The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-09-07
CONTINUED from last fssue.)
CHAPTER XIV. 49,
AN. ENCOUNTER.

:. .. -. AN ENCOUNTER, ",
The affair rested. A year slipped
away. Madam Rumor began to say
Floss Henry and Finney Davis were
going to marry. ','' '...~%t
But Floss only permitted his atten-
ton In public, never at her home. This
fact, however, made no difference to
the wide-mouthed Madam, who also
said Mel had been Tilted. He heard
the untruthful report, but for Floss
sake would not explain. Let the story
go in her favor, that was all right.
One day Mel and Finney met In a.
restaurant. For some time the cool
indifference between them, 1iever men,
toned but well understood, had been
growing deeper seated. This meeting
publicly developed the existing feeling
between them. v =.
There were some p}ain-spoken
words before Mel said this:
Il say you are meddling in my af-
fairs where you have no business"
II know my own business" said
F1nney, the defiant air being but too
apparent. Others In the restaurant
turned to look at them. The loud
words drew attention.
you have taken 1t on yourself to
Observation-Disclosures the way he put it
ito circulate that had girl at the
other end Of the line"
You seem to know all about it,
tauntingly.
Then you have busted yourself
telling other tales on me that are not
true.''
Il don't know 50 WE'LL" somewhat
nervously.
Il know you don't. You don't want
to know. It wouldn't suit your pur-
pose. Any man who will eavesdrop
as you have done is no man at all
he's a nothing-a mere cipher with
the hole punched out-that's what you
are.'
anyone who says I eavesdropped
is a liar and the truth is not in him."
He had scarcely uttered the word
until Mel's fist, planted squarely be-
tween the eyes and over the fattened
nose, persuaded him to measure his
length upon the floor.
There was but little hustle or blus-
ter about it. Others at once inter-
fered and Mel was hustled away.
1t was over in second, but Finney
was fully impressed just what had
happened. It was public and that
stung him deeply. He was a great
stickler for having things seem right
on his part to the public. He talked
good deal and very loudly about it.
h11t he vi ~ ho
knew that Mel, a very inoffensive sort
OF fellow, must have been provoked
by Something very unusual and very
exasperating. However he was not
entirely exonerated, because of the
public manner Of the encounter. II
was said the trouble might have been
settled elsewhere with less disgrace
When Floss heard Of it she said tc
herself that she knew Mel was NEAR
and high-strung and it was only ar
exhibition Of what he was. And YET
she admired him for his pluck and fol
tn defense of his good name. She
deserved. She couldn't be satisfied
with Ffnney. She didn't care about
his attentions to Josie; she rather
encouraged them. It was just az
Josie had said-she was bound to Me
! by silken cord Of love that could no,
| be broken. She had already began tt
regret the quarrel and abuse her in.
| dependence that rather than yield haC
broken. She now considered this will.
full element in her as the unwise cause
Of all her trouble. Many a time she
took a good cry" alone, and she could
hardly tell why. She was "all tori
up" now-worse than at first. The
| defiance Of the first rupture had mel
| lowed down to state of inexpressible
pain. Something tugged fearfully al
her heart all the time.
AS for Mel-wel1 he went on az
usual with his work before the all.
consuming crate and nobody was any
the wiser as to his feelings OF
thoughts. He prudently kept his owr
counsel. There was nobody in all thu
world he loved as he did Floss. The
tie that bound him to her was strong
forged by the gods themselves. L
| pleased him to think an everlasting
her. They were sacred. Broken an6
yoL llOL UTOheIl-OIl1y Interrupted. l.
was happy thought.
One day Josie met him on thu
street, and he turned and walked will
her at her request.
| I've something to tell you,' sh,
said, smiling.
"An right" he responded cheerily.
mo use to be mealy- mouthed abou
it," y she began. ITO make a. lont
story short, when have you seen F1os
! last"
"F1oss!" In sharp surprise. Then
20, Floss and I-well, Floss Is hoeinl
her own row Alone" laughing idly t,
divert Josie. He caught her step. Sh
caught the rear ,of her Dress skirt
Il 'F1oss-she amt as mean as 70,
think she u.s."
Mean! I never thought she wa
mean"
ITO be plain, do you think she dom
care for your
II don't think-I know it,
mo you DON'T
well, If you say SO. I don't: blu
then / do all the same" and h
laughed to make his words appear q
a. joke. Nevertheless her implicatio