Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-03-09

heard Of the converter, listened with in
difference.
The next morning Ogden, in a work
mans elothe', PRESENTED himself at the
Office, and Mr.. Wagner himselftook him
into the mill and gave him his work,
introducing him to Mr.. Ferris in the
tone which he would use in speaking Of
an equal The familiarity was kindly
me Mt but injudicious.
"Who's that young cub old Wagnors
making much oll' said Jake Crawford
to the man at the coal heap besi lie him.
Dunno; one Of his pets, reckon"
Jake was one Of the most drunken
and vicious men in the works. lie
scanned Ogdoa's gcntIemlnly bearing
and white hands with scowl Of CON
tempt which changed to a positive
glare when Mr. Wagner shook hands
with him saying, Good-by, my lad,
and good luckl'
From that time Jake set down the
young fellow as his enemy, whom he
was bound to overturn. Ogden pres
emily noticed that this man shovel him
unnecessarily when he passed him in
the throng, and swore at him uader his
breath, but, supposing hlm to be a
drunken fellow, thought no more about
it. lis indifference but cnraged Craw-
ford the more Poor Richard, whom
he met on Sundays dressed like a gem
tleman, going with hi, wife to church,
became ia his eyes the embodiment of
the "bloated aristocrats" whom he
hated so heartily.
'Pll fix his lordship for liiep he said
every day, aud watched his chance to
do it. Ferris, on the contrary as Mr..
Wagner had foreseen, was attracted to
the young man, and gave him work
near to him, frequently explaining the
processes to him. Osdcn's previous
knowledge of chemistry made him an
intelligent hea-er.
The converter" OF which Mr.. Ferris
had charge, is an enormous pot in which
the molten metal and carbon is subjected
to the force OF terrific blast by which
the carbon is dissipatcd At the in
slant when the right amount IS left, the
huge vessel is overturned into a pit,
where it flows into tubes prepared for
it.
Ferris's duty was to watch the lurid
fl mes Of the metal, and when, by the
change in their tint, he saw the moment
had come, to press on a lever which, by
hydrahjc machinery, overturned the
Evesy'time this was done, steel to the
amount of six thousand dollars was
made. If he missed the time, was a
second too early or too late, the firm
were loosers to that amount.
The men were not allowed to speak to
him as the moment approached. Ogden
always stood near, d.atcned by the
thunderous roar OF the blast, but watch
ing Ferri,'s pale, intent face.
Alter few weeks Ogden learned to
distinguish the subtle change in the
flame which marked the critical mo-
ment.
He told Ferris so one day, jokingly
adding, 81 can take your place now, on
an emergency
Il hope l may not have to call on
YOU" said Ferris, laughing.
Jake Crawford was behind the two
men. His cunning eyes splrkled. lie
followed Ogden home in the dark, lott
ering about until he saw Richard s
wife run down the path to meet him
How Is Benz sal 0 den eagerly.
''Bctter l think it is not Group.
only an ordinary cold
"Ben's the baby, Aha" muttcred
Jake. "Tve got it, I'll settle his lord
ship, now" thumpiqg his fist on his leg
and chuekIing drunkenly
o 5den's watch began at ? o'clock the
next morailr. Little Ben was cough
ing aud choking all nj int; ibis father sat
beside hi, crib until it was time to go,
ard then set off with heavy heart.
"What Is the mattorl' said Ferris,
passing him
"Tha boy is threatened with Group.
l think l could not live, Ferris, If |
should lose that child, said Ogden.
Crawford overheard nodded, and
laughed
At nine o'clock that morning there
was blow to be made, About eight
Ferris stepped aside to eat his breal-
fast, which was placed in tin pail on
a barrel He had some cold coffee,
which he set il a tin cup to warm be-
side furnace.
Look to that, Crawford, will your
he sail, and Jake assiduously bent over
the cup Out of his dirty pocket he
took white paper containing, not
poison, but a nauseating medicine, slow
and sure in action. This he hastily
shook into the coffee
Ferris made a wry face, but gulped it
down. He was hungry and cold A
little before nine Mr., Bcrringer, the
priacipal owner of the works, came in
and stood near Ferris. He never
wearicd Of listening to the roar of the
blast, or Of watching the great ma
chinery in motion, and the rush of white
liquid metal from the caldron.
Are you i'll, Fcrris27 he said, com
ing up to the young man, as he sat with
his hand upon the lever and his eye
upon the fiery huil. "Your lips are
blue
Yes" said Ferris curtly. But I'll
see this through
Mr.. Berringer watched him closely.