The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-08

ley. handing his papers to him. AT
first Holt dil not understands: then he
began to whistle softly and fell TO
checking Off slc various cuts with his
forcfinger.
What do you think of the job. BY.
ROM inquired Oakley.
We'll, I'm glad | don't get laid of.
that's sure. say just bear in mind
/ that I'm going to be married this
/ summer"
You needn't worry; only didn't
know That
We'll. please don't forget it, Mr..
Oakley"
Holt ran over the cuts again. Then
he asked:
who's going to stand for this? You
or the old man? | hear he was In
town last night"
Il stand for it. but of course he ap-
proves
"I'll bet he approves" and the as
sistant treasurer grinned. This is the
sort Of thing that suits him right down
to the ground
How about the hands? Do you
know if they are members of any un.
ion:"
"No, but there'll be lively times ahead
for you. They are a great lot of kick.
ers here
"Wait until get through. haven't
touched the shops yet. That's to come
later. I'll skin closer before I'm done"
Oakley got up and lit his pipe. THE
plant must make some sort of Il show
ing. We can't continue at the rate we
have been going. l suppose you know
what sort of shape it would leave the
town in if the shops were closed.'
Every poor shape, should say. Why.
it's the money that goes in and out Of
this office twice month that keeps the
town alive. 1t couldn't exist q day
without that"
''Then it behooves us to see to it that
nothing happens to the shops or road.
am sorry for the men am laying off,
but it can't be helped
Il see you are going to chuck Hoad-
ley out Of his good thing at the juno
ton. If he was half white he'd gone
long ago. He must lay awake nights
figuring how he can keep decently
busy"
How do you think it's going to
work.
'.Oh, it will work all right, because 1t
has to, but they'll all be cussing you,"
with great good humor. whats the
matter anyhow? Did the old man
throw fit at the size of the payroll?
Not exactly, but he came down here
with his mind made up to sell the road
to the NJ. and W."
You don't say SOL
Il talked him out of that, but we
must make a showing, for he's good
and tired and may dump the whole
business any day
We'll, if he does that there'll be no
marrying or giving in marriage for me
this summer. 1t will be just like a
Shaker settlement where l am con-
cerned.'
Dan laughed. "Oh, you'd be n' right.
Holt You'd get something c or the
NJ. and W. would keep you on"
Il don't know about that. A new
management generally means a clean
sweep all round, and my berth's a
pretty good one"
In some manner a rumor of the
changes Oakley proposed making did
get abroad, and he was promptly made
aware that his popularity in Antioch
was thing of the past. He was re-
garded as an oppressor from whom
some elaborate and wanton tyranny
might be expected. While General
Cornish suffered their inefficiency, his
easy going predecessors had been con-
tent to draw their salaries and let it go
at that. a line of conduct which An
tioch held to be entirely proper. This
new man, however, was clearly an up
start, cursed with an insane and de-
structive ambition to earn money for
the road. Suppose it did not pay. Cor
nish could 60 down into his pocket for
the difference, just as he had always
done.
What the town did not know and
what it would not have believed even
If it had been told was that the gen.
eral had been on the point of selling,
change that would have brought hard
ship to every one. The majority of the
men in the shops owned their own
homes, and these homes represented
the savings of years. The sudden exo-
dus of two or three hundred families
meant of necessity widespread ruin.
Those who We're forced to go away
would have to sacrifice everything they
| possessed to get away. while those who
remained would be scarcely better off.
/ But Antioch never considered such a
| radical move as even remotely posi-
4 BILE. 1t counted the shops a fixture.
| They had always been there, and for
! this sufficient reason they would al
] ways remain.
The days wore on, one very like an.
! other, with their spring heat and leth.
argy. Occasionally Oakley saw Miss
Emory on the street to bow to. but not
to speak with. While he was grateful
for these escapes he found himself
thinking of her very often. He fancied
and he was not far wrong-that she
was finding Antioch very dull. lie
wondered, 100, if she was seeing much