The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-13

| to go to work to support my mother, to pay Sis and her back, don't you see? We came here. got job, well-paid one, too. through Endy's fa- ther, reporting on the condition of the mills-a kind of examiner. And the job was for Keatcham."
 Why did you take 1t? know, though. You did it to familiarize him with your appearance. so that he would not be warned when your chance came"
 How did you know that?"
 "A man knew in the Philippines a Filipino-was wronged by a white man, who took his wife and threw her aside when he tired of her Tine girl killed herself Her husband watched his chance for a year, found 1t at last thanks to that very fact that his victim wasn't on guard against him and sent his knife home. He'd been that fellows servant picked the dead man up. That Filipino looked as you looked a minute ago"
 What became of the Filipino?" in- quired his listener.
 The colonel had not told the story quite without intention. He argued subconsciously, that If Mercer were a good sort under all. he would have movement of sympathy for more cruelty wronged man than he if not, he would drive ahead 10 his purpose, whatever that might be- His keen eyes looked little more gentle as he answered.: "He poisoned himself. The best way out, reckon. l should hate to have had him shot after I knew the story. But there was really no option But I'm interrupting you You did your work well and won Keatchams confidence?"
 He isn't very confiding man. didn't see him often. My dealings were with Atkins. He didn't know that had found him out; he thought that he had only to explain his two names, and expected gratitude for his warning, as he called 1t. He is slimy; but l was able to repay little of my score with him. 1 was employed by more than Keatcham, and l saw a good many industrial back-yards. Just chance. l came on a clew, and Endy Tracy and l worked it up together Atkins was selling information to Keatchams enemies. We did not make out a complete case, but enough of one to make Keatcham suspect him. and at the right time. But that hap uened later--you see. l don't know how to tell story ever with so much at stake" He pulled out his handker- chief, and Winter caught the gleam of the beads on his saiiew forehead. Tt was this way" he went on. At first l was only looking about for safe chance to kill him, and to kill that snake of an Atkins. but then it grew on me; 1t was all too easy punish ment-iust quick death, when his victims had years of misery. wanted hirs to wade through the hell I had to wade through. I wanted him to know why he was condemned Then it was began to collect just the cases l l knew about-just one little section of the horrible swath of agony and hu- initiation and poverty and sin he and 1 his crowd had made--the one 1 knew every foot of, because I'd gone over it every night I wasn't SO dead tired I had to sleep. God do you know what l it is to have the people who used to be running out of their houses just to say howdy to you, curse you for a swindler or fool or turn out of one street and down the other not to pass you? Did you ever have a little wom- an who used to give you frosted cake when you were a boy push her crape veil off her gray hair and hand you the 1 envelope with her stock, with your 1 handwriting on the envelope, and beg 1 you--trying so hard not to cry, twas worse than if she had--beg you to lend ner just half her interest money--and you couldn't do it? Did you-neve- mind. l said l waded through he'll | 1 didi Not I alone-that was the worst-all the people that had trusted mel And just that some rich men should be richer. Why should they have the lions share? The lions share belongs to the lion. They are nothing but jackals. They're meaner | than jackals. for the jackals take what the lion leaves, and these fellows steal the lions meat away from him. We made honest money; we paid honest wages; folks had more paint on their | houses and more meat in their store | houses, and wore better clothes Sun | day, and there were more schoolhouses and fewer saloons. and the negroes | were learning a trade instead of loaf ing. The whole county was the better off for our prosperity, and there isn't mill in the outht-and l know what | I'm talking about---there isn't a shop or mine that's as well run or makes l as big an output now as it did when 1 the old crowd was in. You find it that way everywhere; and that's what is going to break things down. We saw to all the little affairs; they were our affairs don't you know? But Keatch | am's new men draw their salaries and let things slide. Yet Keatcham is a