Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-02-24

aud she might as we'll not have any
father-better, perhaps. AS God hears
me, Raymer. I'm going TO see 10 II
that she gets a square deal"
by George! believe you are In
love with her, YOURSELF"
Il am" was the cool reply.
We'll. OF all the Say. Griswold
you're a thrce-cornered puzzle to me
yet. don't know what the other
three-fourths Of the town is saying, but
my fourth OF 1t has II put up that
you've ~everlastingly cooked my goose
At Doctor Berries: that you and
Charlotte are Just about as good as en-
gagged. Perhaps you'll tell ne that i;
isn't true"
1T isn't-yet"
But II may be. later on. Now you
are getting yer into my little garden
patch. Kenneth. II you think I'm 60.
ing to stand still and see you put a
wedding ring on Charlotte Farnham's
finger when | know you'd like to be
putting 1t on Madge Grierson's-"
Griswold's low laugh came as an
easing OF stresses,
You can't very well marry both OF
them, yourself. you know" he sug,
gested mildly. And then: II you were
not SO badly torn up over this shop
trouble, you'd see that I'm trying to
| give you the entire field. l shall prob
ably leave town tomorrow. and | mere,
ly wanted to do you. or Miss Grierson,
or both of you, a small kindness by
way OF leave-taking."
DO you mean TO tell me that you
are going away. leaving me bucked
and gagged by this labor outfit to live
or die as ! may? Great Scott, man.
IL my moneys gone. yours goes with
it,"
You are freely welcome to the mon
ey. Edward-if you can manage to
hang on to it: and | have pointed out
the easy way to salvage the industrial
ship. Can't you give me your blessing
and let me go in peace?"
The blessing was not withheld, bu,
neither was ii given.
Il came here with my own back-load
of trouble, but 1t seems that I'm not
the only camel In the caravan" said
the young ironmaster. thoughtfully
What is it, Kenneth? anything you
a unload on me-"
"You wouldn't understand" was
| the gentle evasion.
Once again Raymer took refuge in
silence. After a time he said: You've
been a brother to me. Griswold, and
shall never forget that. But II ]
needed your help in the money pinch,
I'm needing 1t worse now. I'll do the
right thing by Margery; think I've
been meaning to, all along; II |
haven't. it's only because this whole
town has been fixing up a match be.
tween Charlotte and me eve since we
we're school kids together--you know
how a fellow gets into the way of TAX.
ing a thing like that for granted mere
ly because everybody else does?"
Yes; l know"
well. l guess 1t isn't a heart-break.
er on either side. II Charlotte cares.
she doesn't take the trouble to show
1t. Just the same, on the other hand,
I've got a shred or two OF decency left.
Kenneth. I'm not going to marry my.
self out of this fight with Jasper Grier.
son-not in a million years. Stay over
and help me see it through: and when
we win out, l promise you III do the
square thing"
There's only one other way. Ed.
ward; and that is to fight like the
devil" he said. speaking as n who
has weighed and measured and decid-
ed. What do you say?"
III you will stay" Raymer began,
h%esitantly.
"Ill stay-as long as | can" Then.
with the note of harshness returning.
We'll make the fight, and we'll give
these muckers Of yours all they are
looking for. Shut the plant doors to.
morrow morning and make 1t a lock-
out. III be over bright and early and
we'll place a bunch of wire orders In
the cities for strike-breakera. That will
bring them to time"
Raymer got up slowly and felt in
the dark for his hat.
"Strike.breakers!" he groaned.
"Griswold. it would make my father
rrn over in his coffin II he could
know that we've come to that! But
| guess you're right. Everybody says
I'm too sOft.hearted to be a master Of
men. Well. l must be getting home.
Tomorrow morning. at the plant? All
right; goodnight"
And he turned to grope his way to
the door and through the dark upper
hall and down the stair.