The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-07-15

you know l told you if it hapnene,
again you'd have to go. The wor]
demands a clear brain and a stead,
hand. You had neither this morn
ing"
I've held out for eleven weeks
SIT. | am cutting it out. If you'f
give me one more chance-there ain,
scrap OF work anywhere else to be
had till spring, you know that v'sel,
and there's Jennie and the little
one. 1t won't happen again, swear
it,"
I must keep my word, Peter. And
oont put it as if l were responsible
for your trouble"
You will be if my baby starves"
deny it. You should have
thought of your baby last night when
you were out with the boys"
You won't give me another try?'
Cant"
Holding the door for Peter to pass
out, he was touched in spite of him
SELF by the despairing misery in the
man face, although his self-upright-
ness admitted of no relenting., But
when Peter turned and shook his
great fist in helpless rage, Denton
merely laughed as at petulant child,
kindlfng the first spark of hatred to-
ward his fellow man that Peters
kindly nature had ever known.
Denton's way to his car led past
Peters cottage, and in the doorway
stood Peters young wife, frail girl,
holding a fretting child wrapped in
an old blanket.
Hush, honey!" she was saving.
"Dadda's comm soon; mamma an
baby1l watch" The child's wan,
tear-stained little face puckered into
laugh as he jumped and crowed in
her arms, and her own patient face
frightened as Peter came into sight
down the path. But his head was
bent and his step tagging
Denton had a queer sinking feel
ing at thought of that home coming.
The plight of these two had appealed
to him simply as an added phase of
mental discomfort to Peter, deserved
at that, not as the actual physical
suffering and need of girl and a
baby.
He thought of them again when his
little daughter Hazel climbed into
his lap to repeat her English lesson.
His child had never known the
of a childish whim.
THE quality of mercy is not
strained she recited. 1T droppeth
as the gentle rain from heaven. 1t
blesseth-it blesseth-
you're not listening, father!"
ooh! 1t is twice blessed" prompt
ed Denton.
ut is twice blessed 1t blessed
him who gives and him who takes"
Mercy" The word irritated Den
ton. Justice was his fetch, and he
could not reconcile the two.
when mercy seasons Justice"
Hazel went on.
Denton ended the lesson with I'M
usual Impotence.
Falling asleep in his chair later,
he dreamed of a little white casket
n which lay Peters child; and then
t was Haze's face that was pinched
Ind cold and still, and her little body
hat had starved, and Hazel's dead
mother was there, moaning and
her hands; all his fault
somehow.
The mental agony awoke him, his
orehead damp, his throat aching,
ust as the telephone rang sharply.
The Waterman reported gas leak at
he works and Denton hurried to the
lace to investigate. First entering
he roundhouse where the inf1amma-
lie celluloid was kept, he found the
lace sitting. Turning hastily to |
cave and notify the gas plant he I
ound the exit blocked by Peters big
orm, revolver barrel staring him I
a the face.
rye don't leave till y promise me a
he job back" he said, excited, but +
etermined. "N y can't breathe I
ere long. en- shoot" t
"You dare not. Out of the way!"
ried Denton, wrathfully. With l.
uick blow he struck up Peters arm, e
ending the revolver crashing onto t
le cement floor yards away, splitting b
D shower of sparks. There was a s
laring flash, a roar of ignited gas v
nd exploding celluloid, and the glass "
>pf lifted entirely off and fell in h
{attered atoms about the swaying t
ais. IL
Hours later, lying in Peters bed. o