after Scoville's funeral. The machinery here
needs overhauling."

The men stood impassive for a moment. Finally a big Dane stepped up
and said:

"We be no minded to quit work these times. We no can afford it. Give
us work in some other place."

Mr. Hardy looked at him and replied quietly:

"The wages will go on just the same while you are out."

There was a perceptible stir among the men. They looked confused and
incredulous. Mr. Hardy still looked at them thoughtfully.

Finally the big Dane stepped forward again and said, speaking more
respectfully than he did at first:

"Mr. Hardy, we be thinking maybe you would like to help towards him the
family of the dead and others as be hurt. I been 'pointed to take up
purse for poor fellows injured. We all take hand in't. My brother be
one lose his two eyes."

A tear actually rolled down the grimy cheek of the big fellow and
dropped into the coal-dust at his feet. Mr. Hardy realised that he was
looking at a brother man. He choked down a sob, and, putting his hand
in his pocket, pulled out all the change he had and poured it into the
Dane's hand. Then, seeing that it was only four or five dollars, he
pulled out his purse and emptied that of its bills, while Burns, the
foreman, and all the men looked on in stupefied wonder.

"No, no thanks! I'll do something more."

Mr. Hardy walked away feeling as if the ground were heaving under him.
What was all his money compared with that life which had been
sacrificed in that gas-poisoned sepulchre! He could not banish from
his mind the picture of that face as it looked to him when he drew back
the sheet and looked at it.

Mr. Hardy hurried back to the office through the yard, and sat down at
the well-worn desk. The mail had come in, and half a dozen letters lay
there. He looked at them and shuddered. What did it all amount to,
this grind of business, when the heartache of the world called for so
much sympathy! Then ever him came the sense of his obligations to his
family; Clara's need of a father's help; George going to the bad; Alice
in need of sympathy; his wife weeping even now at home; the church and
Sunday School where he had been of so little use; the family of
Scoville to be provided for; the other injured men to be visited;
improvements for the welfare of the men in the shops to be looked
after; the routine of his business--all these things crowded in upon
him, and still he saw the face and heard the