All-Wool Morrison

conducted woolen-mill business; in the peace that descended on the office afternoons he put out of

wn in Marion that he reserved afternoons

t himself in his bachelor apartment and warmed i

x men filed in. He knew them well. They were from the Marion Chamb

too early to see the m

pea

y-two hours too ear

and were told he had lef

the mayor-he cooms

s caused him to hesitate. "He is supposed to coom frae the mill at ten o'clock, antemeridian! Postmeridian, Master Morrison, of

exchanged wise grins, suggestiv

orted by the ever-springing hope that this intrusion might

despondently, because Morrison greeted the gentlemen with breezy hosp

! I am at y

n invited to meet Mr. Daunt at lunch," said Despea

in

that we'd like your opinion of him and

Stewart, heartily. "But I have on

efore they started up-river. Told me to get the boys together and come for lunch. But if it's to put the water-power of this state on a bigger

l the good that can come to us, by our own efforts or through the aid of

e. Of course, we knew it-but there's nothing like having a right-out word of mouth."

father was a Morrison and my mother a

quired Despeaux, pausing in th

cautio

t a man like the big S

ple

ve a man out getting me some facts about what kind of a devil's mess is being stirred up all of a sudden to-day in polit

e same perspicacity would have detected something hard under the smooth surface of Despeaux's early politeness. Mr. Despeaux wa

y put more of a snap

feet on the floor. That was a good job you did in the legislative lobby two years ago for the crowd that ca

Morrison! You beat a grand and comprehensive p

e wise to the scheme. I know why you have called on me to-day. But you haven't put me on record.

caught us foul two years ago because you jumped the newspapers into coming out with broadsides about a thing they did

l franchise bill, as it w

been educated to understand that broad-gaged co

ow you have hired is a mighty fine press-age

lopment this year will be ticketed before an underst

nd see whether I'll understand! Ti

in the manger of

stulatory murmu

ested a committeeman. "We're waiting to be shown. In the mean time, w

dog, boys! That's what I am. So you thi

ers belong to the people. The people have a right to realize on their property! Morrison, considering what kind of a free gift you had handed to you, you've got to be

d in no time by a stream from a squir

ame-calling proposition," rejoined Despeaux, "I'll bid you

an turned back, however.

s are beginning to think

outside capital has bee

re new

new shoes." There was a snarl of ire from the shoes every time the retreating chairman

rison picked out what were patently his personal letters before surrendering the others to the girl to be opened and assorted. Mac Tavish waited till his master had gone through his personal mail. The paymaster maintained a demeanor of what may be terme

f a paper-slitter and whistled "The Campbells Are Coming, Hurrah, Hurr

rtlin' o'er it!"

ied Stewar

es flimmer in yer nodd

ets whiffed from your head if you'd go out for your lunch in

his stool and marched t

e o' yer spunk,

ted the master, leani

ss loons to coom and bea

to give 'em all a chance to lay their cards, face up, on the table. But, pu

d that metaphor. A burning match will not ignit

the toe o' yer boot for 'em. Such was ca'd for when he

ets to slamming ahead in his own line, you know. All of us ought to stop short once in a while and make a cold, calm estimate. Take account of stock! Balance th

und in his

f the Conawin Mills on the

figures in my case! I hope there's a ba

is temples. Mac Tavish tiptoed away. Morrison had apparently prostrated hi

'phone, Mr. Morrison,"

that quarry had broken cover and that Mr. Blanchard had not been able to confuse the trail by dragging across it an anise-bag; in fact, Morrison had said so over the telephone just before he hung up. "Get m

vish and brought the old man around on his stool by a clap on the shoulder. "A devil of a mo

? W

ft me sitting on an empty shell! The mice have made away with the cheese from under me. They have engineered a combine!

artie, wi'ou

rt. He has shown 'em a good thing. They're ready to run in! And the de

mpany ye'll

l run away from the mice in

i' me, Master Morri

wit

ter chance to break fro

ain wi' the claith

, backed up by a

n tell ye how I hae been list'nin' for yer interests till ten o' the clock each forenoon,

Morrison hurried to meet him.

play straight po

state-in tim

tors and Representatives who are clearly and i

the chosen!" s

be referred to the full bench instead of being left

storage, with all due respe

dence-and the courts are obliged to m

as the power to name, will have the machinery to distribute all state patronage and to make the legisla

Stewart!" adm

hard to undo it, no matter what th

aying the game strictly according to the legal rules. The legal rules, understand! On the outside!" Dow's emphasis on c

ng away. "Keep in the habit of talking out loud w

ways. "I have had to burrow deep for it. It ought to be saved carefully-to do business wi

of the people. See if

e manner of his me

ccording to the stric

but not s

s, returns not signed in open town meeting or otherwise defective on account of strictly technical errors, no matter how plainly the intent

litting! Why can't they

returns and have 'em quietly and secretly corrected where it was a case of adding a safe man to the legislature. I know that, Stewart. I know how to make some of my close friends

it?" Morrison exploded. "I don't believe that Senator Cor

d to cut sharp corners on two wheels of the four of the old wagon, in past times when he w

alvin?" demanded Morrison, not

ey had control of the machinery. It's only what I myself used to do." Then his face became grave. "But, confound

agreed Mor

Trouble Headquarters, Stewart. Headquarters was at the Soldiers' Memorial in the park when I came past. I gathered that they were picking out a delega

icket. But the mayor of Marion did not ap

ed the door

elp. Click o' heels and snap o' the arm! The salute made Captain Sweetsir's previous effort seem torpid by comparison

t, American Legion, and the independent young men of

y, Mr. Co

air. "It's a hell of a note when a bunch of sissy slackers can keep real s

y palm on the shoulder of the spokesman. "Wha

e and I don't know what's been going on in politi

's not try to discu

our State House. What for? They are

owed you across if you boys hadn't been so all-fired s

ans got to barricade our Sta

l, Joe, my boy,

to find out. How are

mething in that line-thinking ab

ison. But the boys have been saying we couldn't depend on anybody to stand up for the

boys keep all quiet and calm for the good name of

port and compliance b

e thing. You've given us the word of a square man! We can depend on you. And we thank you for takin

is hand to take a kitten and had had an elephant tossed a

em to be too almighty busy to bother with the common folks to-day, sir! The Governor with his politics, the adjutant-general with his tin soldiers, and the high and mighty Senator Corson with that party he's giving to

liars in the office of St. Ronan's. He clasped his hands behind him a

ding the boy up-they're piling it on," observ

ies! It was as much as to say, 'I'll be coomin' along wi' ye from noo on.'" The old man's hankerings

g his grit to the mast and planning on what

in the rail, sat down at his desk and fumbled in a drawer and sou

vish had the courage to venture, noted that the place to which Mor

called the ma

book and sat at the lid

whispered Mac Tavish. "I ken

pocketbook," stated Stewart. Then, to all appearances ent

as thinking of

en thinking of

eyes there

that felt

with the old pensioner of the Morrisons a sta

he dress that s

neath the cypre

land, in th

mson eveni

n dress (for t

hite neck in i

oft hair, just

ing loos

ur little quarr

that brought

ed then, in the

ery litt

ickling. So this was it! The powwow over business and politics had not been stirring even languid interes

marry my o

e face; for old

in her bosom I

ll be playing jiggle-ma-ree wi' dollie

t that the Morrison was daft. Stewart did not even raise his eyes from the book; he kept on dictating above the clatter of the rolling weights; his i

e focused stares of Dow and Mac Tavish. He wondered what sudden, devil-may-care whimsy was this that was galloping him away from business

boy, Andy! We do strange things in big time

the dictation and

" mourned Mac Tavish, not

itive and long-repressed sympathy in her brimming eyes. "But I understand, sir!" She arose. She extended h

u!" said

iss Bunker rattled her typewriter. "It begins to look, boys, like