The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-04-20

wnat I've Deen tnrOugn S1nCe-s1ncc
I-sirce ] left the factory. You can
| look at me and see something Of the
| hell that's had me. I'm dying, but I'm
not afraid Of death. I'm only afraid
| of living the last year again. But I've
a wife. The worst thing she ever did
in her life was TO stick 10 me, and be
| the mother Of my children. don't
want TO go without word for her and
| them. and thought, Mr. Kennard, may
be you'd feel little different about me
since you and Mr.. Harlan made Il up"
! Since Mr.. Harlan and made IL up?"
Kennard's question was spoken with
dry lips and a haunting sensation of
having heard a somewhat similar
phrase not long ago.
81 know you and Mr.. Harlan are on
the same side now, sir, and thought
perhaps you'd forgive me, same as you
done him, and keep my wife and kids
from worse than death. God knows
they've been punished enough for me.
Mr.. Kennard."
Culver rested his head on his arm.
and gave way to the hard, racking
sobs Of physical exhaustion unrelieved
by tears.
/ Kennard gazed at the man as though
fascinated, and then glanced away to
the small window at the end of the
room. When he spoke again, 1t was
without turning his head.
why don't you ask Mr.. Harlan to
help your
at wouldn't be any use, sir. He's
paid me more than he promised. He's
hard man, Mr.. Kennard. You know
that"
What was your whole arrange
ment? Everything-from the begin
ming"
The question was asked abstractedly,
as though the speaker was thinking
Of something else. II was several sec
onds before Culver answered
You always treated me fair. Mr..
Kennard," he began. 81 know It. I
knew it then. But saw people with
a little money making big piles, and
! never could save enough to get
round sum together. Then came the
accident and Miss Harlan taking in
terest in us. That was the beginning.
That was how met Mr.. Harlan. For
long time ! didn't suspect they want
ed-What did you say, sir? Excuse
me. thought you spoke. For long
time ! didn't suspect they wanted any
thing, until one day he met me in
the city and asked me II I was ready
10 make 5000. I didn't agree then,
Mr.. Kennard-I confess had time to
think and / took 1t, but finally
agreed toto do what they wanted,
and one morning she gave me the in
structions and"
She? Who?"
Miss Harlan, SIR"
"You-lie!"
The words burst out in a whisper so
savage that Culver shrank back and
lifted his hand, as though to ward Oft
a blow. Kennard took step forward
and stood close to the huddled figure.
Before God. Mr.. Kennard," the
words came in gasps, 'I'm speaking
the truth. She gave me the list her.
self. 1t was written in her own hand,
and was to"
you lie! Get out of this house!
Quick, before count three"
"Mr. Kennard-"
"One!"
"Mr. Kennard, let me show you"
"Two!"
Kepnard swung the door open, and
his hands twitched as Culver stag
gered to his feet, skunk by him, and
tottered out into the night.
For the next two hours time and
events ceased to be for John Kennard.
He sat on the divan in his room star
ing at familiar objects without recog-
milton. neither thinking nor dream
ing: conscious but oblivious. When
at last he reused himself, 1t was to
answer Maddox's ring of the bell.
"Well, I have had hunt for you
and no mistake" began Dave. Been
all over this darned town after you
to the Thespians, to the Unity-every.
where, but last of all, of course, to
Dels, where got your message Sc
you've heard the news too! Who told
you? Good Lord, what's the use OF
looking like that? It's only a fight
and Wen scalp 'em yet. Who told
you, anyway"
Told me-whats"
about the tricks of our kind friends
in the board after we left, and the new
ones they're planning. What! yor
haven't heard about them? Then, fol
Lords sake, what's the matter witt
you? You look like All right. III
save my compliments and trot out m!
facts. But do be hospitable and offel
me something to smoke, II only {
cigarette. Well, it seems, after we lef
to-day, those cheerful conspirators go
together, found the obliging secretary
and recorded the meeting as merel!
adjourned to seven p. m. At sever
they met, carried on the game withou
us, and voted their resolution through
I don't know whether 1t can stand
but the order will be enforced till tn
courts decide otherwise, and In tn
mean time those poor devils of pen
sioners must sing for their money
OF course we couldn't have kept vi
to-day's tactics long, 80 perhaps IT.
just as well they've taken the initia
tive and put themselves in the wrong
But that's not all. At the next meet
ing they propose to order the genera
manager to reduce all wages ten pc
cent. I can't understand that move
but they will surely make It. A clerl
In my Office heard the whole thin
discussed in one of the horse stalls