Charlevoix county herald., 1910-01-08
(Copyright. by Short Stories Co., Ltd

were the barn and hen house, and TO
the left Cotton creek, that. shrunk in
summer to a sluggish trickle between
pools, was in winter a considerable
stream, and In heavy rain overilowed
its banks with incredible suddenness.
Behind the house cotton fields
stretched away to the hills. A mile
further on the road were the Kenil-
worth mines, of which Penfield was
superintendent.
Penfield's mother was thin, listless
woman. who had passed her life in an
unremitting succession Of calico
wrappers. down at heel and draggled,
with a flock of puny children whim-
pering after her about the house and
garden.
Her son was like his father pleas
ant-tempered. sober man, and Foot
washin' Baptis'." He was alert and
bird-like in poise and movement. but
small-boned and lacking strength. He
managed his farm and the mine well
until Jim Glover came to work on the
shovel.
Jim was a Georgia cracker, lank,
tail, powerful and soon reputed ugly"
He bore, on his first appearance in
town. new.healed scar, such as
man might have whose skull had been
cracked by a pair of brass knuckles.
Perhaps the scar added to his reputa-
ton as a fighter.
Although Jims fighting was excel
lent his work was poor. Nancy
Hanks" as the negroes called the
steam shovel. fell off in speed. Pen
field spoke of this to him twice or
thrice without result; finally he told
Jim to better his work or lose his
place. Jim only scowled.
On the following day the work was
worse. Jim's fireman demonstrated,
fearing to share the blame. Jim
biazed. out on him: You shet you-all's
ugly jaw. or Ah'll knock it off'n you"
At that moment Penfield came up.
Jim Glover" he said. "Ah don't want
no shirks around here. nohow. You
kin go an git yer time"
Glover shifted his snuff stick and
laughed insultingly. "Ah amt workin
for no such small potatoes as you
You CANT fire me. Abs workin' fer
the Kenilworth Coal e Iron Comply,
and / don't take no discharge less'n
Ats from the Old Man."
That night the men fingered about
the "commissary" discussing the pros
,Dect of a fight. jim, though sullen,
was open handed and eager to share
his corn whisky, while John, though
pleasant, was considered close even
amongst a stingy people. therefore
party feeling ran high.
Now John Penfield at heart was a
coward, and when the following morn
ing he saw Jim at the shovel he
uua,led. Moreover the morning chill
was in his bones, a fog hung damp
and disheartening over the world.
The control Of his labor was at stake,
so he gathered himself together and
came up with a braggart swing.
Jim. All discharged you-all for in
competence. You walk"
INSTANTLY Jims face blackened with
wrath. "Ah hain't exhibited no in
competence, and All hain't workin' for
no damned banty." He sloughed his
coat with a swing of his shoulders
and rolled back his shirt sleeves
the burrows in his cheeks drew into
tense lines. Come on" he said.
Penfield reeled, shrinking from the
sight of fists. and knowing that he
could not knock Jim down. "Ah amt
fightin' my men," he said, Abs work
tn' them"
White-lipped attempting dignity, but
full of nervous jerks and cold al
heart. he walked to the "Commissary.'
He rang up the Office and stated his
case TO the boss. Amid buzzings and
hummings of the line he gratefully
gathered his answer.
II hold you responsible for results
and will not interfere with your men
Glover is at your disposal"
Going back to the shovel he quiv
cred with present satisfaction, bu
fear sweled in his heart with the eff
feet of physical pain. On either HAND
the sides of the cuttings rose high anC
red, with here and there glarint
white streak of rotted chirt and slate
and frequent openings to other anC
older cuttings where rains had washed
the clay into uncouth curves and gul
lies. A new fear assaulted him. HI
traversed these paths to his home a
night. their high walls cut off observa
ton and confused sound. Here a mai
might lie in wait for his foe! Think
ing on this, he came into the last al
cove the shovel had cut for itself Tn
men stood expectant. He said
Walk" and Jim took his discharg
wordless and sullen.
When Penfield went home at nool
without an appetite. his mother ques
toned him, drawing and half inter
ested. lie told her nothing. Whel
mis- supper also went untouched sh
reused herself to a more persisten
questioning. BY and by the trut