the more prudent Louise.
"There are lots of men in Baileyville who have been out of work for
months. You ought not to be in such a hurry to rush into a quarrel,
Hal."

"I was right; you say so yourself."

"Yes, perhaps so. Still----"

"Don't you think somebody ought to have called Corcoran down?"

"Of course he was unfair and--and rude."

"Rude!" interrupted her brother scornfully, "he was contemptible,
outrageous!"

"I know it. But----"

"If fewer people stood for brutes there would be fewer brutes in the
world."

"It isn't our business to round Corcoran up."

"It is my business to stop any man who is impolite to a woman," replied
Hal. "Besides, Corcoran knew well enough he was wrong. You notice he
did not put up any defense. He just walked off and has never mentioned
the affair since."

"That is what frightens me."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm afraid he isn't through."

"Nonsense! He's through all right. He hasn't uttered a yip and it is
now over two weeks ago that the thing happened. Quit your worrying,
kiddie. There'll be no comeback from Corcoran."

The reassuring words, so confidently spoken, did much to allay Louise's
fears. Uneventfully the days slipped by, and with every one that passed
the boy and girl breathed more freely. Not only were they skilled
workers but they were earnest and ambitious to give of their best.
Moreover 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
payroll. All they asked was fair play and to be judged on their merits.
This demand seemed reasonable enough; but alas, the world is not always
a just dealer and when on a Saturday morning not long before Christmas
Louise Harling looked into her pay envelope a cry of dismay escaped
her.

The fate she had feared had overtaken her. Davis and Coulter informed
her that after the fifteenth of the month, which fell a week hence, the
firm would not need her services.

Instantly two thoughts rushed to her mind. One was whether Hal had also
received similar notice; and the other was that all the holiday plans
she had so fondly cherished must now go by the boards. She would have
no money to buy presents or a Christmas dinner. The holiday season was
a dreadful time of year to be without a penny. Try as she would to