Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-12-24

Win Sfll bul NuH sue
to be ticl forever to that old, ignorant
lahurer and his wife-she with expen.
sivo tastes?
The town was just large enough for
her story not to be widely known. BY
steering her way cautiously, and in
venting II tale about an old couple
whom she had befriended, she man
aged to shake her skirts clean of her
parents Her husband, In his rage,
threatened to put Mike out of his Job
but the stubborn old man threatened
to sue, and that would mean wide
publicity. So Mike remained
And every morning he was at his
Job on time Every night no left when
the whistle went off Sundays he
helped with the dishes uni rcnd the
paper In bed.
This went on for years after Kath-
leen's marriage. He had never heard
of her. He had seen her once rid
Ing In her car. She was gowned
like princess and spendIdly be-
jeweled.
iuMytl Nulut w sNC MIMI
There had been rumors for some time
of extravaganza In the management OF
the mill 1t was thought things were
not going well. But everyone knew
Jim Ellery had no business head.
Mike should have been manager, II Ell
lery had been an honest man---Mlke,
who, working as laborer, neverthe-
less knew the complicated process from
the foundations up. Mike could have
told Jim Ellery what was wrong, why
the cheap flax was unable to take the
anilIne. But Mike was only laborer,
remember.
The lawyer came on Sunday, and
Mike got out Of bed to receive him,
apologlzing for his Powered dressing
gown, which Nora had made for him
the last Christmas.
The lawyer waved his apologies
aside.
Listen to me carefully, Mr. Dona.
hue" he said. "You should by right
have had better treatment from Mr..
Ellery than you had"
81 don't know" said Mike, stub
bornly loyal to the memory OF the
Ellery he had once known and loved
"He kept his word by me"
"He repented on his deathbed," said
the lawyer. "IIe left you half share
In the mill and made you manager for
life. That will was suppressed by Mr.
james Ellery. He is at your mercy
now, for all has come to light. l rep
resent an interest which wants to buy
the mill and give publicity to the af-
fair"
"Yes, sir" said Mike
"A warrant can be sworn out for
Mr.. Ellery's arrest. We can get an In
junction tying up the money"
"What for would you be tying up
the money! demanded Mike.
The lawyer started to explain all
over again. Mike listened patiently.
well, you see," he explained, my
daughters married to him. SO It
wouldn't do to bring her into disgrace
would til"
But she has neglected you" said
the lawyer ut is u scandal And the
mill Is half yours We want to buy
your interest. 1t Is worth four hun
bred thousand dollars BIT least. And
you will have the position Of man
ager-"
well, you see,' said Mike, II have
life Job here. And manager Is sort
Of uncertain. And then, what would
we be doing with four hundred thou
sand dollars at our agef No, mister,
nobody's going to jockey me out Of my
Job. / earn my ten, and III 60 on earn
ing It till die. And say II there's
any trouble about Jim, Just remember
that he's good boy, and I stand by
him to the last penny Of my four hun
dred thousand Remember that, will
your
1t was Ellery's lawyer who came
next. He came humbly, to beg Mike to
consent to an agreement whereby he
could wriggle out Of his liabilities and
escape the charge Of fraud. Mike
signed the papers without looking par
ticularly. He only assured himself
that his Job was not being taken away
from him.
"You see." he explained to the law
yer, who had the grace to look
ashamed, now that there's only the
wife to take care for, guess my ten
week will provide for us-wont II,
Nora, grip
And all his anger against his daugh-
ter died. II was his money, after all,
that was buying her those gowns, had
bought the car, was providing for her
every minute.
If he had pressed Ellery he would
have been rich man, but life would
have been utterly empty for him. Be
cause he rclInqushed all, he gained
all. For the day came when his dnugh.
ter kneeled before him and Nora, I'M
plOring for forgiveness.
"All that we have Is yours" she
said. "Forglve us Jim wants you to
live with us, and-and you can keep
your job II you want to, and-and
when baby comes we're going to name
him Michael, or Nora, II IT'S girl.
Won't you come father? MOther?"
Sure and I'll come" said Mike, clap
ping on his hat, 10 find vent for his
emotion. But keep the job, Kath.
leen I"
Mn:no Mrt.. F.