Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-02
TCOntinued.1

he had / .s.l the great,
rambling buildings of the old-fashioned
mandatory at high speed and high
| enthusiasm. His manner had been
such that his mere appearance had
been signal for the stoppage of the
wheels of industry and the gathering
| OF eager groups about him to listen to
the news which one could not doubt he
bore, and when the nature of that
news became known generally, the
much-relieved workmen. the working
women, and even the basket girls and
bundle-boys throughout the plant. be-
came instantly demonstrative of great
Joy.
The first cheer. that which had
mercifully interrupted Clara's inqui-
sition of Broadway on the subject of
his friend, was followed by another
and another as the news spread. A
gradual cessation of the grinding roar
which was apparent, even in the office
building, when the plant was operat-
Ing, showed that here and there
and everywhere machines were being
stopped by those who wished to leave
them SO that they might hear the
news.
The o1icebuilding group stood spell
bound, listening. None knew what had
occurred. They might have been
alarmed had the uproar been less un-
mistakably enthusiastic.
What is it?" Mrs. Spotswood asked
excitedly.
Il don't know" was Josie's answer.
Clara certainly knew nothing of the
nature of what might be happening,
and none was further than Broadway
from guess that what he had told
Higgins, in a sentence wherein anger
very freely mingled with the news of
his determination to retain and op-
crate the gum plant, could have been
accepted as good reason for such a
really notable demonstration of the
Joy Of gum makers.
1t was the Judge, at this instant,
bustling in, who made the situation
clear to them.
Great Scott" he said. agIow with
genial satisfaction. Talk about ex-
element! The whole plant is In an
uproar"
What is it, judge?" the owner of
the plant inquired.
why, didn't you send message out
there by Higgins?"
Er-yes, did"
We'll, that's. what they're cheering
about. The men are yelling themselves
hoarse and the boys are dancing with
JOY" The Judge was beaming like a
full moon with gray tufts of hair above
Its ears. You'd think Bedlam had
broken loose. They're yelling for you,
Broadway Come out and let them see
you"
Broadway was in state of panic, of
blue funk, of sheer, unspeakable af-
fright. He ducked and looked about
as If endeavoring to find that avenue
through which escape would be easiest.
No; not now, please" he begged
pitifully.
They might have let it go at that
had not the cheering within the works
broken out afresh.
Listen to that the judge adjured
him, and urged him with happy hand
upon his elbow.
His wife went to his assistance. "Oh.
do go out and say something, Broad.
way!"
YES" the Judge insisted, come and
make speech"
L can't say anything" said the mis-
cradle and frightened Broadway. "T,
never made speech in my life!"
Josie, smiling gently, turned from
them. When again she faced them she
held in her hand the paper she had
thrust so recently into that sacred,
secret place. Read this to them"
she suggested.
He took 1t, but he did not see whence
1t had been extracted, although AIRS.
Spotswood did. The eyes of matrons
of her age are sympathetically attuned
to SIGNS Of this sort, seeing them when
others miss them. She smiled at
Josie, Josie caught her eye and blushed
furiously.
"Oh, come on" The judge now took
q nrmer hold on him. "It will make
them all feel good"
His faithful wife went to his aid.
She took the other arm of the acutely
miserable youth, and between them
they propelled him from the room.
through the short length of a wide
hallway stacked on either side with
boxes full Of chewing gum already
packed for shipme ent, through breath
lessly hot engine-room, and into the
main room upon the factory's ground
floor.
Their appearance was the signal for
an uproar of applause. The loudest
cheering Of the previous outburst was
surpassed so notably that, by compari-
son, 1t had been whispering. In the
enthusiasm Of the moment men, wom-
en- and the younger workers Of the
force lost all sense of reserve.
Broadway ceased to be that terrible
thing, new and untried boss, who
must be looked at carefully, addressed
with caution and regarded with re-
spect made up principally of fear. He
was young; he had been fair to them;
he was their economic savior.
They went mad, and, at first permit
ting him no opportunity to make the
speech which he SO feared, seized him
as IL he had been the winning player
at football game and bore him round
Il.