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


has taught you that money Is better
than true love. / can't compete
against his bid. GOod-by."
On the doorstep he all but collided
with q man who was just raising q
hand to the bell. 1t was Agnew Ora
ham.
Graham's car stood at the gate.
This val the superintendent FIRST
visit by daylight to the home of the
girl he loved, and he was not over
pleased to meet Tom Clark coming
out.
But from the look Of wretchedness
on Toms face Graham rightly judged
that the younger mans reception had
not been favorable. And he g~rinned
patronizingly at him.
At sight Of that grin Tom suddenly
lost all control Of himself.
He caught Graham by the throat in
a blindness Of fury and flung him to
the ground, leaning over the PROSTATE
man and snarling and growing like
a rabid dog.
Graham. though caught unawares,
had no mind to be thrashed unresist-
ingly In the presence Of the girl he
wanted to marry. He was on his feet
again as nlmbly as any trained
wrestler, and, ducking Toms wild
blow, ran in and grappled with him.
Edna, in the doorway, cried out In
terror as the two men writhed and
twisted In that fierce embrace Of
hate. A crowd quickly gathered at
the gate.
Unseelng, unhearing, the two men
battled on. Now the advantage was
with one, now with the other.
And suddenly the tide of battle
turned. Tom wriggied free from
Graham's clawing grip and began to
rain a lightning succession Of blows
upon the ill-guarded face and body Of
his opponent.
Under that fusillade Graham was
beaten back helpless and Keeling.
At ten O'Clock next morning Joe
Carr returned to his own department
from a summons to the presidents
office, with orders from Peltz and
Graham that Thomas Clark be In
stantly discharged.
II did my best for you, lad" re-
ported the old man when he had told
the news to Tom and to a group of
sympathetic workmen who came over
to listen. But 1t was no use. Ora
ham was there, with his face all
swollen and cut, and he kept saying.
Mr.. Peltz. either Clark goes or 1 go 7
/ told Peltz you were the best worker
on the floor but he stood by Graham
and"
"And I guess the boys will stand
by Tom Clark! - spoke up one OF the
listening workers. He's fred with
out cause, and that's dead against
our agreement with the company.
Wen call a meeting for tonight
and"
"Not on my account" begged Tom.
II don't want to make any Of you
men lose q days work or get in bad
with Graham for my sake. 1 can find
work somewhere. And"
And you'll find 1t right here In
these mills" supplemented Carr, cor
Wen know the reason why. Mr.. Ag-
new Graham's gone a step too far
this time"
On the following day a committee
Of the men formally waited upon Mr..
Peltz in the latter's Office. Graham
was there, still hideously dishgured
by his thrashing.
Peltz nodded CURLY to the commit
tee and babe them state their errand.
The spokesman cleared his throat and
began a speech he had carefully re-
hearsed.
"Mr. Peltz," said he. 1--WE are here
as q delegation Of your entire force.
We have q grievance. We regret that
we should be obliged"
"Oh, cut out the nowery language
and come to the point" snapped Gra-
ham. whats your g~rievanceT"
The spokesman, still addressing
Peltz, resumed:
Thomas Clark was yesterday dis
charged without assigned cause, and
for no reason concerning his work and
conduct here in the mills. We de-
mand. respectfully. that he be rein
stated by OF before noon today"
And II we refusef' sneered Ora
ham. what Them
Then" retorted the spokesman,
stirred out of his self-control by the
insolent tone, then at noo every
nan In these mills will register his
protest by walking out. That Is nnal."
walk out, then" yelled Graham.
Strike. II you're fools enough! Not
a man who strikes on account Of that
Clark backyard will ever get an
other Job here. That's final. too"
As they departed they heard Ora
ham say to the president:
Perhaps you see now why I didn't
like Ciark's popularity with the men.
He"
Telegraph to Nagel." interrupted
Peltx- Tell him to ship US i've hun
dred str1kebreakers and nifty guards.
Wen e this thing through. Tell
Nagel to rush his men here on the
nrst possible train"
But 1t was n thing to summon a
battalion Of strfkebreakers and quite
another thing to break . strike. ~