before you open your mouth or commit yourself.”

There was no harm in that. He was in no hurry. A few editorials such as he intended to write would do the business—and he had a whole year!

It was strange.

The next day he could think of nothing else; nor the day after; nor for many days after that. It was labor—labor reform—capital and labor—the “all-absorbing topic.”

Even his dreams were disturbed. The very nightmare of labor problems was upon him and brooded o’er him. He woke his wife crying: “The Pinkertons—the Pinkertons are coming!” He saw vast armies, and saw himself in the front ranks, breasting the shocks of battle.

He could not wait his month out.

He must set about his task, and at once.

Here again a suggestion from his good wifeled the way and directed his course: “Send Swinton to Homestead.”

Silas Parringham at last agreed with his wife. There was a labor problem unsolved.

And young Swinton was his right-hand man—his reporter in the field.

He gave Swinton his commission and sent him forth. A week and no report.

Parringham was uneasy, but his wife counseled patience.

Patience won the day.

Swinton could take all the time he pleased.

In taking time Swinton was but following instructions. He intended to take the matter leisurely, for he was commanded not only to gather facts, but to elaborate his own idea of the situation. He asked himself: “What, anyhow, is at the bottom of all this labor business?” And he proposed to answer that question, using the Homestead disturbance, so far as he found it available,