The Wrangell sentinel., 1909-10-28
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John ". Harding
Copyright. 1908. by G. w.. DiIIins-
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him aboard his rotten trading ships Then, after lie got through with the belaying pin, after he got his money, he picked up the salary list for club, and he's murdered and wounded and maimed with that. You see my wife here? She's only one of hundreds, and she suffers. It IS too bad she married me. It is too bad that she's got to do her own work. It is too bad that she's got to wash and scrub and sweat in the heat, but that mans to blame. If you gave me a fair share of what produce, if you didn't grind down, op- press and pinch, she wouldn't have to- I've worked for you five years, hard, 1 honest, and all the time you've been grinding me down, down, and thou sands of others, thousands. You know. all of you knOw-my mother-in-law and smart sister-in-law know-you've piled up your money on the blood and sweat and misery of others. That's the kind of a man you are, and you might as well know it.'
 Captain Williams had listened to this denunciation at first in utter amaze ment. Then his shaggy eyebrows had knitted together, and his little eyes had narrowed to slits, while the blood had spread over his face in a deep glow through the veins that swelled out like cords on his neck and throat.
 There ain't no one ever said them things to me and got away with it." he thundered, clinching his fists and gathering all his tremendous strength as he rose to crush his aecuser.
 Mrs. Harris and Beth sprang up in great alarm, and at the captains ter rifying voice and his ferocious as- pect Brooks shrank hack. Smith stood impressive, but watching Williams, to- ward whom he had been edging. Emma had stepped quickly between the captain and her husband.
 "Please please. captain - for my sake" she pleaded.
 T don't care-let him come on," cried Brooks doggedly, but his voice faltering.
 Williams gazed at the sweet, frail woman standing imploringly before him, and as he clZed his muscles grad ually relaxed the wrath faded from his eyes. and finally the corners of his mouth twitched in a faint smile,
 "All right, Mrs Brooks" he said gently. T almost forgot where I was. I apologize"
 Smith, his hands in his pockets, moved away across the room.
 "Joe. you know it's your home-our home." eXpostulated his wife. T-I-fotgot. Excuse me-" he nut 1 tered sulkily, looking ashamed.
 Smith spoke up, his winning smile lighting his face:
 You know. it's been ar all fired hot day-just tie kind of weather when about every motheI's son Is on edge. Now. Joe, he slipped q ccg. and that sort of put the whole confounded ma chine out of gear, including the cap, tain. But now, you see, it's just all forgotten"
 Possibly. As far as I'm concerned must be going" declared Mrs. Har- ris codly.
 Indeed, yesr' chirped Beth.
 Brooks now, his rage having spent itself and his bravado fizzled out, was almost crying.
 'I-l"- he began.
 But the words choled in his throat, and, picking up his hat, he hastened out of the room and the flat.
 "Will you please take us away, cap- tain?" requested Mrs. Harris.
 Just a moment" he said. Mrs. Brooks Pm almighty sorry about what happened just now"
 "I-I'd rather you wouldn't speak of it," she told him.
 Perhaps l have been q little hard" he said earnestly and apologetically. 'I. want you all to understand that I've lived hard life with hard peo- pie. Since the day shipped before the mast in a north Pacific sealer I learned what a cuff and blow was; what rotten grub, the scuryy and all them things meant. and knew that the only thing between them things and comfort, decency and the respect of folks was money. 1 started to get money, and maybe I have been a lit tie hard-just little hard" ,,
 "No one would call you easy. cap- tain," agreed Smith. .,7 T
 Anyway. Mrs Brooks,". continued Williams. ''Joe keeps his job. and it ain't going to make . bit of difference between us" .;' ii. a .s,
 n"Not the .least?' she asked. with wonder. 't. -