cent. of the employees of a plant in its membership. The standard of wages, of workmanship, of conditions, is secondary so long as the union cards are there. In every other walk in life we have learned how much more valuable is the law of prevention than the law of cure." "Why couldn't it be done?" Stewart demanded.

"It can be done!" Richard declared. "I have mixed a lot with the workmen, and as a class I have absolute faith in them. At heart they resent restricted output and the other union requirements which destroy their self-respect. They are intelligent, but they are suspicious. They have been deceived so many times in the past that they have come to look upon every advance made by their employers as having an underlying ulterior motive. Their confidence must be won by actual evidences of fair play; but they can be won if employers can be forced to give up their feudal instincts. You know better than I whether that is possible."

"That is already taking place," Stewart replied, "not from choice or a change in heart, but because employers now realize that their future is irrevocably associated with the welfare of the employed. Our own Directors are included in that category. That is why they are willing to listen to you now that James Norton can no longer hold them back."

"I can't believe he would hold them back today if he were here," Lola said impressively.

"Habit is a powerful master," Stewart answered kindly. "Except for that, in view of that last document, Richard might have had the joy of his father's

approval and co-operation. . . . But it is a satisfaction to know the truth at last! Too old to change his ways, but not too old to recognize the possible element of success in what his son suggested! If James Norton could compromise with his hard-set ideas, I see no reason why we should show ourselves less progressive! . . Now, do you believe yourself competent to inaugurate the millenium at the Norton Manufacturing Company?"

"No," was Richard's prompt and definite reply; "but if I could have the backing of the Directors, I know I could convince the men of our sincerity. Then I should call in the ablest men I could find to work out a basis which both sides would consider possessed a fair chance of success. I would start out simply with my objective determined, and that objective should be maximum production, highest quality, best wages, perfect working conditions, fair play. I should establish standards which both sides would accept, and I should measure everything by these standards. I should have the factory represented in the management, and the management represented in the factory. We fought for a common cause in France, and we would fight for a common cause here. It can be done, Mr. Stewart, not easily, for selfishness and short-sightedness are powerful obstacles; but unless we face the situation now we will be false to the best there is in us."

"Buckle on your armor, my son!" Stewart exclaimed, smiling. "I see before me the James Norton I knew over a quarter of a century ago. I see the same inspired confidence, the same dynamic energy, tempered

now by the experiences of a new generation, fitted for the new conditions. Somewhere between conflicting elements there is always a balance. Why should it not be you? Nos morituri te salutamus!”

CHAPTER XXXI

D

I

URING these weeks there was little place in
Richard's life either for Lola or Olga. He was

back now in the big house on the Hill, so the daily mingling with the Stewart family had come to an end; and Olga studiously avoided him. The big house would have been awesome through its emptiness and depressing from its memories except that Richard returned to it only to sleep, and so thoroughly exhausted from his strenuous days that he was indifferent to his surroundings. While James Norton lived, the house seemed filled by the tremendous force of his personality; Richard slipped in and out almost without Hannah's knowledge. She, poor soul, had now a new anxiety to replace those which had been relieved, in her fear that her "Mr. Richard" was killing himself by his long hours and arduous application.

II

Olga deliberately kept out of Richard's way as a part of her self-abnegation. Whenever his routine duties at the plant required him to walk by her machine, the girl's eyes became fastened on the unfinished work before them. After he passed, the eyes slowly raised themselves and watched the retreating figure. But she

could see no reason why he should not stop long enough to give her the cheery greeting that was his custom. This caused her fresh alarm. Could it be that what he said to her during that last conference was really a polite dismissal? Her ever-watchful eyes and ears bore testimony to the fact that if Richard was neglecting her, the "Stewart lady" shared the slight with her, and this eased her apprehensions. Whatever the real situation, her thoughts were ever centered upon him. While she sat at her work, the machinery repeated his name with terrifying monotony; when she returned to the little flat, she found it filled with aching memories. Even those which had given her happiness before now brought pain because she knew they could be no more.

Those among Olga's friends who had commented upon her previous intimacy with Richard, found a new topic for conversation. It was to be expected, they admitted, that the heir to the Norton wealth would throw her over now that he had come into his own, but they were frankly surprised to find Olga turning to Tony Lemholtz after the bitter speeches she had made against him. These friends did not realize how much news of Richard the girl secured from his vituperative enemy, or how important Olga considered it to keep herself informed at all times of the plans Tony Lemholtz cherished in the back of his scheming, vindictive head. Knowing him as she did, Olga feared for Richard's safety, and the habit of watching over her charge still held strong. Except for this, she could not have paid the price, for Tony's gloating over the present situation was almost more than she could endure.