The Monte Vista journal., 1915-07-17


too heavy for him to lift
"Your husbands been hurt. ma'am,"
said one OF the men, as guided BY
Nina. they half dragged, half carried
the injured man to the scantily fur.
nished bedroom and propped their
stricken comrade in the shabby bed.
The happenings OF the next few
hours were as dream to Nina. She
had a hazy recollection that one OF
the men had called the kindly-faced
and gentle Doctor Gray. She vaguely
remembered having fed something to
little Nina. She dimly sehsed having
helped Doctor Gray and ons OF the
laborers dress her husbands wound.
But from out the chaotic tumble of
her tangled memory one thing stood
bold and clear. 1t was the verdict OF
the doctor spoken In gentle. kindly
tones.
Your husband has q severe In
jury to the skull. He cannot work for
many weeks"
Followed days and weeks OF des.
perate struggle for Nina. while Hurd
slowly recovered his strength.
Came the day when Doctor Gray
warned Nina that she would have to
be careful.
That cough will get you, little
woman he said as he kindly refused
the money she preferred him
Hush, he will hear you," Nina
whispered as she looked apprehen-
sively towards the bedroom where
Hurd had gone for his morning nap.
His convalescence was slow and he
needed all the rest he could get.
But her warning came too late
Hurd had caught the words and I'M
derstood. In half an hour he was
tottering from the house. In an hour
he was at the gate of the lumber
yard, asking to see his old antagonist
He was willing to risk another en-
counter with Snyder to save the
health Of Nina
A new and surly gateman barred
the way.
And he tried to force his way past
the burly bully The scuf1e was short
and decisive. Hurd was thrown. limp
and painting, up against the fence He
hadn't the strength OF q half-srown
boy.
So intently we're the men watching
each other that neither had heard the
approach Of Powers and his prospeo-
tive son-in-law.
Whats the meaning of all thisf"
the latter asked.
Please. Mr.. Powers. I've come back
to work. I've been laid up. I was
hurt YOU know"
Recognition showed In the face Of
Travis.
He's the man who assaulted Sny.
der" he said, turning towards the mill
lionaire.
"You-you thug!" Numbered Pow.
ers. You can't work here. We have
no place for disturbers like you. Get
out"
Perhaps 1t was because of the anger
aroused by his resentment against
Hurd. perhaps 1t was because the In.
creasing extravagances of Laura made
MIN desperate to increase his income,
perhaps 1t was only because of pure
cussedness, but at any rate Powers
went straight from his encounter
with his old employee at the gate to
MS office, sent for his worthy fore
man. and issued the Sunday work or.
der that caused the strike and filled
hundreds of homes with want and
poverty and starvation. And all dur.
Ing the weary weeks OF the unequal
struggle between capital and labor
Nina Hurd lay slowly dying, while
her husband sat helplessly by. sub.
sisting on the charity of friends and
buying medicine with the money Doc
Tor Gray forced upon him
".
II Laura Powers had been less
thoughtless-less selfish-if she had
taken an interest In the condition of
her fathers employees before the aft.
ernoon of her interrupted Colonial
party, this tale OF hardship and pri.
walton. this story OF tyranny and toll
might never have been written
The day after the party found her
starting out alone on a mission OF
charity and exploration. All night
long the word, starving" had been
ringing In her brain. and she meant
10 md out for herself II the wives
and children OF her fathers striking
employees were really suffering.
And now driving slowly through the
streets formed by the cottages of her
fathers men, she gazed with sicken-
Ing heart tho OF ne,