PHIL KELSEV’S FIREWORKS. 57

And Ethan had answered a little
shamefacedly :

“ Aye, sir. I like a good wage as well
as my fellows.”

It was this man’s son whose compan-
ionship Philip Kelsey missed. Before
the strike the boys had been almost in-
separable, and as Grant had a good head
and good principles the Kelsey family
had encouraged the friendship. But
Grant’s sympathies were with the strik-
ers, and the two boys ceased to be friends
when the cotton mills closed.

Philip regretted this greatly on the
morning when he went to seek a hiding
place for his fireworks. Grant knew
every nook and cranny in Cottonville.
’ He could have hidden them in a minute,
and he would have stood guard over
them all night before he would have al-
lowed any harm to come to them. Philip