All-Wool Morrison

tor Corson's. He removed and hung up his dress-coat and pulled on his house-jacket; he was prompted to make this precautionary change by a woolen man's innate respect for honest goods as mu

many a problem

d by Grandfather An

ll of the long narrow room; Angus bored him with eyes as hard as steel buttons and ou

he picture of Angus had been enlarged from a daguerreotype and seemed to lack some of the truly human qualities of expression. But it was a strong face, the face of a pioneer who had come into a strange land to make his way and to smooth that way for

came down the room, stiffened by the counsel of Angus, "Mind ye, laddie, when ye tak', that the mon wha tak's slidd'ry serpents to

od. He had been in the habit of fusing their clashing arbitraments by a humor of his own which he knew was fantastic, yet helpful accordi

as sure they would not know! Here were warp and woof of a fabric beyond their ken. He would not admit to himself that he understood in full measure this emotion that had come surging up in him, overwhelming and burying all the ordinarily steadfast landmarks b

knew it was his mother, trained in the way of the Morrisons to respect the sanctuary

or ye're telling me ye'll no' be hame till

idness" of dialect when they were alone

idor and kissed her. She pat

ions to lead him! He realized it fully! His brow wrinkled, he shook h

her and lifted her into the library. "Coom awa' wi' ye, noo!" he cried. He threw himself into a big chair and pulled her upon his knee. "Ye're Jeanie Mac Dougal-only a woman. I need to talk wi' a

he lass o'

gh when ye say it,

he ben, bairnie, and said the lass brings

"In business I tak' my facts only frae the li

d not

woman richt noo. I know the kind of wife ye hae in mind for me. The patient wife, the housew

The proud resentment of a mother flamed. "And I'm no' content wi' the lass who once may win

must needs wonder what there was in the worl

her heid 'tis held perkit and her speech i

frank eyes. He was too honest to argue

t the mill this day, eh? T

ain is to love her the more," he insisted. "I have never been to Washington. Probably I'd be able to understand better the manners one is obliged to put on t

high and flighty

t talk when great folks stand near to hear

el' in the hearing o' that auld tyke wh

the others do. But good wool is ne'er the waur for the finish of it! My faith is in her from what I know of the worth o' her in the old days. And now that she has seen, she can understand better. Yes, back here at home she'll be able to

the lives of mo

when all would go

dead could f

ck and be

oceeded. "It wasn't all her fault, mother. I was younger, then. I'm old enou

elephone-b

of capers this day, wee mither! And do not be worried if gossip of another sort comes to you after I'm gone this evening

n inquiring voice and listened intentl

to the reception. Tell Jock he'll not have to bother with my car!" he said, coming to her where she waited a

ring your business discourse," she apologized, stanch in her adherence to the rules of the Mor

lie!" He folded his arms and shut his eyes. S

filled with

cling where

is easy eno

n't loved

d that lay lightly along his arm. He opened his

sic a lass will deserve from Jeanie Mac Dougal a smile at our threshold and respect in our hame." She went awa

tanding than on the subject suggested by the slip of paper. "I don't know whether Blanchard ought to be kicked or coddled," he confessed. "He's a fair sample of the rest. They don't kick so often in these days, Grands'r A

t, tell him something definite: Blanchard said that he was talking f

ard arrive

hat you said to me over the 'phone to-

y. "Hurt and offended, both! So we st

that attitude on acco

der to get the news that you propose to hitc

osition that we must get down

e water-power commission, I shall submit my report to the incoming legislature.

d inquiringly. "

pose to ask for legislation that will make the public the p

bled the other. "There have been a good many rumors about that forthcoming

d my case for that general court, and customary deference and common politen

idden, then?" pr

t when the prop

interests to get an anchor out to windward. There's no telling what a damphool legislature wil

zing-corners of the lobby or down in the hotel button-holing boudoirs! Now we'll get right down to cases! You have been leaving me out of your conferences ever since I refused to drop my coin i

what is this people idea that you're making so much of all of a sudden, Morrison? People

inquired Stewart, wi

e days. It all leads to the same thing, and you've

st now we are talking of a vital problem in our o

f making the peo

l need to be moving on pretty quick!" He glanced at the

ners

icial report, as chairman of th

rs about what that repor

prevalent,

ison, and devili

his remark by a gesture toward a caribou head, a trophy of his vacation chase. "I have heard a rumor, too, Blanchard. Are they goin

said he knew nothing

sympathized Morrison. "I know just how you feel. The boys who ought

ence getting behind the mask of temper. "I don't ask you to reveal any of

part of the report. It's principle, and principle belongs in every

and of an important franchise I might be considered a prejudiced party. But I hoped I had established a bit of a reputation for square-dealing in business and I wanted to feel that my own kind were in touch with me and

re talkin

imation. "I'm fully convinced that one of the inalienable rights of the people is ownership of water-power. We franchise-proprieto

hat notion in your

a

g about confiscating the coal

in a small puddle, Brother Blanchard. I'm not undertaking the reorganization of the world. I'll say frankly that I don't know just what kind of legislation in regard to the already developed water-power in this state can be passed and be made

ks out of that report of yo

rinciple underlying i

ght and ownership in franchise-granted and privately dev

sons, who haven't even woke up to the fact that it's worth taxing-yes, Blanchard, taxing even to the extent that the people will get enough profits from the taxation to make 'em virtual partners! And as to the million

orrison when it came to matters of business. He did not attempt ar

the radicals, if they grab off more political power, won't be able to rip it up b

e had one of 'em at the head of that power com

ou opposed the principle of prohibition the fanati

right to impu

ry to turn a trick by sticking a sl

ing your friends and associates,

lobby for the big interests in this state for pay

re the people. The enterprising capitalists w

lephone-bell had

s chair, his elbow on the table, and listened for a few moments. "But don

patiently on

courteous in the case of an American Legion commander! Hold on! I can'

and entreaty, and, while he listened, he gazed at th

lf cocked this afternoon! Oh no! I don't take it back. I'm not a quitter to that extent. But I really didn't under

e down. I'll certainly never put an honest chap in bad or leave him in wrong, when

" persisted Blanc

p his hand and

say if you come along with me and pick up a few facts? The facts may give you a new li

e wh

or Union hall. There's a

. "I'm headed for a reception-not the kind I'd get as

believe that a little contact with the peop

es!" snorted the manufactu

o the old rules in these new times. It's about what we may expect of the people when they're denied a showdown by men at the head of public affairs. There's trouble brewing in the city of Marion to-night. What would y

dmitted

ak and plug it mighty

eed t

hurry call and

l with the labor crow

th your own gang, such as they are! I suspect that they're the leading trouble-makers down in that hall. Blanchard, if

t there are three machine-guns and plenty of loaded rifles on Capitol Hill to-night, and the

so! You probably have inside information. All I know is hearsay! I'll advi