A Birthday Gift,

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 09, 11 January 1908, Page 10

A Birthday Gift,

»■ "Here it is nearly noon, and I haven't given you your birthday present yet." Henry Dunstan, capitalist, closed the door of his study, put his arm familiarly around hi# daughter's waist and drow her over to the huge plate-glass window. Off in the distance, to the right, beyond .the line of the river, was a compact cluster of chimneys, e|ph one sending forth a dense column,, of smoke. "There it is," he said. "It's all yours— tho largest, best, and" most profitable- factory in Willets town.— all yours." "Why, papa, what do your mean?" "Just what i say,. I couldn't tell you any earlier this, morning, as the papers had not coin,e, I, have had the entire- plant put in your name—rtransferred .to you for keeps, to do with as you please. Tho profits are about Bixty thousand a year, . • That ought to keep you in pin. money, eh!" "You dear old" dad. . That's awfully sweet of you. But"— She looked at him with a troubled air. . - "itust Ido anything about it? I don't know, and I don't want to know, about such things." '"Absolutely nothing. I'll look after it, and when I can't I'll delegate it to some one else. I- have my eyo on a young man now whom I'm thinking of getting as a manager. You can. run 0 ffto Europe with perfect easo, and forget all about it." > She kissed him affectionately, and he went over to the desk and handed her a bundle of papers. "You can put these in your safe deposit box," he said. "And, by-the-way,.my dear, here's a trinket for you. 1 had almost forgotten it." He handed her .a package. She opened it with trembling fingers, and held in her hand, with delighted eyes, a magnificent diamond necklace. "On, dad! How could you! It's too lovely for. words." Her father looked at her in an araus:ed way. -.- •__ "Confess to m«, he" said, "that yon wero a trifle- disappointed in the factory." 1 ' Oh, no!" "Confess !" • , "It was swe,a.t of you, of course, But —well — perhaps t was." "And you like this trinket ever bo much better, don't you?" "Oh, dear, dear,^ye.s." There, is absolutely no comparison. v I think X should have grioved about that factory if you hadn't "given me this.." "I thought 50. . You wouldn't be a woman if you felt otherwise." Helen Dunstan and her mother sailed for Europe- the next day. After making the round of tho continental dressmaking establishments and incidentally certain art galleries of minor interest, they wound up in London two mouths later. Here. they were joined by Mr. Dunstan: That gentleman and his wife were- on friendly terms with each other, but no more. They had both discovered that their tastes were- not in common, and had agreed to disagree. Each of them had money enough to be independent of the other, so < it really didn't matter. Helen took it as a matter of course. At the end of the week she and her mother had mado their plans to return home, and Mr. Dunstan had arranged to run up the Nile with a party of friends. '-'Well, my dear," he Said to Helen, "I hope when you get Dack you'll look after that factory of yours." "Dear me, papa, I had forgotten all about it." '"I Seposited four months' net profits from it to your bank account before 1 left— -that ought to be a happy reminder. But there '»s some discontent among the men, and you may have a strike, on your hands. But that"Tfon't matter to you. I got that man." "What man.?" "That young chap I spoke to you about — Hallett. He's a 'nice boy. Good ability — conies] from a nice family, too. Be -nice to him." • ' "Now, dad, that 'soilnds like one of 'those, awful romances you read about." "Well, be flica to hj'm, anyway." Two w«eks later, at' eleven o'clock in the morning, Helen and^her mother arrived at their home' at Willetstown. They were Accompanied by Lord Cadleigh, from England, and John Walton, from Wallstreet. They were steamer acquaintances, and Helen had asked them up to play golf on her links. After Inncheon, ' while the- two men iveie smoking in. tho dining-room and her mother had. gone to tak« a ua.p, Helen, stole . upstairs tp her' father's study to revive old nlernories of .tho one she loved best. 'She stood to'oking out, of the window where before ho had stood with hoi 1 ' on' the. day ho had given her hey birthday present. "Why, there is -ao srrioke- coming out of the chimneys." she exclaimed. "How ■funny." It this moment the maid brought up a card. "Mr. Hallett." She ran doy/nstairs to Hho reception room. Hallett,' the new manager, rose as she entered. "Miss Dunstcin. 1 " "Yes." "I am, as you may know, the manager of yoar father's factory." '"Yes, I ' noticed - just^ now that .no smoke was- coming out of the chim*rf>ys. n 1 "There is a strike on." Helen Dunstan looked at her visitor wLtyi a slight shadei ' of annoyance. It .irritated her, to be disturbed bathings she was hot interested in. ".Well," -she replied, "how tan that possibly concern us? "Unfortunately H docs/ I have -como to request you to 'leave your home.," "Leave o«r home) What iovV "Weil, the 'situation is like this: 1' nave refused to give in to their demauds., and the men are out on strike^

Now, the strikers themselves are orderly enough, but there's a tough elemerit with them, You piobably wouldn't cave to hear the details of the affair. It is sufficient to say that the situation is critical. All around the whole town, is excited by it, and your presence here, especially with your visitors — one of them, I understand, is an English lord, and the other a Wall-street man — only aggravates tho whole thing. Their pictures with tremendous headlines appeared in to-day's paper. There may be some violence" "Haven't you a police force?" "They aro secretly in sympathy with the Btrikers. You pee, jttiss Dunstan, in your father's absence, the responsibility of the whole affair js on my -sfiQuiderg. Now, if anything should happen to jrbu or your mother, ha would naturally blame me. I am, therefore, requesting that you ,kindly withdraw-" Helen smiled haughtily. "I couldn't possibly think of such a thing." she replica. "There is a i;olf tournament on this week, and my friends are entered. lam sure you exaggerate the danger." "Then you refuse to consider my request. ' ' "Absolutely." "You realise- that I am the guardian of your father's property, and that your decision may be just enough to turn the scale against us?" "Nonsense. I'll take the risk." Hallett rose. Ho shrugged hia shoulders -slightly. v His dark eyes flashed- But he did not lose his temper. "Very, well, Miss Dunstan," he said. "1 have only to apologise for obtruding myself. Good afternoon.? "Wait a moment, Mr. Hallett. What is the canse of the trouble?" "Tho men are out for eight hours." "How horrid of them to disturb the peace of the whole place. Why can't they be punished ? Really, it isn't safe to li-'e in America any more." HaUetfc smiled. "I thought you were not afraid," he said. "You could easily" ■ "I'm not^— not a whit. But it seems absurd that a lot of desperadoes shoujd be permitted at large." "They aro not desperadoes. They are peaceable, orderly men, with families to support, (fwhq think they are entitled to more than they are getting." "They're an untidy lot." "They, have a right to live." Any one would think you took th©U' part. You— tb,e manager of papa's factory." "I do." "You do?" "Yes, at heart lam with them. I have, been in some of their homes. I have seen their unselfish devotion in the face of starvation wages, and had I the- power I would willingly grant their demands." ' "Why don't you, then? Didn't papatell you to do as you thought best?" "That would not absolve- mo. Tho factory at present, with, the amount of money invested in it, is only earning what is considered to be a fair return on the investment. Now, if we ahould grant the men eight hours, this would reduce our output about 10 per cent., which woidd bring down tho rate of interest to so low a point as not to make the investment a profitable one. That is to say, under these Conditiqns which the- men want to force upon us it would be cheaper to sell out and invest the money elsewhere. Consequently, from a business standpoint there is no choice. If we yielded, wo would be a philanthropic enterprise— nob ono founded on business methods." "Wouldn't, you make any money at all ?" "Oh, yes. But not enough' to pay us." . "Well, I don't know anything about it,, but t studied »»;once in school, and I thought, it wag terribly dull then. Perhaps it & Interesting, however. If I want to ask you some questions at any time, will you answer them?" "I am nlwt^ys ready to do so," After. ha hatf gone, Helen went up. staire once more fcp. 'her father's 6tudy. In the diotance could ba heard the sound of billiard balls— her two guests were occupiedFor some time, she sat at her father's desk with her head on her hands, looking at the distant chimneys. Then she rose resolutely, went to her room, put on' a quiet street gown, mado her' way softly downstairs, out into the street, and entered into a street car that passed near the gate of the factory. Groups of men wero standing about as she entered the yard. They looked at her curiously, but they did not hinder 'her. One or two raised their hats. She passed on through the yard, behind several freight cars, to the door ,of the office buildings. No one saw her — the placo appeared deserted. She tried, one door and found ' it open. She entered, and mado her way through a long hall toward a smaller room with the sign "Manager" on the door. In front of this door she paused. It was slightly ajar, aiid bhe was about to push it open when the sound of voices camo from within. Hallett was talking to his attorney, Helen recognised the- laiter's voice, with its drawl, as being that of a lawyer who occasionally visited her father. "You didn't succ&ed in your benevolent mission?" asked the attorney. "No," replied Hallett, shortly" " Well, I don't know but I'm just as well pleased. The appearance of ,the Dunstan's on tfie scene apparently complicates things. It has a tendency to agitaie tho men,- but, after all, if it brings them to open, violence, wouldn't that- be the best thing that could happen ? _ Tho moment you introduce violence into a strike, it's over with. Sup. pose- they should stone tho JDunstau [iouse, or se,t fire to it— why, they'd lose their fisrht in no titne. How was the young lady — lei en, I think her name is?" Hallett did not reply\at once. After awhil© ho said slowly:. > she's about like all girls of her class— absolutely selfish, bent solely on hei- own pleasure, with not the- faintest conception, apparently, of anything else. It makes you sad 'to tiiink." he went ou. impressively "of girls like that growing up in this country. It was only yesterday that fho daughters of New England were doiu<* their own housework, and now girls in the same relative scale arc frittering away their time. What do you suppose she said to me when I suggested that the responsibility of having her and hermother hero was unnecosbiiry V "Can't imagine " ' "She- said there was a golf tournament on which couldn't be interfered with. A golf tournament! Interfering with a, strike where hundreds of men, perhaps thousands eventually, are starving. It makes your blood boil to think of it." Helen waited to hear no more. With her own blood boiling with indignation she swept back through the deserted corridor and across the inner deserted yard. Once- more' she passed unharmed through the lino of men and mad© her way home again. She lost no time onj her irrrival in using the- telephone, calling up the. office number. Hallett and his attorney were still sitting thcro in .the growing dark discussing the situation. "Mr. mnelt?" "Yes." "Miss Dunstan. May I ask you to I coma up_ to the hovuo at .eight o'clock ?"_,

"Certainly, I will be there." "Very well. Good-by." Then sho dressed for dinner. At dinner there seemed to be nothing to talk about but the strike. "I really think, Helen dear," said Mrs. Dunstan, '"that we'd all better go right back to town. The house may be mobbed at any moment. Don't you remember" — in a lowered whisper — "how the butler was stoned three years ago during the strike?" "Nonsense," eaid Helen. "I'm not afraid- Especially," she added, with a smile, "with two such good protectors as we have." Lord Cadleigh pulled his moustache nervously. Mr. Walton laughed. "I've got to go in the morning," he eaid. "Got a wire that will take me back on the first train. Sorry." Lord Gadleigh smiled faintly. "Oh, I say," he said, "let's 4 all go." "Well, we'll 'talk about it to-morrow," Baid Helen. "In the meantime I have a man to see on some business, so I beg you will continue your billiards until he goes." She rose jmpatiently. Tho clock in the ball chimed eight. Half a minute later a maid entered with a card. As she entered the room, Hallett rose and faced her. She looked him calmly over. "Mr. Hallett," she said, "I heard what you said about me this afternoon. I went to the factory .personally, as I was curious to see it alone, and as I started to enter your office your voice was quite distinct. Now il want you to understand I own that factory. Papa ga-vo it to me." Hallett's face- flushed. He did not flinch, however. "I know it," he said. "That is why I came to you, and not to your mother." "Very well; You can go. I dismiss you. Ido not care, to have you for a manager any more. ' Do you understand,?" "But " "You cau draw whatever salary is due you, and go." Hallett looked at her full in tha face. Then, his eyes full on hers, he backed slowly out of the room, tho door closed upon him, and he was gone. She heard his steps on the piazza, she heard them on the gravel warlk — then there -was silence. As she started to leave the room, suddenly th,ere was a sharp report. She rushed to the window. Out under the distant street lamp a man was reeling. It took her but an. instant to" reach him, calling for help as she went. As he lay limp in her arms, she looked down at him, faint and trembling. "Please forgive me," she whispered. But her late managei-' did not reply. His eyes slow ( ly closed. • • • • • n It was three weeks later. The morning sun was streaming into Hallett's room — the one that Lord Cadleigli had occupied— as Helen knocked and 'the trained nurse opened the door. ''The doctor told me," said Helen, "that you could move about to-day. I have something to show you." With the help of the trained nurse they wheeled him into her father's study. Then the nurae left them. Hallett had been shot through the left side — a narrow escape from his heart, but the bullet had been found and he was getting well slowly. Helen pointed out of the window. "Look !" she said. He followed the sweep of her hand. The smoke was pouring from the factory chimneys. "How did it happen?" he asked. "I gave in." "You gave in?" "Yes. I granted the demands -of the men." Hallett's face grew thoughtful. "I'm pretty well ashamed of myself," he said, '"to havo thought about you what I .did. How mistaken I was in ye* !" ', Helen shook her head slowly. '"No, you weren't," she said. "You were quite right. I was everything that you said I was. Your words stung mo like a whip. From that moment I was thoroughly aroused. I wasted no time in getting into the factory and examining the condition of things. I talked with tho men- I visited their wives and children in their homes. Suddenly a new-life opened to me. I can't realise all the shallownes3 of what had gone before. I went over t"he books with an accountant. I found that you were right— that the men could not havo eight hours without cutting down .the profits to a point lower than the prevailing rate of interest. But what of it? I resolved to run the factory at no profit at all, rather tfcan that these people should live in' the dreadful slavery they havo been subjected to. And now what is the result? Last night the bookkeeper handed me a report which seems to indicate conclusively that even with the shorter hours of work the efficiency and enthusiasm of the men have so increased that there will be no material lessening of the profits for the coming year." - Hallett looked up at her eagerly. "Have you— -I see you have—determined to devote yourself to the lives of these people?" ho asked. "Yes." "Will you 'et me help you?" "In what capacity? -As my manager?" Ho looked at her eagerly. He drew her hand to him and kissed it softly. "Xo, no, dearest," he Baid ; "not that — as your husband?" And s.he smiled back at him. "Perhaps^-if you will lot me be your manager."— "T.L.M-," in Life,