Carnac's Folly, Volume 1.

ka. Before he left, however, he was with Carnac for near a week, showi

f it does, keep a stiff upper lip, and don't let the gang do you. You've got a quick mind and you know how to act sudden. Act at once, and damn the consequences! Remember, John Grier's firm has a reputati

cuts up rusty, I'll think of what you

s. "I predict this: if you have one fight with the Belloc lot, you'll hate them too. Kee

," said Carnac. "I h

our little pictures and statues. You'll have to deal with the real men, and they'll

and Van Dyck and Rembrandt and all the rest were sentimentalists, do you? The biggest men in the worl

d and tapped his s

than be Titian or Rembrandt, whoever they were. If you do this jo

n he was on this work vexed him, and he only set his teeth to see i

ly. There was elation in doing work not his regular job, and he knew the eyes of the commercial and river world were on him. He did his best and it was an effective best. Junia h

une, and as she entered the office a

rway for a moment, radiant, smiling, half embarrasse

hted. "For many

s usual. I'm glad

: "Not for many moments

d to get a subscription

h is in a bad way. Wil

i

st and they've given a hundred dollars. Was that wise-going to them firs

Grier's, and it only happened he was asked first because Fabian was pre

foe to Belloc, but my father wouldn't have liked it.

prejudices. I'll tell you what he'd have done: h

rhaps you're right; it wa

hing and I saw how to turn it to account. So, if you are going t

the paper on his de

ohn Grier has to the Belloc

ote. "Will that do?" H

y dollars-oh, quite,

atred after all. I'd ha

dred, eh? But that would have been too plain. I

man. I see you've given up your painting and sculping to d

- grabber. I'm an artist if I'm anything, and I'm not doing thi

Fabian's place in it? He's been for a week with Belloc and he's never coming back here. You ha

me. I'd rather do one picture that the Luxembourg or the London National G

sell a picture to the Lu

y. Wha

ll. Do you want me to give up Art and

ill think it a good thing, though, of course, I like your painting. But I felt sorry for your father

and sell it and let some one else run it. John Grier is not in want. If he were, I'd give up everything to help him, and I'd not think I was a martyr. But I've a right to make my own career.

imself-as great in his way as Andrew Carnegie or Pierpont Morgan- and he's got

carry it for him. That's the way of life. How many sons have ever added to their father's fame? The ins

er right about it. Carnac, you have your own career to make, so make it as it best suits yourself. I'm sorry I spoke to your father as I

hat's it; that's it, I

he felt he wished never to let them go, they were so thrill

t John Grier's firm is the foe of the

ickly, and as she went Carnac thought

te sent Luzanne

his death by his own fault, having first attacked a Belloc man and injured him. The Belloc man showed the injury to the jury, and he was acquitted. Carnac watched the case closely, and instructed his lawyer t

he said aloud in the C

en who use their judgment after hearing the evid

nal, I apologiz

its offensiveness, or yo

l not apologize for its off

man," said the Coroner,

on bail?" asked C

you may be released on

ree thousand dollars. Then Carnac bowed again and left the C

n any case, he had upheld the honour of John Grier's firm by his protest, and the newspapers spoke not unfavourably of him in their report

effect a verdict of not guilty; and so the newspapers said. It was decided that the offe

a moment. "I think your firm can just pay the price and exist!" she

"It is a moral victory, and tell Fabian so. He's a

it all. He's sor

Carnac's came hurriedly to him and said something which Junia

nting pictures," she said. "He

e had only been in the mills for about three months and had spent his spare time inciting well-satisfied workmen to strike. His name was Luc Baste-a shock-haired criminal with a huge chest and a big voice, and a born filibuster. The meeting was he

s it?" Carnac

and their beggarly wages. He said they had not enough to keep body and soul together, and that right well did

his was for the head of the firm, John Grier, when he returned. The wages had been raised two years before, and he doubted that John Grier would consent to a further rise. All other men on the river seemed satisfied and he doubted these ought to have a cent more a day. They wer

king him, the deputation withdrew, Luc Baste talking excitedly a

satisfied. You said all that could be sai

occur before John Grier

a strike wa

The Belloc people were delighted, but they lived in daily fear of a strike in their own yards, for ag

trike had its origin in foreign influence, and as French Canada had no love for the United States there was journalistic opposition to the strike. Carnac had telegraphed to his father when the strike started, but did not urge him to come back. He knew that Grier could do nothing more than he himself was doi

Press condemned unsparingly the whole affair. This outbreak did good, and Luc Baste was arrested for provoking disorder. No one else was arrested, and this was a good thing, for, on the whole, even the men th

bout four days, and when he came, found everything in order. He went

a grin, after a moment of greeting. Carna

t. I don't believe in knuckling down to labour tyranny, and I'm glad you kep

hey get bitten there with the socialistic craze, and they come back and make trouble. This strike was started by Luc Baste,

have no trouble w

the attitude of the public and the Press. The old man was jubilant. "Say, you did the thing in style. It was the only wa

surprise in John Grier's face, he said: "No, I'm not going to be a suc

've proved you can do things as well as I can d

ain't the real thing. My heart isn't in it as yours is, and I'd go mad if I had to do this all my life. It's full of excitement at times, it's hard

fit for the job, never was and never will be while your mind is what it is. Don't take a month to go, don't take a week, or a day, go this morning after I've got your report on what

would listen to no explanation.

e kept cool. "No need t