Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-27
CHAPTER VIII.

"It all sounds very matter OF fact,
but l fancy the story loses something
in your telling"
Mr.. Harlan held cigarette over the
candle as he spoke, rolling 1t In his
fingers until 1t lighted. Then he in
hailed q deep breath Of smoke, and
smiled pleasantly at Kennard across
the small dinner-table.
mo, assure you there's nothing
more to It."
But you forget my daughter has
told her version and l don't think
well, l don't think she's hysterical."
mo one who saw her helping Gull
yer and those other poor fellows could
possibly think so. She overestimates
the difficulty Of doing what was done;
that Is all" . .'.
But it cost you three weeks in the
hospital"
THAT was imprudence in not TAX
ing proper care of myself at once"
Mr.. Harlan laughed.
"You modest men are incorrlgible.
give you up. But how are the fel-
lows who were not imprudent get
ting along?"
Barton Is out on crutches, but
Miles and Culver are still in the hos
pital. They were both hit by bits Of
iron when the valve burst, besides
being badly scalded They won't be
able to work for many a day"
Mr.. Harlan blew a slender thread OF
smoke under, the red silk candle-shade,
and watched 1t thoughtfully as the
draught rapidly sucked 1t through the
opening in a blush cloud.
What do you do in such cases"
he asked musingly.
What do do in what cases.?
when employees are injured"
eve look after them as best VT
can. They're given such work as they
can do. or ii they're incapacitated, we
pension them"
Even when the accidents their own
fault?"
"Yes. II mans hurt through his
own carelessness, the injury is punish
ment enough. Don't you think so? We
never forget he was doing or trying
to do our work."
you must have q nice army Of Grip
pies on your rolls" ltughed Harlan.
mo. very few. Men don't purposely
injure themselves-at least not the
kind we employ"
"Then suppose you never have law
suits brought against you for dam
ages"
Sometimes we do. There are always
men who don't know when they're we'll
treated and think they'd rather trust
the courts. We had a very sad case OF
the kind not long ago"
Mr.. Harlan raised & glass Of port tc
the light and carefully studied its color.
yours is an editorial we isn't it,"
The question was asked abstractedly.
81 suppose so; it's habit. anyway"
81 mean you have no partners.
mot now."
Mr.. Harlan's inspection OF his wine
ceased. He raised the glass TO his lips
and drained II.
"Kennard," he said. as he wiped his
mouth. "the good Book says 1t is not
we'll for man to live alone. Neither
Is It good for him to work alone. Have
you heard of the Hardness syndicate?"
Kennard laughed.
darkness & Co.'S combine? OF
course, but | didn't know 1t had at
tained the dignity of syndicate.
"I think II has. Harkness has
spoken to you about it?'
"Yes. Funny little man. Do you
know him."
Mr.. Harlan glanced sharply at his
guests face. but read only inquiry in
the keen gray eyes.
Know him." he repeated lightly
"Oh, yes, I know Mr.. Harkness well.
although" he added, this Is the first
time we've done business together y
Kennard stared at his host and
found himself under close scrutiny.
"Yes."
The monosyllable was neither in
quiry nor comment. 1t was blend OF
both in An invitation 10 continue. Mr..
Harlan accepted it as such. and gave
no indication of having expected sur
prise.
What do you think Of his scheme?"
he asked after a moments silence.
The pause had beer sufficient to put
the men at their ease. but in tha at Sec
ond both had been transformer. 1t was
no longer Mr.. John Kennard. as guest.
and Mr.. Joshua Harlan as host. who
] were dining together at the Nantick