The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-12-07

owned the mills. His example Is good
enough for me. Tomorrow morning
I'm going over to the mills to see Mr..
PeltL, the new president. For dads
sake he'll give me work there"
Aud In spite Of all the protests of
his mother and sister he held to his
resolve. Early next morning he sought
an interview with Peltz, the new presi-
dent. The latter-more because there
was a shortage OF men than from any
sentiment about John Clark's memory
turned Tom over to Joe Carr, q de-
rartment foreman, with orders to put
him to work.
The moment he and Tom were alone
the old foreman grasped Toms hands
In both Of his, e%xclaiming:
"Boy, / worked alongside your faith
er and then under his orders. for thir-
ty Jears. Re was the whitest, kind
est, squarest man the Lord ever made.
There isn't a man In the mills that
didn't love him and trust him. There
isn't a man here who won't welcome
John Clark's SON and give him q
square deal"
Tom was genuinely touched by the
rough sincerity Of the old mans well
come. And he was equally pleased at
the warm seconding that welcome re-
ceived from the other workers.
Inside q year Tom Clark was by all
odds the most popular man in the
mills, and he was by far the cleverest
and quickest workman on his floor.
he advanced rapidly, and he well
earned every advance. Old Joe Carr
grew to regard him almost as a son.
Before that first year was out, too,
Joe Carr had still other reasons for
being fond of his young protege. One
noon Carr's daughter, Edna, brought
her fathers lunch to the mills. as he
had forgotten to take 1t with him In
the morning.
AS she approached Cars desk, Tom
Clark CHANGED to be standing there,
receiving some routine instructions.
Carr introduced the two young people
to each other.
Tom, as he turned to acknowledge
the introduction, found himself look
ing down into quite the most beauti-
ful pair Of eyes he had ever beheld.
1t was love at first sight"
Edna Carr. too, felt an unaccount-
able stirring at her heartstrings at
this first meeting with the man Of
whom she had heard so much from
father.
Joe Carr, well pleased, looked on ut
this brief meeting. Nor was he less
pleased when Tom asked leave to call
on Edna, o when, during the next
few months, the youth was nm almost
nightly visitor In the tidy little living
room Of the Carr cottage.
Love had dawned. and courtship
was quick to follow--an ardently ador-
ing SWANS wooing of a girl who met
his loverly advances halfway.
Kelly, the e~asy-going old superin-
tendent Of the mills, retired On pen
sion. In his place the directors ap-
pointed a man who had won an en-
viabie record for efficiency in another
city's mills. His name was Agnew
Graham. In age he was about thirty
five. He had a reputation for slave
driving and for wringing from the
mills q list Of results that were highly
gratifying to the stockholders. Con-
corning his personal character, some
rather unsavory stories were adrlft.
At FIRST glance. Tom Clark dlsllked
the new superintendent. He worked
the men cruelty hard; he was forever
nagging at them and blaming them and
docking their wages for imaginary de-
nnQuencieA
Though Tom took scant heed Of
Graham. Jet. strangely enough, the
new superintendent had given some
what more attention to Tom. and this
secret study on the part of Graham
was at last voiced In q talk with Peltx.
the president.
There's q young fellow named
Tom Clark In Cars department"
Graham Glanced to say to tho presi-
dent a rainy noon. n he was about
to 60 to lunch. did you e happen
to hear Of himf'
why. yes" replied Pelts. II gave
him his Job. He Ii the son Of our old
president-John Clark. Clark died
bankrupt and his son came to me for
work Carr tells me he Il q wonder.
I'm glad TO hear It. I always rather
liked his father; In spite Of"
I've had my eye on him." inter
rupted Graham. Tive been watching
him. You're right about his being q
good worker. III grant that; but"
but whatr" demanded Peltx.
that's all We hire him for. He's .
hustler. and he doesn't presume on
his fathers name. What-r'
Hes too popular" declared Ora
ham. That's . bad sign. Everybody
In every department likes him. Hes
the most popular man In the mills. i
don't know why: but It's true, and I
don't like It."
The president laughed In derisive
amusement.
"Good Lord. Graham~ he ex-
claimed. that's the Queerest reason
Tor complaint ever heard. Why
don't you like his being popularr"
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