Evening star., 1914-02-10

the right to assume all risk of operating
an unguarded machine. and no statute
could deprive her of that freedom. for
which men had fought and died in ages
past Her very act in keeping at work
at the unguarded machine really consti-
tuted contract with her employer to
waive all claims for resulting damages
The decision of the lower court was re-
verseR
| Anne listened. almost stunned. as she
| heard the long efforts of herself and SO
many others thus set at naught jn
| five minutes, and by what seemed to
| her strange so bizarre an interpre-
| tation of the law: SO confusing a defense
| of the rights of labor. She gazed around,
| half dazedly. and an enlightening flash
assaulted her inner vision. For one
hdeous instant the veil was torn from
civilization. She saw the quiet Splendor
of this room. the opulent dignity of those
men in robes. resting on and supported
by the meager forms of Katie Reed and
her like.
The iron entered her soul. The
churches call such things conversion,
when the whole course of r mans life
IS changed by one sudden burst or en-
lightenrnent. But it happens outside of
the church as well as in Anne knew
that i'll that instant her life and her
viewpoint of life were changed.
Sixteen-year-old Katie Reed, with the
stub wrist hanging at her side. knew
nothing at all about the matter when the
decision was finished. She raised her big
t.blue eyes auestioningly to Miss leighton
Anne clasped the girls cape about her
shoulders.
Come home. Katie. she said chok-
ingly: TN tell you about it when We
get out
But in the confusion of the courts ad-
journment Robert came hurrying toward
them. his face radiant with pleasure and
enthusiasm
claimed as he grasped her hand eX-
uItantly II tell you I've worked to
knock out that law. This victory means
y lot for me-for us. Wasn't that
great decision?
Anne withdrew her hand ana IooAed d.
her lover.
DO You mean to say said she. that
you were counsel for the CraIner Com
pany?"
with us. the United Employers In
surance Company. you know We handie
all their damage suits. This is the big
gest case our company has ever turned
over to me yet; the biggest, because 1t
meant so much to all our clients to nave
that law declared unconstitutional. It's
step up for me. I Tell you. Anne.
what's the matter with you? Aren't you
glad / won?
Anne passed her hand across her eyes
Il don't know" she said. coldly. Il
can't talk about it now l must go home
with Katie Reed. No. l don't wish you to
come with me- 1 will talk with You about
it this evening.
And all the congratulations of his con-
freres could not prevent young Haistyne
from leaving the building with the light
of enthusiasm quenched in his face.
But | cannot understand you. he said
that evening, as he stood before her in
the beautiful library of her own home.
the soft freight glntng on the brightly
tinted books and draperies. 1t was the
room in which he had proposed to her
and had been accepted. and was espe-
cially dear to them both. Anne. III 4 long.
clinging white gown, sat in q great chair
of dark leather, and Halstyne stood be-
fore her, his face set and hard.
What am 1 to infer" said he. You
have claimed to love me for two years
and yet you side with this unknown girl
against me. Who is the girl? What is
she to YOU? Why should you place her
interests against mine? And in the most
important case / have vet had. a case
affecting great manufacturing interests.
case after which many older lawyers
congra tulated me today upon my victory
you seem to blame me. What does it
mean? Are You tired of me, and seeking
to break our engagement
Anne did not answer for a while, but
sat steadfastly studying him.
Robert she said. finally, is this the
means 10 which you look for advance
ment in your profession? Defending en-
ployers against suits of persons injured in
their establishments. and getting laws
passed for the protection of workers in
dangerous trades declared unconstitu-
tioTlal?
Why. certainly said Halstyne;
that's the business of the company by
which l am employed. We insure en-
ployers against the damage suits of en-
ployes You knew it. I have talked to
you of my cases a number OF times
Il didn't understand said Anne
We offered the girl $50 continued
Halstyne; that would have paid all her
expenses. She refused it. and now she
will get nothing. I don't think the peo-
pie who prompted her TO that course
were her friends. I suppose it was some
shyster lawyer after half the damages.
I'm surprised to know it was your set
tement crowd. You'll grow more prac-
tical. Anne. after you've seen more of
the world. The girl had no ground at all
The guard was right there. All she had
to do was to adjust it,
But if she had adjusted it," said
Anne, lit would have limited the output
of her machine. and she would have been
We're discharged. so she knew"
Very well. them said Halstyne, cool
ly, when she chose to operate unguard-
ed machinery she deliberately assumed
all risk. By that act she contracted
with her employer to waive damages in
case of injury
But, Robert" said Anne, leaning for
ward with hands clasped nervously, "is
there really freedom of captraot 1pban