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

"A CaTuDOlru CLOCK WIN mONaDlc
hands nailed to the door of room 8
indicated to- all comers that Mr.. Peter
MoMannis would return to No. 21h
Water street at certain hour. The
truth of this legend was, however, al
ways open to doubt, what with mis-
chievous boys who turned the hands
every time they passed the door, and
the irregularity of the tenant for whom
1t vouched. But when by any chance
1t happened to testify truly, McMannis
could. by turning the key in the door,
utterly discredit It; and this he almost
invariably did. Its functions were
therefore largely ornamental. although
the penciled insults scribbled across
its patient face-of which you lie"
was the mildest-might be said to rob
1t Of even that virtue.
The delegate -at-larCe had not for
gotten his maiden effort with John
Kennard's Sons. He had promised
himself the firm should receive close
attention, and McMannis never broke
a promise made to himself One of
his earliest activities had therefore
been in the factory on the Hudson,
where he discovered a wide field, but
one of little promise. The union la
Dor was practically unorganized, and
although many Of the workers were
union men. many were not. Indeed
there was regrettable apathy among
the members. about seeking recruits
for their ranks, and a general dis.
interestedness in the cause. To rem
edy this was McMannis' object, and
although he found several personalities
which promised well for future lead
ership, most of the material was poor,
and such response as he did receive
was unenthusiastic. There was moth
ing in the factory itself upon which
he could at present build. The wages
were union scale or better; the man.
agement was strict, but the work
steady, and if the profits were large
the employees seemed to think they
received fair share. Had it not been
that every man in the union was srist
to his mill the new delegate would
have postponed payment of his per-
sonal grudge, and turned his attention
TO more impressionable material
There was no mail awaiting Mr.. Nc
Mannis' arrival at his Office but he
had brought his newspaper, and sit
ting down at the small desk, he spread
1t out and began reading it leisurely.
Under the heading, Interpretations at
Albany Yesterday he noted a list OF
names in fine print. He started TO
read them and suddenly stopped with
an exclamation of surprise.
The Confederated Machine compa-
nies; authorized, capital $50 200, 900"
Machine companies? That was in
Kennard's line. What did 1t mean
Was John Kennard actually planning
to sell out? What II combination
was forming? Something was afoot,
and money might be made by working
it properly II he could get on the
track of the facts, the opportunity Of
a lifetime lay before him. How could
he learn what was going on? He
must not guess he must not prophesy
prematurely or raise any false alarms.
He must know what he was talking
about when the time came to talk,
and until then, what not TO speak of.
There was nothing more to be learned
from the newspaper. He knew the
paragraph by heart, II Kepnard was
about to self out, who would be in the
secret? His confidential clerks, of
course. Not very promising allies for
an outsider in place like Kennard's
Sons. If consolidation was the pur-
pose OF this Incorporation, who would
know of it? Josh Harlan. OF course.
= Mr.. McMannis closed and locked his
door, turned the clock-face to the oak,
and hurrylng TO the nearest telephone
pay-station, called up the Office OF the
Milling Companies, where Mr.. Harlan
reigned as Yice president. Central was
somewhat tardy in making the neces-
sary connection, and McMannis grew
impatient as he sat sweating in the
stuffy little cabinet. Two or three
times he put the receiver to his ear,
and hearing nothing but the faint hum
ming of the wires, swore into the tube
for the benefit Of the operator. Elicit
ing no reply, he rang the bell long
and angrily, until at last he was re-
warded by hearing Mr.. Harlans voice.
AS he had merely called up the Mill
ing Companies and had not yet asked
specifically for any one, McMannis was
somewhat surprised to find his friend
and patron already at the phone.
"Hello?" sang Mr.. Harlan's voice, in
quiringly.
McMannis opened his mouth to an
swer, but 1t remained open In aston
ishment as another voice answered.
rs that you, Harlan? This is Trun-
dell"
"Yes?"
What's doing in Confederated Ma
chine?"
Nothing much. We're marking
time"
"Um!"
There was q long pause. and NcAan-
mis- strained his ears. fearing be had
been cut of. but ct last the strange
voice continued:
" soc you're incorporated"
"YAs"