial and as he listened his face De-
came perfectly calm and a cold gray
light appeared in his eyes.
Such as?"
The question was interesting and en-
couraginG.
We'll" Campbell thumbed his pa
pers, and at legnth drew out memo
randum, first place, there's shop 3.
That's got no sanitary arrangements
and they'll have to be put in at once. "
"Yes?"
The note of Interrogation in the an
swer was so slight, 1t passed unnoticed.
And quick. too"
Anything else?"
"Yes. lots. You'll put guards about
machines Nos 10 and Ia, have another
fire-escape run up on the boiler build
ing, and quit employin minors. Thatll
DO for now"
And | am to commence with the
sanitary arrangements for shop No.
81"
Eyes: but-well, don't care II you'd
rather do the other things first. Maybe
III give an extension on that
Don't you think it might be omit
ted altogether, Inspector"
The man gazed at Kennard between
half-closed eyes for a moment.
81 guess you know how to do busi-
ness, Kennard." he insinuated.
~ think | do" rejoined Kennard
brishly. in a new tone of voice, land
!hink I've learned all I need to know
this morning." He rose as he spoke
shop No s happens to be the work
mems lunch-room, Mr.. Campbell, and
not one of the factory buildings. Ma