The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-05-04

- WOhu Va ~OhhAAAOASs
/. "Why doesn't Mr.. Kennard complain
to my father about those things?"
Mrs. Parsons looked up swiftly from
her sewing, noted the flush accompa-
nying the question, threaded and
knotted in almost one movement, and
took three vigorous stitches.
You don't know John Kennard very
question. He'd about as soon run to
your father with his troubles as he
would ask you to carry his overcoat.
Not one word of all this have I heard
from him, and suppose he'd be ter
ribly annoyed If he thought was talk
ing to you. Danville heard half the
story down town, and dragged the
rest out of Mr.. Maddox when saw
how John was looking"
SIS he ill?"
The question came quickly, and Mrs.
Parsons could scarcely repress her Joy
as she noted the anxious tone. She
bit of a thread and looked in her
work-basket for the emery before she
answered.
Haven't you." she began-"haven't
you seen him lately? No? Well, he's
not actually i'll, but he's breaking down
under the strain and excitement; and
don't wonder, If half hear is true.
| wouldn't have believed 1t possible
for men to act the way they've done
in this company. At first they worked
with John, giving him all the assist
ance and support he required, and
then, having things on q proper pay
ing basis, they proceeded to show their
true colors. To begin with, they passed
law or resolution taking away all
the pension moneys from the men who
had been injured before the new COM
pany was formed. John and Mr.. Mad
dox fought this bitterly, and I believe
there are some legal proceedings to
follow, but In the mean time more than
so men, unable to earn anything, have
been thrown upon the world. I've in
vestigated few of the cases, and they
| are too pitiful for words. In some
instances the families are being cared
for by other families almost as PEN
niless. tell you, the more go about
among the tenements, Leslie, the more
l am struck with the wonderful SYM
pathy Of the poor. I believe I've seen
more real charity right down here than
have anywhere else. Danville offered
to take care Of some of the poor fami-
| lies; and as for John Kennard, they
say he's living on nothing a year"
How do you mean?"
why, he's paying the pensions of
all his old employees himself-and
some of the others too, I believe He's
rented his apartment and is living in
clearinghouse"
Leslie was leaning forward with her
elbows on the table, listening to every
word
"But-but can't he compel-why
don't the men who are doing this see
why can't he persuade them it's
wrong"
That's just the point, my dear That
Is what you should persuade your father
to look into. These people, not satis-
fed with robbing the pensioners, are
now proposing to rob the stockholders,
of whom your father Is one. They've
cut down the wages Of the workmen
on purpose to cause strike and lower
the price Of stock, SO they can buy 1t
cheaply. Rather than countenance this
John resigned, and he's fighting to turn
them out at the next election, which
occurs very soon. II they defeat him,
It not only means his ruin, but the
ruin of lots of other men less able to
/ hoor ~ N0uy nnccihlxy fafhor m
be asked to support these rascals; and
as some of them are persons who are
received in decent society and are
considered highly respectable, it's quite
likely they might impose on him. But
he's just the man to carry this thing
through with John, and I'm sure he
would"
"Of course they'll be on the same
side"
"They will II your father under
stands the real situation, but he is
probably too busy with other things
to give his best attention to this. Per.
haps he's authorized some one else to
vote for him. They do that in these
big companies, I'm told. However, II
his attention Is properly directed tc
the matter, l know he'll take 1t up
and there's time yet II it's done now
That's why I've spoken to you"
But, dear Mrs. Parsons, what dt
you want me to do?"
81 don't want you to do anything
Leslie. tell you the facts and leave
them confidently In your hands. II
thought you were the kind of girl whit
wouldn't know how to use them,
should have held my tongue, or gon'
direct to Mr. Harlan myself. But
know you have tact and brains, ant
will do the best that can be done"
Mrs. Parsons gathered up the ma
terial in her lap, wove her needle int
seam, and looked at her watch.
81 must go now. ] suppose the mex
hour will be your busiest so you won
want company, anyway. And, dea
child" Mrs. Parsons put her hands o
Leslie's shoulders and looked straigh
into the girls eyes, 'if you don't fe'
right about interfering for any reaso
whatever, let 1t drop ! can imagin
circumstances which might make
unwise or embarrassing, and ! hay
: every confidence in your judgment.
4 wish | felt as sure of every one as
e do OF you. Goodbye"
a Had Dave Maddox felt as much col
I fidence In Mrs. Parsons, 1t is probab
4 he would not have called on Miss Ha
Ian that evening. Had he felt mo-
0 confidence in himself, he would ha'
stayed longer than ten minutes wh'