Evening star., 1922-06-18

from John O. Groats to Lands End.
And as for strike, it's unknown. sir.
unknown. My men don't do 1t, what
ever other firms may do"
LIE passed into the house. talking
- animatedly to one of his guests.
and for a while Marjorie stood. star
ing over the three miles of open coun-
try to where the high chimneys of
Frenton's Steel Works stuck up like
slender sticks against the dull back
ground Of smoke. Then. with a little
sigh. she, too. went up the steps into
the house.
Herbert, I don't quite understand
about this morning" She was in her
own sitting room, and her fiance,
standing in front of the fire. was
lighting a cigarette. What is the
matter at the works.
All through lunch the Honorable
Herbert, in the intervals Of being
charming to the CHASTITY collection Of
old bores, as he mentally dubbed
them, who formed the party. had been
puzzling out the best line to take at
this interview. That the girl had
seen that something was wrong was
obvious. No one but a blind person
could have failed to notice it. And
now that the interview had actually
started he was still undecided.
MY dear little girl" he remarked
gently, sitting down beside her and
taking her hand, why worry about
it? As told you this morning, some
little grievance, I expect-which I'll
inquire into"
The girl shook her head.
Its something very much more
than a grievance" she said quietly
but positively. There's something
radically wrong. Herbert. 1 want to
know what it is
Good heavens. Marjorie"-there
was a hint of impatience in his voice
-"haven't 1 told you I'll inquire into
it, Do be reasonable. my dear girl"
I'm being perfectly reasonable"
she answered, still in the same quiet
tone, "but I don't understand how
things have got as far as they have
without any steps on your part. You
say you don't know what's the mat
ter. Daddy would have known long
ago and remedied II"
The Honorable Herbert's opinion of
daddy at that moment remained un-
spoken.
You see," went on the girl,
they're just part of daddy. are the
works. He was only saying today
that he had never had any strikes.
And now, when he's getting old
X X X \
CHE stirred restlessly in her chair
~ and looked at the fire. "Of his
capabilities as the boss of Frenton's.
other people have already decided"
The words danced before her in the
flames, and almost passionately she
turned to the man beside her.
Don't you see." she cried, don't
you realize that feel responsible? ?
You're there-as a partner-because
you're my hance. That's the only rea-
son. The works will come to me
when daddy dies. shall be respon-
sible for them-I and my husband"
You could always turn the thing
into a limited company. darling"
murmured the man. 'if you found it
too great a strain"
He waited for an answer, but none
came, and afted while he continued
in an easy, reassuring voice. "Of
course, I understand, my little Mar
jorie, your feelings on the matter"
do you" she interrupted slowly.
IT onder."
I'm only a beginner" he went on.
and his voice was trifie hurt. "one
can't pick up all sorts Of technical
knowledge in a month, or even a
year"
Technical knowledge isn't wanted,
Herbert, so much as human knowl-
edge, personality. I could run those
works-with the help IF Mr.. Thomp-
son and the other managers. All,
dear" she bent forward quickly. Il
don't want to hurt you. but 1 just
can imagine what suid have hap