Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-01-07

~ (
work and suffer, for that nasty, mig
gardly salary and this beast. this wild
animal of Williams. keeps us all
starving-yes, starving. Don't I de-
serve something q little better? Do
you know what l could do? | could
steal thousands, and no one would
ever know it,"
"Joew she calculated greatly shock
cd
"Oh. I'm not going to do it; but. with
all this responsibility, when l ask for
money l don't get it-not a dollar. You
do. Jimsy: you're single and you can
quit. And then Willams-what does
he do? Comes around here to my
wife with my mother in law-d-n him
and rubs it in
Emma looked at him pleadingly.
''Joe. you mustn't. Captain Williams
means well. but
He turned upon her savagely.
That's 1.-THE means well. He
meant we'll when he was south Pa
cific trader. He meant we'll when he
treated his crew like dogs He meant
well when he'd kill sailor with as
much thought as a spider kills fly.
He meant well when he cheated ma
tives, murdered men. struggled China
men into this country. sunk vessels
for insurance. He meant we'll when
he came east. bought the Latin Ameri-
can company and put your father out
of business. and now-now that he
has his money. his millions maybe. he
means well when he refuses to give
his men fair share of what they pro-
duce. Means we'll? Yes. he does
not!r'
"Jce, are you crazy?" demanded his
wife. alarmed and little angry at his
outburst
well. there's a whole lot of truth
in what Joe says" put in Smith con.
ciliatingly. you see, Williams did
start out as a captain of a south Pa
| cific trader. but. like most of them
fellows. guess he stole good deal
more Than he traded. He had the rep.
| utation of being the strongest man on
|
! n mans arm with as much ease as
you'd snap a straw. He's harsh. VIII
! iiams is-harsh! When he came east
he got control of the Latin-American
He loved money. and he got Utmost
any way he could Yes. Joe ought to
have mere. that's sure. He ought to
have more"
You know | should" went on
Brooks. somewhat Modified by his
friends acquiescence and support and
drawing bulky pocketbook from the
inside pocket of his waistcoat. 1--WE
got control of all the money of the
company. That's my job Why. here,
this alone is the afternoon collections,
| too late to put in the safe. nearly
$1,000 more than twice as much as
get in a year. could take it all and
then not be caught or at least not for
] months, but
why. Joe, I'm surprised!' his wife
broke in
'Of course Joe wouldn't take cent
that don't belong to him." said Smith.
81 know that Williams does too. So
guess he figures him safe and don't
see the least bit of use in paying him
more
But won't stand it!' Brooks de-
clared, waxing wroth again and fling
ing himself in his chair. why do you
get raises. Jimsy? You've been ad
vanced time and time again."
Lord, ! don't know" he replied. 81
just tell the old fellow that calculate
I'm worth more money. Come across
or we SEPARATE l say. and so far he's
always come"
~ was so glad to hear Of your last
good luck" remarked Emma sincerely
look of regret came over Smiths
face.
Il only wish Joe had got 1t instead
of me-" he said.
Brooks jumped to his feet.
You don't need to wish that
Smith," he cried excitedly. I'm nc
object of charity-no. amt. Ant
you're like all the rest of the capital
istic crowd-grind, grind, grind. Well
look out, there's going to be II smashul
you understand? A smashup, and yol
all gO-milliOnaireS. tOadieS and-well
that's all I've got to say"
He snatched his hat from hook II
the hall and went out without another
word, slamming the front door behind
him so heavily that the glasses on the
sideboard ratified.
Emma gaZed at Smith in blank dis
may.
Il can't understand joe" she said
shaking her head in worry and per
pleXity. Hes growing so morose ant
discontinued"
Its funny, amt it." observed Smitl
retiectively. "Joe's just rushed out
filed up to the throat with anarchy
socialism, smashups and all that stuff
almost ready to throw bomb"
"Nonsense"
HE is. yet if Williams had raisel
him today $40 week he would hav,
been IL firm believer in capital and tn
way 1t works."