The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-08

boy.
So intently were the men watching |
each other that neither had heard the |
approach OF Powers and his prospec
tive sonin-law
What's the meaning OF all thls?"
the latter asked.
Please, Mr. Powers. I've come back
to work I've been laid up | was
hurt you know"
Recognition showed in the face OF
Travis.
He's the man who assaulted Sny-
der" he said turning towards the mil
| lionaire.
"You-you thug" Numbered Pow
| ers. You can't work here We have
no place for disturbers like you. Get
out"
Perhaps il was because OF the anger
aroused by his resentment against
| Hurd. perhaps II was because the in
creasing extravagances of Laura made
| him desperate TO increase his income.
| perhaps il was only because OF pure
cussedness. but at any rate Powers
went straight from his encounter
with his old employee at the gate to
his 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
to find out for herself il 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 at the signs OF misery and
distress that multiplied on every hand
! around her.
: One particularly pretty child. sob
: bling as il her little heart would break
attracted Laura's attention.
And what is your name. my dar
/ lng?" she asked tenderly.
3 Betty Hurd." sobbed the child.
I And why are you crying"
! My mammals gone"
e And following the persistent tug Of
the little ones hand Laura suffered
e herself TO be led into Karl Hurd's
house Of sorrow and anguish; suffered
- herself to be led to the bedroom
where the stricken husband. stunned
q by grief sat staring down into thu
: cold and sightless eyes OF the wifi
who had offered herself on the ALTA
h Of toll and tyranny.
@ Laura stopped to the little child
l. and gathering her in her arms sh'
sought to give her some OF that moth
? er comfort she would never know
/. again. Yielding to an impulse sh'
J. opened her purse and poured its con
e tents into the hand Of the little one.
II Easily Influenced as children are
l. Betty grabbed the money from
II I.auras hand and running gayly t
Il her fathers side she tugged at hi
II sleeve and lisped in her childish pra'
tie:
r See what the lady gave me-"
Is Duly Karl raised his pain-lade
Is eyes and gazed dumbly at the prett
e benefactor who stood at the foot c
d the bed in Borrowing embarrassment
Mutely he nodded his dumb thanks.
;" Il will be back to do what l ca
" later" And Laura. sobered and cha
ID tened by what she had seen, slowl
r left that house Of sorrow. But he
II unpleasant experiences were only b.
ginning. Pandemonium reigned q
W the house three doors away - tn
lie house Of Tim Shand-aggressive Til
Of Shand. champion OF the men and tn
ID spokesman Of the committee that ha
ly bearded Powers in his own home {
to the Colonial party the day before.
lg Furniture was piled high on th
ne sidewalk and mon wearing the badge
d. OF the sheriffs ONCE were carryin
OF more of it into the street despite ii
ID violent protests of the wildly {
OF sheveled Mrs. Shand.
ly Laura's interest was aroused. lei
by the spectacle itself than by Il
m fact that Perry Travis. her fianc'
or and her fathers legal adviser. was
recting the work OF the despoilers.
IS And what does this mean. Perry
rd she demanded in tones that compell'
prompt reply.
az These men are strikers. They mu
TO 90. They won't work. We need q
houses for others who will" His ]
tie ply was jerky and stilted.
ed But | thought these people b
paid for their homes out OF the
ma wages" she persisted.
en- He remained silent. both to b
re question and to the insistent deman
ap. OF Mrs. Shand. whose excitement a