Carl and the Cotton Gin

have received in return for your ignorance a withering stare, a sigh of pity, or possibly no reply at all. Any one who did not know Hal Harling was either to be

ique of a prize fighter and such an abundance of careless good humor that it bubbled contagiously from his round blue eyes and smiling lips. One would have said he was the last person in the world to take offence and indeed on first glance

of the old woman at the corner and, with a justice whose speed was incredible, Hal Harding descend

vicinity teemed with so great a multitude of injustices that he who set himself to straighten them out found ample provocation for continual blows. As he trod the narrow streets and a

gate the broil. Ten cases out of eleven the victim of the squ

server would afterward relate. "I don't know what the fuss was about

nks of admiring worshippers were Jack Sullivan and Carl McGregor, either one of whom would willingly have rolled up his own sleeves in defense of his idol. They

s fun, for example, to let an orange down on a string and dangle it before little Katie Callahan's window and then jerk it back out of Katie's reach when she snatched for it. Or it amused him to drop peppermint balls through the Murphy's letter box and hear the chi

such a hero had

those to whom at one time or another he had meted out punishment and denounced as cowards. For the disapproval of these cravens Hal Harling did not care a button. He much preferred

lks the way you do," she would protest.

giant would shr

f anybody," he wo

f bravado; rather it reflected the self-

ful. Such people are cap

them

ings you would not descend to," whimpered Mrs. Harling

t me," pleaded the big fellow kindly. "I

one," agreed his mother. "But you never

izing that her counsel had failed of

ncreasing loyalty, and those who disliked him kept their distance, she gradually ceased to protest. What was the use of wasting her stren

dy the house, packed up a luncheon, and the two started for Davis and Coulter's spinning mills where all day they helped to operate the busy machinery. It was a noisy, monotonous occupation; a stretch of dull, wearisome hours, and frequently the bo

many of the employés had been turned away for lack of work. In consequence worry and uncertainty hung over everybody. Who would be the next to g

that some of the older operatives who had been longer in the employ of the c

his small, vindictive nature. Only the week before, Hal, enraged by his discourtesy and injustice to one of the women, had blurted out to his face a rebuke for his roughness. It was, to be sur

unter. "Of course I was proud of you as could be; and you said nothing but what Corco

cooled. "Corcoran may fire me if he wants to. But he isn't going

ur jobs," continued his sister gently. "Too much de

If Corcoran should give me the sack I could get an

There are lots of men in Baileyville who have been out of work for mo

t; you say

rhaps so

ebody ought to have

was unfair a

other scornfully, "he was

w it.

r brutes there would be f

usiness to roun

"Besides, Corcoran knew well enough he was wrong. You notice he did not put

what frig

do you

d he isn't

d it is now over two weeks ago that the thing happened. Quit

eover they had behind them an untarnished record for faithful attendance at the mills. Such service, argued they, must be of value, and when matched against much of the grudging, incompetent labor about them should be of sufficient worth to keep them on Davis and Coulter's payrol

er informed her that after the fifteenth of the month, whi

iday plans she had so fondly cherished must now go by the boards. She would have no money to buy presents or a Christmas dinner. Th

and yet dreaded to hear what had befallen her brother. Were a calamity like hers to come to him then indeed had misfortune descended upon the Harli

ed at all. If not, why should this disgrace have come to her? For in a measure it was a disgrace. When you lost your job in the mill all Baileyville knew it and discussed the circumstances, weighing the justice or injustice of the act

d, at last noticing that his chatter fa

inking from putting h

host, old girl," smiled her br

n-they do

lted,

to say they've a

es

's eyes

e's done it to get back at

think

ur

I had nothing to d

uld hit me a darn sight harder to have you lose your jo

s sure it wa

hy

much. I should know there was n

operators they've got in the mill. Hines, one

face brightened. "Why

was not his way to pass on compliments. Had the criti

wfully glad

f, I'll be bound, although he wouldn't admit it. You're quick, careful, prompt and never absent. What else

for that!" s

akes me hot,"

lace because your work was so poor you

way. This is just l

d that. I know I

I had Corcoran here. I'd sh

" inquired a laughing voice, and the brother and

works," snarled Hal. "He

s this disaster. In the sympathetic silence that followe

ared. "He's just taking out his spite on me and he's chosen this means of doing it.

he three

"I don't know just what. I've never worked anywhere but in the mills and I have no other trade. To

announced Hal, with a confidence

shook her head. "Scores of

denial. Who could combat

Carl ventured, deter

like me, Carlie

't be idle,"

ply can't. We've

found themselves unable

ng with the throng of Saturday shoppers that is such a characteristic part of the life of a mill town. The

ere was a c

imed he. "Loo

d to clutch his friend's arm. Bu

ling wa

t was more like the shiftings of a movin

reet, caught up a little boy midway in the stream

edom the dog had run recklessly along and the child had dashed after him, too intent on recapturing his pet to heed whither the chase took him.

crowds of spectators surged around the young hero. Above

's called Midget. That's a fine name for a dog, isn't it? See! Somebo

nto the center of the crowd catapulted a frenzie

ounced, reassuringly. "I guess

he affrighted girl. "Before I'd a notion what he was going to do he was o

idn't," s

you, and to t

he child in her

g out of the yard after Midget. You might ha

I saw the whole thing myself," broke i

eiterated Hal, as he gave th

interest being for the moment divert

he spied Lo

ful of you, Hal!"

ly. "Come on! Let's get out of this push. We'

Harling that this was the only