The Prescott daily news., 1910-01-13

starched dress on the protesting child and put him in big clothes basket, with an empty spool for plaything
 She looked at the clock, and her sides shook with silent laughter. Eight hours for work" she said, "an' two of them gone already I'll have to hurry bit or won't get through, and it's against the rules of the union to work overtime"
 Late in the afternoon Dennis be- took himself homeward. His house had a strangely unfamiliar look, for there were no clothes drying in the back yard and Maggie was not on the mite of back porch bending over the wash tub
 Dennis opened the kitchen do | with a strange sinking at his h"a '; | he feared Maggie must be sick. N l. | in, the fire burned brightly and 'ie | floor and table were scrubbed to the | last degree of whiteness, but MaSs e | was nowhere visible. He tiptoed so,t- | ly through the bedroom which was in a like state of immaculate neatness, | and on the threshold of the little | parlor he paused, his mouth falling open in astonishment. For Maggie sat in the rocking chair and her usu- ally busy hands were folded idly in her lap. A bit of bright colored rib bon was twisted in her hair, and In her freshly ironed blue dress and starched white apron she presented so festive an appearance that lnvolun- l tarily Dennis cast his eyes over the room in search of the company he felt sure must be somewhere con- cealed. But he saw only Molly and young Dennis. awed into unaccus- toned good behavior and sitting stiff | ly on the hard little sofa with the baby between them.
 Maggie greeted him beamngly.
 Sure, and I'm on a strike, meself,' she explained. Its eight hours 1 want. an I'll do no more washing. savin yer own and the bits O things for the children"
 Dennis slumped weakly into a chair. Its not eight hours work ye've done this day. Maggie Murphy" he pro- tested
 "Indade, then an 1t is." Maggie in- sisted. 'I cooked yer breakfast. Den- his. and I gave the children a bath"
 We're never after calling that work Maggie, darlin'." Dennis objected in a tone of deep disgust.
 'Indade and it was hard work" Maggie protested. and the three on the sofa nodded vigorous assent.
 Dennis abandoned the argument.
 I'm after wonderin where the moneys to come from while the strikes on." he said gloomily. Mag gie rocked placidly, and smoothed out the crease in her apron.
 There's enough money put by to last out the week." she said An be- like by that time the strike will be off"
 But Dennis knew that she referred to the official strike, and his heart was heavy within him.
 Three days went by, and the official strike was still on: the unofficial one ditto
 Sure an it's a grand thing to only work eight hours." Maggie said. "I don't blame ye tor strikin'. Dennis. An with the washin' off my hands I feel that aisy and rested like. An I've plenty of time to see to the chil- dren. They do be the cleanest in the block these days"
 But Dennis scowled fiercely, for the question of money was becoming a serious one. and the strike wore upon his nerves.
 Nine hours work ain't too much for man," he muttered, mo, nor ten. either" And Maggie knew that she had scored point.
 The next day Dennis became diplo- matic. Tt does me heart good to see ye these days, Maggie darlin'; we're lookin' so foine an rosy like. But I am wonderin' how it'll be when the moneys all gone and yell have to stop atin. Yer good looks will be leavin' ye then, Maggie. darlin'."
 Sure an me good looks is all owin' to the rest that I'm after havin," Mag gie replied with spirit. An if I must give up the food that I'm atin' or the rest that I'm havin'. it's the food I'll be after goin' without. Den his Murphy"
 And Dennis realized that the unoffi. cial strike had come to stay.
 At supper the next day Maggie served generous helpings of sayory stew.
 Sure an ye must ate all ye can ?,