ns just as you have designed, but we've got to get our feet
on good firm ground before we tackle the human problems. You know I am
against paternalism, first and last. I'm willing to give opportunity,
but nothing else."

"That is all they need, sir. Some must be shown opportunity--others
are strong enough to grip it, but it's mighty good common sense, sir,
to open the eyes of the blind and strengthen the feet of the weak--it's
what you-all did for me, sir."

"Umph!" Markham exclaimed and then got suddenly up. "I'm going to take
a stroll down The Way," he said. "Fix things here in an hour or two
and see if you can get some kind of a rig for a drive this afternoon.
I want Matilda to get the lay of the land before the winter sets in."

And then, confused by mingled emotions, Markham bore down upon Smith
Crothers in his factory, a mile or so down the mountain, and attacked
that gentleman in such a blunt and utterly unlooked-for manner that
Crothers was startled and helpless.

The directness of the blows left Smith Crothers without defence; he was
obliged to use his own crude weapons with the ever-growing conviction
that they were worse than useless. Markham availed himself of no
propitiation--he rushed his opponent into the open at the first
onslaught, and thereafter he attacked him fore and aft mercilessly.

"See here, Crothers," he began, when the head of the factory had
invited him into his private office and, with smiles and bows, had
seated his guest; "you and I had better understand each other right
now. You know, and I know that you know, that I am The Company up
North which you are maligning here in The Hollow. Now I'm willing to
lay down my hand and show my cards. I'm going to back this boy of
Morley's by millions, if necessary, and there are millions to count
on--not millions to be made. _Why_ I am doing this is my concern--all
that matters is--I'm going to do it! Maybe it is a whim; maybe it is
plain tomfoolery; every man has his weak side--I have mine. That
factory up the hill is going to run as soon as it is finished; the
Home-school is going to open its doors likewise; and both institutions
are going to pay and don't you forget it! You put one product on the
market; I another. We won't clash there--the rock we may split on is
the labour question."

Crothers gasped feebly.

"I reckon I understand conditions here, sir, better than"--he longed to
say "any damned Yankee," but he controlled th