Evening star., 1915-03-28

behind the closing door than he strobe to the desk
of Miss Evans. why Nellie, you don't really mean
it!' he asked with concern
"Surely do" she replied with an injured air
"Gong to leave he exclaimed "ust when
all going to have such good time together'
"Well, Eddie, you spoke abominably to me- Why
did you try to humliae me before those people?" Her
voice choked and there indications of the
fringed ashes that she raised to him.
"Oh say he cried in distressed tone a can't
have you 60 But you know, Nellie, this business that
I've got under way is serious"
WELL she hesitated, and the cupids bows returned,
"if you promise to behave yourself"
The door at that instant reopened.
THE Office attendant entered with look of alarm on
his face "Mr. Wheeler" he said, "theres dele
cation of those |. W. W. outside and they say they're
going to you"
"How many there?' asked the president curiousy.
"How do they look?' ,n .-s
"Pretty Wild" was the uneasy reply. "There's about
eight ten of them"
"Have they leader?" asked Wheeler.
"Yes Sir, he's sent in his name,' and the attendant
extended card:
Judge Ben Upton,
Black Pike, Pa.
"Ah' observed the president as he returned to his
desk. "Have him come in; but keep the Others out"
"Yes, Sir" The attendant opened the door and mo-
toned to the visitor Judge Upton entered. The presi
dent received him with much cordialty
Il am pleased to shake hands with you, Judge" he
exclaimed. "You seem like old friend to me- because
have closely followed your creditabe work, both in
your spoken words and in your writings Indeed, l
wish you to believe that am in deep sympathy with
efforts toward closer understanding of the living
forces in modern Society.'
The Judge was obviously unrnoved. His thin figure
maintained its rigdity, his eyes became narrow,
and the thin lips of his mouth wdened into mirhless
and uncordal smile. "Your reception, Sir" he began
gravely, "raises hope that had not entertained be-
fore. 1t is belief that you of the acts
of your agents at the Black Pike Mines A man who
processes the humanitarian principles you have uttered
cannot be conscious of the enornities that being
perpetrated in the mining communities of the Penn
Railroad" Judge Upton silent and looked keenly
into the clear, undsturbed eyes of the president.
"You interest me, said the latter "Pease continue"
"Your companys methods Sir melting the social
revolution as surely the Jacqueres caused by
the segnorial rights of the Old Regime of France Your
employees are being moved down in their tent colonies
with machine guns"
The president looked shocked. al little knew that
the situation had grown serious as this, he said.
Il did not credit the truth of those Stories
The Judge made effort to conceal his incredulity
at this statement. "Why in the name of our human
kind cant you agree industrial system and wage
consonant with the principles of American life? You
people don't the great light The Penn Company's
plants will be piles of ashes in which will lie buried
the bodies Of the victims of your injustice The country
won't stand for it, Sir"
The president sat grave and silent for a moment.
This is bad story, dreadful of affairs he OBJ
served.
A man with pink flesh and of ponderous bulk had
entered the office unannounced and the point of
advancing to the desk unobserved by the speakers,
when he overheard the words of their conversation He
stayed his step, sought nearby chair and listened at
tcntively to the progress of the dialogue
"You probably don't believe me- asserted the Judge
with curling lip "Ilat is the attitude usually adopted
by the ntrenchcd canitalist y