Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-27

seen the lines before. They were a
quotation from q poem called 1.-THE
Inheritance ~ Why should Audrey
have sent this to him7
And then he understood suddenly and
completely.
Audrey had learned Who she was. She
had perhaps learned also that he was
already aware Of her identity, and she
thought this knowledge stood between
them. Her pride would not allow her
to come to him again, but she had
written these lines to tell him she under.
stood, and was prepared to ignore the
false glamour Of an inherited title and
position.
II the fact Of her being Lord Con.
ninston's daughter was the barrier
between them, and Harkness really
loved her, then he would understand.
Whereas, II he did not care, no harm
would be done. She would not have
stopped again to ask him to come to
her. The childishness Of the reasoning
robbed 1t Of all semblance Of over
suhtlety.
God gave the .nrst great t,tl.
When he called me simply . mani
The words re- echoed In Harkness'
brain. He had flung that title back at
the feet Of its Giver. He could not
even go to Audrey and claim as great
u title as that of her father. He could
not stand before Lord Connington and
say, II am q man, rs you are."
But there was q way. There was
mans work to be done in the North,
where the factories Scared the beauty
Of the earth and men toiled and sweated
that his father might rule as a king.
Afterward! 1t would be time to
think Of the afterward when he had
proved himself.
He secured special to Sheffield and
drove out to his fathers house, to find
the old man In bed with two doctors at
his side.
"He will live7" he asked. One of the
doctors, famous specialist, nodded.
"Yes. But his working days are
over"
"Over?" Harkness' perturbation
showed in his face.
II am afraid so," answered the
specialist gravely. "This illness is
not so much of the body as Of the brain.
He Is n man of iron constitution and
will soon be about, but l fear you will
find that he has lost his grip Of things.
His brain is very tired. You know II
you drive an engine ut top speed with
out an occasional overhaul something
breaks In the end. Your father has
been driving his brain for years. The
result was inevitable. We shall save
his reason, but / must forbid him to
deal with business any more"
Hardness felt a touch on his arm,
and turned to find Hilary beside him.
He followed the secretary from the
room.
Hardness Faces Facts
whats all the trouble?" he asked
this?"
'It's the Trayworth Foundries. The
men want more money, shorter hours,
and a general overhaul Of the housing
question in Trayworth. They say the
town Is unhealthy, and wants rebuild
ing" Hilary smiled wryly. "It is a
pretty tall order. To carry out their
demands would wipe out all the profits
on the years working of the whole
combine, including the United States
factories as we'll. On the other hand,
the men seem determined, and all our
other places, the factories and ship
yards on the Clyde and Tyne, threaten
to strike in sympathy. II that happens
and it seems inevitabie-there will
undoubtedly be a general stoppage Of
the engineering trades throughout the
country
"What do the rest of the directors
say about it,"
Hilary shrugged his shoulders. "They
don't count. Your fathers holdings
are larger than those of all the other
shareholders put together, and he Is
the one man really concerned. 1t Is
Harkness versus the men. Before 60
ing any further l should like to en-
phasize the gravity of the situation.
The matter is rapidly growing from a
mere industrial dispute to national
crisis. The Government has appointed
Il commission to inquire into the whole
affair, and at its head is one Of the
most famous men in England. He
has sent one of his secretaries down to
watch events. Your fnther refused the
services of this commission before his
seizure"
"Who is the leader?'
"Lord Connington."
Harkness's breath came in sharply.
Yet he was hardly surprised. 1t was
natural that England's ab!est diplomat
should be asked to handle this delicate
situation.
'All r1Rnt lner0 W0b u nuEu
decisiveness In Harkness's tone. "I'n
deal with this, and take all response
bility. Get me a car-not my fathers,
It's too well known. want to drive
round Trayworth."
Hilary stared at him for a moment.
This was a Harkness he had not
known. Then he went away to order
the car. Harkness drove of alone.
1t was a week later that old Hark-
ness was able to sit In his chair BY
the long French windows of the morning
room, and gaze across the cool green
of the terraced gardens. His first action
was to send for bis son.
"Hello!" His greeting was a. curt
as ever. II hear you've been med
ding with my affairs. What have you
doneY'
"There will be no strike, father"
"Eh!' The hard eyes flashed
quick admiration. did you beat
them?"
~ surrendered to them"
Old Hardness sat back. His face
reflected a fury of struggling emotions.
"You--surrendercd! -