Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-21
TENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XIV.

Although kehr had been instructed
10 give Celestis every chance 10 settle
the strike, and to hinder her in moth.
ing. he was still determined to bring
about HIS own kind OF a settlement II
possible. Closefsted and narrow. he
was nevertheless a man with beliefs
and principles for which he was not
only willing TO sacrifice his fortune.
but his life If necessary. To Kehr a
man who agreed TO work certain hours
for certain wages and then went back
on his agreement was no more to be
considered or treated With than a mad
dog.
Conditions at Bitumen had come to
such a pass that Kehr could see no
possibility Of compromise. The coun-
try was suffering from what amounted
TO a coal famine, and the fault lay. so
kehr honestly felt. with q group OF
twolegged animals who didn't know
enough to come in out of the rain.
He had goaded the strike leaders
until they were ready to order an
attack on his stockade. and he was
srimly ready and even eager for that
attack to begin. Tommy had thwarted
him once. Now they had sent Celestia
TO thwart him again.
Still he received her with politeness.
and told her that he was glad she had
come.
m glad you've come, young lady.
because / know your theories. and I'm
glad to have the chance of showing
you how impractical they are in the
face Of an actual condition. You want
labor and capital to be friends and to
work hand in hand Can a gunman be
friends with a bishop"
why yes" said Celesta, when
they get so they understand each other.
But a day will come when there won't
be any gunner"
Nor any walking delegates. nor any
fools who spend more than they can
earn and theh begin to boiler murder
and set off dynamite. Now you Just
sit down in that chair, and III tell you
in a nutshell the history Of the last
few years that has led up to the pres
ent situation. To begin with ! was
day laborer myself in these coal
fields"
Ceiestia raised her hand in protest
Don't tell me your side of the quar-
rel" she said; tell me theirs. When
your heart is very hard against a man,
the best way to soften it is to say all
the favorable things you can think of
about him. I'd ike you TO tell me all
the good things you can think OF about
Gunsdorf and then / shall go to him
and ask him to tell me ali the good
things he can think Of about you"
From neither OF US" said Kehr
grimly. will you hear any good OF the
other"
Then" said Celestia, smiling gent
ly; Il shall have TO do the talking for
you both"
you can change me into a break
fast food as easily as you can change
Gunsdorf into a human being"
Some day you and Gunsdorf viii
shake hands and you1l both admit that
you we're both wrong"
you admit that he's wTong?"
Yes, Mr.. Kehr, and you too"
She rose and smiled upon him
Il am to come and 20 as please2"
If you go among those devils over
there in the town ] won't be Tesponsi-
bic for the consequences"
But I've been among them already.
They we're going to hang a man, but
they listened to reason"
What man?'
A vision Of Mrs. GuDsdorfs face
foated through Celestia's mind. and
caused her eyes 10 narrow a little and
look quite stony.
"A man Of no importance" she said
lightly. But ! shan't go back to the
town tonight. What is the PASSWORD"
He told her.
Il shall talk with some Of your men
tonight And tomorrow 1 hope you
will have a change Of heart"
She smiled so sweetly at him that
his grabbed old heart actually warmed
toward ker, and then she set out alone
ia the eleciric-lighted darkness to eX.
plore the strong place which capital
had rct " against Tebellious labor.
ITO be Conf'1nad.l