The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-12-18

heart was bursting with shame and
also with self-condemnation. But was
she to be tied forever to that old,
ignorant laborer and his wife-she
with expensive tastes?
The town vas just large enough for
her story not to be widely known.
by steering her way cautiously, and
|inventing q tale about an old couple
whom she had befriended. she man
aged to shake her skirts clean of her
parents. Her husband. in his rage.
threatened to put Mike out of his job;
but the stubborn old man threatened
to sue, and that would mean wide
publicity. So Mike remained.
This went on for years after Kath.
of her. He had seen her once, rid
ing in her car. She was gowned like
a princess and splendidly beieweled.
Then a lawyer came to see Mike.
There had been rumors for some time
of extravaganza in the management
Of the mill; it was thought things
were not going we'll. But everyone
knew Jim Ellery had no business head.
Mike should have been manager, If
his father had been an honest man
Mike, who. working as a laborer.
nevertheless knew the complicated
process from the foundations up.
Mike could have told Jim Ellery what
was wrong. why the cheap fax was
unable to take the aniline. But Mike
was only a laborer, remember.
The lawyer came on a Sunday, and
Mike got u of bed to receive him,
a%pologizins for his Powered dressing
| gown, which Nora had made for him
the last Christmas.
The lawyer waved his apologies
aside.
Listen to me carefully, Mr.. Dona-
hue" he said. You should by right
have had better treatment from Mr..
Ellery than you had"
Il don't know" said Mike, stub
bornly loyal to the remory of the
Ellery he had once known and loved.
He kept his word by me-"
He repented on his deathbed," said
the lawyer. He lef, you a half share
in the mill and made you manager for
life. That will was suppressed by Mr..
James Ellery. He is at your mercy
now, for all has come 20 light. | rep
resent an interest which wants to buy
the mill and give publicity to the af-
fair"
Yes, sir" said Mike.
"a warrant can be sworn out for
Mr.. Ellery's arrest. We a get an
injunction tying up the money"
What for would you be tying up
the money!" demanded Mike.
The lawyer started to explain all
yer again. Mike listened patiently.
Well, you see," he explained, my
daughters married to him. So 1t
wouldn't do to bring her into disgrace,
would it?"
But she has neglected you" said
the lawyer. 1T is a scandal. And the
mill is half yours. We want to buy
your interest. 1t is worth four hun.
dred thousand dollars at least. And
you will have the position of man.
ager-"
We'll, you see," said Mike, Il have
a life job here. And a manager is
sort of uncertain. And then. what
would we be doing with four hundred
thousand dollars at our age? No, mis-
ter. nobody's going to jockey me out
of my Job. earn my ten, and III
go on earning it till l die. And say!
If there's any trouble about Jim, just
remember that he's a good boy. mi |
stand by him to the last penny OF my
four hundred thousand. Remember
that, will your"
1t was Ellery's lawyer who came
next. He came humbly, to beg Mike
to consent to an agreement whereby
be could wriggle out Of his liabilities
and escape the charge of fraud. Mike
signed the papers without looking par.
ticularly. He only assured himself
that his job was not being taken away
from him.
You see," he explained to the law
yer, who had the grace to look
ashamed, now that there's only the
wife to take care for, I guess my ter
a week will provide for us-won't it
Nora, girl?"
And all his anger against his daugh
ter died. 1t was his money, after all
that was buying her those gowns, hat
bought the car, was providing for hel
every minAe.
If he had pressed Ellery he would
have been a rich man, but life would
have been utterly empty for him
Because he r%elinquished all, he gained
all. For the day came when his daugh
ter kneeled before him and Nora, i'm
ploring for forgiveness.
All that we have is yours" sh'
said. Forgive US! Jim wants yol
to live with US, and-and you can keel
your Job if you want to, and-anC
when baby comes we're going Il
name him Michael, or Nora, If it's
girl. Won't you come, fathe-
mother?"
Sure and I'll come" said Mike, clap
ping on his hat, to find vent for hi
emotions. But l keep the Job. Kath
Iapnt"