Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-09-04

with passion. goaded to a white beat
OF fury. reckless Of everything. muir
der in his heart. and hurting his hat
10 the door. faced the company.
1T does seem so. doe 49, he fairly
Kissed. going over t.. his employer.
I'm glad you think so And why
hasn't she? VIII you tell me that?
Speak, VIII YOU tel me thatg III tell
you why. you slave driver"
Mrs. Harris and Beth sat specifies
and pale. but Smith rose.
STEADY. Joe. boy he admonished.
Emma bad hurried to her husband
and grasped his arm.
"Oh. Joe. don't" she implored. "You
DON'T
He flung her roughly from him.
Let me aloner' he shouted and turn
ed to Williams again. qulvering with
rage. do YOU know why she hasn'tg"
he continued. We'll. I'll tell YOU all.
It's because this man amt .on the
square. lie began by cheating and
numbering niggers who worked for
him aboard his rotten trading ships
Then. after he got through with the
Delaying pin. after he got his money.
he picked up the salary list for q club.
and he's murdered and wounded and
manned with that You see my wife
here2 she's only one OF hundreds. and
she suffers. 10 is too bad she married
me. It Is too bad that she's got 10 do
her own work. IL IS too bad that she's
got 90 wash and scrub and sweat i'm
the heat. but that mans 70 blame. II
you save me a fair share Of what I
produce. II YOU didn't grind down. or
press and pinch, she wouldn't have to-
I've worked for YOU FIVE years. hard.
honest. and all the time you've been
grinding me down. down. and thou
sands OF others. thousands. You know.
81 Of YOU know-my mother-in-law
and smart sistcr-in-law know-you've
piled up your money ON the blood and
sweat and misery Of others. That's
the kind OF q man you are. and you
might as well know f."
Captain Williams had listened TO this
denunciation M first I'm utter amaze
ment Then his shaggy eyebrows had
knitted together and his little eyes
had narrowed go Sits. while the blood
had spread over his face IN a deep
glow through the veins that sweIed
out Ike cords ON his neck and throat.
There amt no one ever said them
things 20 me and got away with f."
ne Numbered. clinching his fists and
gathering an his tremendous strength
as he rose to crush his accuscr.
Mrs. Harris and Beth spraug up I'm
great alarm. and az the captains ter
rifying voice and his ferocious as
pect Brooks shrank back Smith stood
impressive. but watching williams. to-
ward whom he had been edcing.
Emma had stepped quickly between
the captain and her husband.
PLEASE please. captain - for my
sake she pleaded
Il don't care-let him come on"
cried Brooks dogeedly. bat his voice
Williams cazed az the sweet. fran
woman standing imploruely before
him. and as he gazed his muscles grad
ually relaxed. the wrath faded from
his eyes. and finally the corners OF his
mouth twitched in faint smile.
"An right Mrs. Brooks" he said
gently 81 almost forgot where was.
] apologize "
Smith, his hands Ga his pockets.
moved away across the room.
Joe. you know It's your home--Our
home" cxuoStulated bis wife
'I-I-forCot. Excuse me-" be NUT
tered sulkiy. looking ashamed.
smith spoke up, bis winning smile
lighting his face:
You know. It's been an all fred hot
day-just the kind OF weather when
about every mothers son is on edge.
Now. Joe. he slipped n cog. and that
sort OF put the whole COMPOUNDED 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 coldly
Indeed. yes" chlrped Beth.
Brooks now, his rage having spent
itself and his bravado fzzled out. was
almost crying.
II lie began
But the words choked In his throat.
and, picking up his hat. he FASTENED
out OF the room and the fat.
'Wm you please take us away. cap
tain?' requested Mrs Harris.
Just n moment" D. said. Mrs.
Brooks. I'm almighty sorry about
what happened just now"
lid rather you wouldn't speak OF
t." she told him.
Perhaps ! have been a little hard"
he said earnestly and apologetically.
Il want you all 10 understand that