Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1917 — Feldner’s Conscience [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Feldner’s Conscience

By JOHN ELKINS

(Copyright, 19X7, by W. Q. Chapman.) Katharine Worked In the office of the big machine factory; she pounded a typewriter, endlessly printing “Dear ftlr” and “Yours respectfully” without thinking much about the matter between, though she was always accurate and conscientiously earned her wages. How can a young woman of twenty, whose mind dbes not run into the commercial ’groove, be expected to take a burning interest in contracts for machinery, or the price of steel plate? So Katharine did not take noticepf the change in the firm's materials, nor the shipments of the same. She took much more notice of the tall, well-built, fair-haired young man who was quite sure to be somewhere near the entrance when she went out to lunch. They became so well acquainted that after awhile he called on her at her home, where she lived with an aunt. Max Feldner had come to America with his parents when only a tiny little lad, and had been trained and educated with a love and loyalty for Its institutions. Though thoroughly American, he did not forget his fatherland. Both parents were now dead, but Max kept on his sturdy, honest way, keeping alive the ideals they had left him. We w»s n master-mechanic, so capa--ble and efficient that he well earned the several raises of salary he had received. _______ Perhaps it was because Katharine, too, had her ideals that they became such good friends. She was not so very different from many other girls, but she certainly was different from those whose ideals are bounded by pretty clothes, jewelry, automobiles, no work and unlimited amusement. Life meant to her something finer and higher, and she read and studied toward the opening up of larger vistas. But Max went sometimes far beyond the regions she had explored. To be sure, they went to movies, plays and danced like all normal young people are wont to do, but these things did not entirely make up their life. So far the relations between the two had been outwardly only ’ a pleasant friendship, but with Max if meant something much more. He did not mean to marry till there was more money laid aside for - a little home, but he meant to ask Katharine if she would share ft with him. Suddenly something changed all his plans. He wrote Katharine a note saying he had left the factory and was going to New York. He Avould write, giving her his address there, and hoped to see her soon. Katharine wondered much at the sudden departure of Max, and one day went so far as to ask Emery Field, one of the bookkeepers, if he knew why. “Oh, lie’s a crank!” said Field contemptuously. “He got some fool notions that the boss wouldn’t stand — that’s all.” And she received no further information. But field.Jbeganto be very attentive, and told himself he had quite filled the place in the girl's ' regard which Max Feldner had held. - died, leaving her about $50,000. She wrote to Mpx, telling him of her good fortune. He answered “with a kind letter of congratulation; but he ' did not say much about himself except that he was-still looking for work. Meanwhile the persistent attentions of Field, his -kindness and sympathy, were not without effect. It was evident Katherine had begun to care for him, and Emery Field’s clmnees for winning the “heiress” looked extremely promising. In her last letter from Max he had told her he was leaving the address he had given her, he might even be obliged to leave New York, but he would write her. as soon as anything, was settled. Katherine had not been to New York in some time. It was only forty miles away, but she had been working very steadily, and had spent her short vacations elsewhere, so she gladly accepted the invitation of a girl friend " who had married, and gone to the big city to live. Vaguely she hoped she might see Max, but that was so highly lmpr.QbabJe, she quite dismissed the matter from her. mind- —— She fonnd her friend, Mrs. Hempstead, nicely settled in an uptown apartment, and several days went by In a yound of shopping and amusements. One morning, after answering -a whistle from the region of the dumbwaiter, Mrs. Hempstead came, back with the exclamation: “O Katharine! ( yon never saw such a janitor! He’s ■ a wonder!” “Oh I” said Katharine Indifferently, not being especially interested in janitors. -r, “Well if you’d had to put up with what we have, you’d say a long prayer to keep this one. He answers you like a gentleman, and he’s a marvel at doing anything from door locks to electric light wires. We used to have to wait days for eteetrlcillflar: rSSE locksmiths, and he comes right up,, and does it in no time. I’m Just sure from his manner that he hasn’t always been a janitor.”^ “Perhaps,” laughed Katharine. “They are qot generally born janitors.

They either achieve it or have it thrust upon them.” * That evening, in answer to a ring, Katharine opened the door. A young man in blue overalls stood before her. “Max Feldner!” she cried in utter amazement. It was his turn to be surprised, but he gathered himself together, and said quietly; **j’xU the.janitor. Mrs. Hempstead sent for me." —“But—but," stammered the girl, “iiuw.did yon happen to—“To do this? Well it didn’t ‘happen.’ I hunted for a Job, and I found this one. Can I see Mrs. Hempstead?” . “She is out.” —"p-don’t know-Just-what she wanti ed,” he said dubiously. ‘Til have to call again,” and he turned to go. “Walt!” she said. “Wait! I want to talk with you! I want to know—” “You forget—it Is not the janitor’s place to —to be making visits In the apartments.” “Place!” she flashed out indignantly. ,“Xlien may I maka, it-my to call on you?" “If you wish.” he answered wTOi the same quiet dignity* and the next ln'stant lie was gone. Katharine had to manage rather adroitly to find the janitor’s quarters without attracting^attention. The living room was almost bare of furniture, but there were a few books on the shelf, and the place was very clean and orderly. He came in and found her There.— “You were good to come,” he said. “I did not expect it.” "Why not?” she asked. “There has been a great change in our fortunes.” “Tell me," she asked, “why did you go away?” He did not answer. Indeed It was with much difficulty she drew it from him. “They have been sending for me,” he said. “The first time they offered me ten dollars a day, the next time it

was twelve, and the next fifteen. Now they understand I will not work there at any price.” “Why?” she asked wonderingly. “I will not —if you must knowmake those devilish shells to murder men with! To murder those of my fatherland —my* mother’s people! I will not help war in any shape. It is the devH’s work!” “O Max ! Max!” she cried. “You are splendid!” •“T «m nfr- loagt,. honest—at peace Rimnfiy —■“—-—----- She let him know tfiat she wlshed I to kelp him with her money, but he refused. Then she came to him with , an offer from Mr. Hempstead in his | line of work. Mrs. Hempstead de- | plored the loss of the janitor, but,, she j became reconciled when she found : Katharine was looking for an apartj ment of her own, and was going to I marry the foreman of the big works, who was not likely to be again a janitor.

Went So Far as Jo Ask One of the Bookkeepers.