The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-03-29

In my life. He just looked at the fel.
low in blank astonishment for aminute,
and then blurted out: why man alive
you don't want that job; High Bridge
IS the lonesomest place on Gods
earth
"All the BETTER said the fellow, in
a cold-blooded way.
Very well, then, the place is
yours said the superintendent, and
that's the beginning and end of all
this company knows about Argus
Steele"
Let me explain. had just been ap-
pointed superintendent of bridges, on
this line, and the general superinten-
dent and roadmaster were showing me
over the road ;" introducing me to my
future duties and sub ordinates.
The latter were uniformly ignorant
and faithful, and discharged their
m~onotonOus tasks with a logged per
f~unCtOriness which even the most ener-
getic tracksman acquire sooner or
later. But the keeper of High Bridge
was a startling exception to the rule,
So strong was the impression he made
upon me that on entering the car, I
scarcely exchanged a dozen words with
my companions over the next fifty
miles of our journey.
Probably I would have given him
only a passing thought had I met him
in some select circle of Boston or Balti-
more, but to meet a man of his fine
pre- Sence doing a watchman's duty at a
solitary station in the southern end of
standardization; that was the wonder
of it. On the shelf in his little "look-
out, " at the southern end of the bridge,
were several old Greek and Latin
classics and curious work on occult
science, in rich bindings, which only a
man of rare learning and fine mind
would have been able to read, let alone
enjoy. The man had those clear,
steady blue eyes that I fancy are the
special property Of heroes and poets,
or of those who would become such if
the rich opportunities are presented.
Another thing I noticed in his room
which seemed even NOR out Of place
in his perch on the edge of a precipice
between two rock-ribbed mountains
than did his classics, was the most
modern make of a. wheel. I had
laughed outright when I saw it lean
ing against the wall and told him that
"Bighorn" or Mountain Goat" was
the only breed of bicycle that could
operate in his territory. His only re-
ply to my bantering was a sort of half
hearted smile, good natured enough,
but far too sad to be an expression of
amusement.
From that time on for three years
and over, I saw Steele every month
but the first impression which he made
on me always remained, and the better
1 came to know him the stronger was
my conviction that the man had some
hidden mystery in his life that would
some time come to the surface again.
But never though of this without also
thinking with a good deal Of enthusi-
asm, too, that man had the right kind
of stuff in him, that, whatever came,
he would come out all right in the
end.
Of course we got to know each other
pretty well, in a way. Occasionally
he would make some statement OF
facts, and when pressed for his au-
thority, would cite his experience in
different countries which showed a
wide range of travel. Once I remem.
Der, after I had made an unusually
close inspection Of the bridge, I made
Ghe remark that it seemed as though
an earthquake couldn't dislodge that
bridge.
Think so2" was his laconic answer.
"Well of course 1 don't know"
answered, las I never witnessed one.
But you don't seem ID share my faith,
perhaps you have felt one, and know
more about it,"
Eyes, I have been in one," he re
piled, at the same time turning his face
from me, and checking audibly.
OF course I changed the subject, and
never referred to it again in his pres.
ence until the morning of April 24th
last, just after the s~everest earthquake
shock which has been experienced in
the Southwest since 1863. And well
might 1 refer to it then, even in
Steele's presence, for it shook that
bridge, just as the early morning ex.
press was due, so that the addition OF
500 pounds to it's weight would have
plunged it into the bottom of the ravine
below.
This is how it happened, and 1 give
- - 11C rv1uI1 90 IL $500 - - ~