The Tupelo journal., 1916-11-17

with Janet Perkins.
That was a tragedy, of course. His
father could have told him so il. loud
mouthed protest, his mother and sister
could have warned him tearfully
against a mesalliance.
His troubles really began on the day
when he ventured to ask his father to
modify certain conditions in the fac
tory. He was quite in arnes
The older a listened with an at
tention which gave his son confidence.
He did not interrupt until the enthusi-
asst had made an end. Mrs. Hamer
and her daughter Mabel happened to
be present, as the chat took place in
the library after dinner.
When George at last reached a point
where some expression of opinion by
his father could no longer be withheld,
the president Of the Cardboard trust
thrust aside some papers. which had
smiled sourly and paused a moment
to marshal his thoughts.
My boy" he said, II must ask you
to get these stupid reform notions out
of your head once and for all. l am
not in business for my health. but to
make money. Every man who has
started out to elevate the masses has
quickly found himself in the mire from
which he hoped to draw others. In
the course of time I shall hand you
over a magnificent trade organization.
and let me tell you In the most definite
terms that l expect you to conform to
my methods, and give your mother,
sister and brother the same share of
the worlds good things which they
have always received while l was in
control"
"But, father"
Mr.. Hamer waved an impatient
hand.
"Unless you al produce something
more plausible in the argument line,
I'm through" he said testify.
Mrs. Hamer, secretly proud of her
son, and dimly aware of a fascinating,
if elusive, vision carrying a scroll bla-
zoned with the legend: ''Truth and
Justice" which his earnest pleading
had brought to her minds eye. ven
tured to put in a timid request for a
further hearing.
:Many a time have I heard you YOU
self say that trade conditions are con
tinuaily changing" she murmured, lift
ing her eyes to her husbands stern
face. Perhaps there may be some
thing really helpful in Georges theory.
I think you ought to listen to him,
Elwood."
Mr.. Hamer was surprised at finding
his wife ranged on the side of a Sol
who had %momentarily yielded to some
absurd socialistic notions.
1.-The sensible man who sees a snake
does not try to convince it of the error
of it's way, but hits it on the head
straight away" he snarled. "Why
should I waste any time in convincing
a young fool that he knows nothing
whatever about the very points he is
trying to raise. I understand my bust
ness, and George doesn't, and that's all
there is to it."
''This affair must be settled here
and now. My father must either agree
to go into the workers grievances with
a sympathetic spirit or I leave this
house."
Hello" cried Mr.. Hamer. "Is that
a threatY"
mo, dad; it's a mere statement of
fact. I have come to the parting of
the ways. / may as well put all my
cards face upward on the table. Not
only shall I lead the reform movement
in your trade, but I am going to marry
Janet Perkins. . You don't even
know her name," he went on, noting
the astounded look On his fathers face
and the instant anxiety of mother and
sister. "You have not the least ac-
quaintance with one Of the best and
purest-minded and cleanest-brained
women in New York, though you have
been paying her a wretched pittance
for six long years."
Mrs. Hamer began to cry softly, but
her husband gazed vindictively at the
son who was evidently prepared to
brave his wrath.
"Janet Perkins" he gasped. "One
of my girls?"
It was an unfortunate phrase, and
the younger mar was not slow to take
advantage of the slip.
"Yes," he said. Zone Of your girls!
One of the women whose souls and
bodies you are wearing numerically
in order to pile up dollars. And for
what? After a lifetime Of such eff
fort, you have simply succeeded in
bunting every God-given instinct in
your mind and weakening your body
with dyspepsia"
George touched a sore point In men
tioning his fathers pet complaint
how sore can only be known to those
who suffer from that most trying of
diseases. Mr.. Hamer wore lou'lly by
way Of preliminary to an outburst
which must have p~ulverized the cul-