The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-18
RICHARD ocDEN's DUTY.

,an,a one morning. about ten years
aro. a Young man came into his Office
whom he recognized a. Richard Ogden
assistant book-keeper in Philadelphia
i.,,,,,4inr firm. MIR. Wagner shook hands
with him heartily.
lie had known Ogden since he was
how. and liked him thoroughly lie was
= teen-eved. dosgedly honest fellow, and
mike most yoang men, always hard at
work. lie had married lately, too. Mr.
Wagner hsd been st his EiIle house, and
seen the wife and baby.
AHilio. Ogden, How came you heres
In the busy season, too
1T is not busy for me. sir, j" said Ogden
rravely. Il avn discharged. The firm.
like ali other Philadelphia firms, found it
necessary 10 lessen expenses, and have
discharged one-iourth Of their men. was
the vounse-i book-keeper, and had TO 20,
Of course.
That j. bad-bad- IL was in the
davs when the hard times were hardest
wha, are YOU going TO do. Richard?@ p
Il can find nothing TO DO in Philadel-
nhia. There are twenty thousand men
then. looking for work. ] came TO ask you
for it,
aMeg Nv dear boy. our book-keepers
have been with Us for years'
Richard laughed.
- an -, , ., .usf Them FINN
their desks. Mr.. Wagner. DO not hope
10 c,s any work for my head. must
pc; my hands to il now. Is there not
place in the mill for me-
Among the hands You don't mean
that. OGDEN"
Yes. do. coloring slightly. man
j. a man. no matter how he earns his
bread. cannot afford to be idle for
week. With the wages you pay TO your
pnddlers or fremen. can support Mary
and the boy in this village, where liv-
ing is 80 cheap, at least until times
mend"
VERY well, my lad said Mr.. Wagner,
after moments hesitation, you are
right III find place for you io-mor-
rox. BY the way. you used to have a
good deal of knowledge Of chemistry,
eh?"
Yes, thought Of teaching it after ]
lcft college"
Very good IN Pnt YOU near Mr.. Fer
ris. he can probably give you few
hints which may be useful son of
Judge Ferris. you know. Educated as
mining engineer but he has gone into
the works, like any poor lad, to work his
way 30 a practical knowledge Of the bust
ness. lie has charge Of the converter"
he added, with tone Of respect, TO which
Ogden. never having heard Of the con-
yerier. listened with indifference.
The next morning Ogden, in work
mau's clothes. presented himself at the
Office. and Mr. Wagner himself took him
into the mill and gave him his work, in
Producing him to Mr.. Ferris in the tone
which he would use in speaking to an
equal. The familiarity was kindly meant,
but iniudicious.
WHO'S that Young cab old Wagner's
making much OFF, said Jake Craw-
ford. to the man at the coal heap beside
him.
Dunno one of his pets, | reek-
ON"
Jake Was one of the most drunken and
vicious men in the works. lie scanned
u.ien's genilemanly bearing and white
hands with scow Of contempt, which
changed toa positive glare when Mr.
Wagner shook hands with him saying,
3" Good-bv, my lad. and good luck ="
From that time Jake set down the
young man as his enemy, whom he was
bound TO oyerurn. Ogden presently no.
ticed that this man showed him unneces-
sarily when he passed him in. the throng
and swore al him under his breath, but,
supposing him to be drunken fellow,
thou .ht no more about il. His indiiier-
ence but enragcd Crawford the more.
poor Richard. whom he met on Sundays
dressed ike gentleman. going with his
wife TO church, became in his eyes the
embodiment Of the bloaied arisiocrats "
whom he hated SO heartily.
I'm fix his loriship tor liie :" he said
every day, and watched his chance TO do
il. Ferris. on the contrary, as Mr.. Wag-
ner had foreseon, was attracted TO the
Young man and gave him work near to
him, frequently explaining the processes
10 him. Ogden's previous knowledge of
chemistry made him s most intelligent
heaner.
The converter" of which Mr.. Ferris
had charge. is an enormous pot in which
the molten metal and carbon are subject
ed 10 the force Of terrific force by which
the carbon Is dissipaied. At the instant
when the right amount is LEFT. the huge
vessel Is overturned into pit, where il
flows into tubes prepared for it.
Ferris's duty Mas 10 watch the lurid
flames Of the metal and when, by the
change in their tin; he saw the moment
had come TO press on a lever which, by
hydranlie machinery. overturned the vast
converter.
Every time this VAS done, steel 20 the
amount of six Thousand dollars was made.
II he missed the tine, MAS second too
early or late the firm were losers to that
amount.
The men were not allowed TO speak 10
him as the moment approached. Ogden
always stood near, deafened by tine thun-
dcnous roar of the blast. but watching
Ferris's pale. intent face.
Aier a few weeks ogden learned to
distinguish the sabtle change in the fame
which marked the critical moment.
He told Ferris - one day, jokinyly ad-
ding. q" eoGid take your place now, on an
emergency.
hope | max not haTe 10 call upon
yon,r said Ferris imagining
Jake Crawford vas behind the two
men. His cunning ewes sEarkied- lie
followed Ogden home in the dark loiter-
ed aboai until he saw Richards wife mn
down the path To meet him.
How IS Ben - said Ogden, very ca
grriy.
Better think ii Is not Group. only
an ordinary cold
H., = -. l,,f..s a.. ...........,