The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-01-06

John w. Harding
Copyright, 1908. BY G. W. DillinS-
ham Co.

"Please don't" entreated Emma.
greatly distressed. "It's my affair, and,
besides. before people,
you might say the captains almost
one Of the family since your father
died." put in her mother. 81 knew
you should never have married Joe
that he couldn't take care Of you the
way he ought"
TITS too late now" said Beth, shrug-
cling her shoulders. captain. don't
you think Emma should have more?'
"Well, Mrs. Brooks must know her
own MIND" he replied. your father
when he worked for me always had a
way of his own. But It does seem as
| If she should at least have a hired
girl and more than four rooms to a
fiat, butt
Brooks strobe into the room, livid
| with passion. goaded to a white heat
of fury. reckless of everything, MUIR
| der in his heart. and. hurting his hat
to the floor. faced the company.
1T does seem so, does it," he fairly
Kissed. going over to his employer.
''I'm glad you think so. And why
hasn't she? Will you tell me that ?
Speak! Will you tell me that? I'll tell
you why, YOU slave driver!"
| Mrs. Harris and Beth sat speeches.
and pale. but Smith rose
STEADY, Joe, boyr' he admonished.
| Emma had 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. quivering with
rage. "Do you know why she hasn't?'
he continued. well, III tell you ALL
It's because this man amt on the
square, He began by cheating and
numbering niggcrs who worked for
him aboard his rotten trading ships.
Then, after lie got through with the
Delaying pin, after he got his money
he picked up the salary list for club.
and he's murdered and wounded and
MANNED with that. You see my wife
here? She's only one of hundreds. and
she suffers. 1t is too bad she married
me. 1t is too bad that she's got to do
her own work. 1t 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 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,
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
denunciat ton at first in utter amaze
ment. Then his shaggy eyebrows had
knitted together. and his little eyes
! had narrowed to Sits. while the blood
had spread over his face in deep
glow through the veins that swelled
out like cords on his neck and throat
'There amt no one ever said them
things to me and got away with it,"
he Numbered. clinching his fists and
gathering all his tremendous strength
as he rose to crush his accuser.
Mrs. Harris and Beth sprang up in
great alarm, and at 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 edging
Emma had stepped quickly between
the captain ard her husband.
"Please please. captain - for my
sake" she pleaded.
II don't care-let him come on"
cried Brooks doggedly. but his voice
faltcring.
Williams gazed at the sweet, frail
woman standing imploringly 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.
"All right. Mrs. Brooks" he said
gently. Il almost forgot where I was.
! apologize"
Smith, his hands IN his pockets.
moved away across the room.
Joe. you know it's your home-our
T-I-forgot. Excuse me-" he NUT
tered sulkily. looking ashamed.
Smith spoke up. his winning smile
lighting his face:
You know. it's been an all fired hot
day-just the kind Of weather when
about every mothers son is on edge
Now. Joe. he slipped 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. yesr' chirped Beth.
Brooks now. his rage having spent
itself and his bravado fzzled out. was
almost crying