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Maitland this attitude brought a disappointment and a resentment
which sensibly added to his burden； already heavy enough in these
days of weakening markets and falling prices。 In his time he had
come through periods of financial depression。 He was prepared for
one such period now； but he had never passed through the unhappy
experience of a conflict with his own employees。 Not that he had
ever feared a fight； but he shrank from a fight with his own men。
It humiliated him。 He felt it to be a reflection upon his system
of management； upon his ability to lead and control； indeed； upon
his personality。 But； more than all； it grieved him to feel that
he had lost that sense of comradeship which for forty years he had
been able to preserve with those who toiled with him in a common
enterprise。
A sense of loneliness fell upon him。 Like many a man； self…made
and self…sufficing； he craved companionship which his characteristic
qualities of independence and strength seemed to render unnecessary
and undesired。 The experience of all leaders of men was his； for
the leader is ever a lonely man。
This morning the reports he had just received convinced him that a
strike with his workers would not long be delayed。 〃If I only knew
what they really wanted；〃 he bitterly mused。 〃It cannot be wages。
Their wages are two or three times what they were before the war
shop conditions are all that could be desiredthe Lord knows I
have spent enough in this welfare stuff and all that sort of thing
during these hard times。 I have heard of no real grievances。 I am
sick of it all。 I guess I am growing too old for this sort of
thing。〃
There was a tap at the door and his son appeared； with a cheery
greeting。
〃Come in； Jack；〃 said his father； 〃I believe you are the very man I
want。〃
〃Hello； Dad。 You look as if you were in trouble。〃
〃Well；〃 replied his father with a keen look at him； 〃I think I may
return the compliment。〃
〃Well； yes； but perhaps I should not bother you。 You have all you
can carry。〃
〃All I can carry；〃 echoed Maitland； picking up the reports from his
desk and handing them to his son； who glanced over them。 〃Things
are not going well at the mills。 No； you needn't tell me。 You
know I never ask you for any confidences about your brother
unionists。〃
〃Right you are； Dad。 You have always played the game。〃
〃Well； I must confess this is beyond me。 Everywhere on the men's
faces I catch that beastly look of distrust and suspicion。 I hate
to work with men like that。 And very obviously； trouble is
brewing； but what it is； frankly； it is beyond me to know。〃
〃Well； it is hardly a secret any longer；〃 said Jack。 〃Trouble is
coming； Dad； though what form it shall take I am not in a position
to say。 Union discipline is a fierce thing。 The rank and file are
not taken into the confidence of the leaders。 Policies are decided
upon in the secret councils of the Great Ones and handed down to us
to adopt。 Of course； it is open to any man to criticise； and I am
bound to say that the rankers exercise that privilege with
considerable zest。 All the same； however； it is difficult to
overturn an administration； hard to upset established order。 The
thing that is； is the thing that ought to be。 Rejection of an
administration policy demands revolution。〃
〃Well；〃 said his father； taking the sheets from Jack's hand； 〃we
needn't go to meet the trouble。 Now； let us have yours。 What is
your particular grief？〃
〃Tony；〃 said Jack shortly。
〃Tony？〃 echoed his father in dismay。 〃Heaven help us！ And what
now has come to Tony？ Though I must confess I have been expecting
this for some time。 It had to come。〃
〃It is a long story； Dad； and I shan't worry you with the details。
As you know； after leaving us； Tony went from one job to another
with the curve steadily downwards。 For the last few months； I
gather； he has been living on his wits； helped out by generous
contributions from his sister's wages。 Finally he was given a
subordinate position under 〃The Great War Veterans〃 who have really
been very decent to him。 This position involved the handling of
fundsno great amount。 Then it was the old storygambling and
drinkingthe loss of all controldesperate straitshoping to
recoup his lossesand you know the rest。〃
〃Embezzlement？〃 asked Maitland。
〃Yes； embezzlement；〃 said Jack。 〃Tony is not a thief。 He didn't
deliberately steal； you understand。〃
〃Jack；〃 said his father； sharply； 〃get that out of your head。
There is no such distinction in law or in fact。 Stealing is
stealing； whatever the motive behind it； whatever the plan
governing it； by whatever name called。〃
〃I didn't really mean anything else； Dad。 Tony did the thing； at
any rate； and the cops were on his trail。 He got into hiding； sent
an S。 O。 S。 to his sister。 Annette； driven to desperation； came to
me with her story the night of the Match。 She was awfully cut up；
poor girl。 I had to leave the dance and go right off to Toronto。
Too late for the train； I drove straight through；ghastly roads；
found Tony； fetched him back； and up till yesterday he has been
hiding in his own home。 Meantime； I managed to get things fixed
uppaid his debts； the prosecution is withdrawn and now he wants；
or； rather； he doesn't want but needs； a job。〃
Maitland listened with a grave face。 〃Then the little girl was
right； after all；〃 he said。
〃Meaning？〃
〃Patricia；〃 said his father。 〃She told me a long story of a
terrible accident to Tony that had called you away to Toronto。 I
must say it was rather incoherent。〃
〃But who told her？ I swear not a soul knew but his people and
myself；〃 said Jack。
〃Strange how things get out；〃 said his father。 〃Well； where is
Tony now？〃
〃Here； in the outer office。〃
〃But；〃 said Maitland； desperately； 〃where can we place him？ He is
impossible in any positiondangerous in the office； useless as a
foreman； doubtful and uncertain as a workman。〃
〃One thing is quite certain；〃 said Jack decidedly； 〃he must be
under discipline。 He is useless on his own。 I thought that
perhaps he might work beside me。 I could keep an eye on him。
Tony has nothing in him to work with。 I should like to hear old
Matheson on himthe Reverend Murdo； I mean。 That is a great theme
of his'To the man who has nothing you can give nothing。'〃
〃Matheson？〃 said Maitland。 〃A chum of yours； I understand。
Radical； eh？〃
〃A very decent sort； father；〃 replied Jack。 〃I have been doing a
little economics with him during the winter。 His radicalism is of
a sound type； I think。 He is a regular bear at economics and he is
even better at the humanity business； the brother…man stuff。 He is
really sound there。〃
〃I can guess what you mean；〃 said his father； 〃though I don't quite
catch on to all your jargon。 But I confess that I suspect there is
a whole lot of nonsense associated with these theories。〃
〃You will pardon me； Dad；〃 said Jack； 〃if I suggest that your
education is really not yet complete。〃
〃Whose is？〃 inquired his father； curtly。
〃But about Tony；〃 continued Jack； 〃I wish I had him in a gang under
me。 I would work him； or break his neck。〃
His father sat silently pondering for some minutes。 Then； as if
making a sudden resolve； he said： 〃Jack； I have been wanting to
speak with you about something for some weeks。 I have come to a
place where it is imperative that I get some relief from my load。
You see； I am carrying the whole burden of management practically
alone。 I look after the financing； the markets； I keep an eye on
production and even upon the factory management。 In normal
conditions I could manage to get along； but in these critical days；
when every department calls for close； constant and sane supervision；
I feel that I must have relief。 If I could be relieved of the job
of shop management； I could give myself to the other departments
where the situation at present is extremely critical。 I want a
manager； Jack。 Why not take the job？ Now；〃 he continued； holding
up his hand； as his son was about to speak； 〃listen for a moment or
two。 I have said the situation is serious。 Let me explain that。
The financing of this business in the present crisis requires a
man's full time and energy。 Markets； credits； collections； all
demand the very closest attention。〃
Jack glanced at his father's face。 For the first time he noticed
how deep…cut were the lines that indicated care； anxiety and worry。
A sudden remorse seized him。
〃I am awfully sorry； sir；〃 he said； 〃I have not been of much help
to you。〃
Maitland waved his hand as if dismissing the suggestion。 〃Now you
know nothing of the financial side； but you do know men and you can
handle them。 You proved that in the war； and； in another way； you
proved that during this recent athletic contest。 I followed that
very closely and I say without hesitation that it was a remarkably
fine bit of work and the reactions were of the best。 Jack； I
believe that you would make a great manager if you gave yourself to
it； and thought it worth while。 Now； listen to me。〃 Thereupon the
father proceeded to lay before his son the immediately pressing
problems in the businessthe finan