The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-12-17

held William in his arms the first time
he was ever inside OF foundry--Wil-
liam came to him one afternoon AS he
was pushing fiat pattern In and out
under the jig saw, and, throwing of
the leveil told him that he wanted TO
have talk with him. They sat down on
the bench. and William picked up a
pair of compasses and dug the points
into the bench as he spoke. He told
"Old Rofrey" that he thought the lat
ter had worked about long enough and
was entitled TO rest after his years
of faithful service, but he did not look
81 him as he said so, and the old man
was glad that he did not. For when
"Old Roirey" pulled off his spectacles
to wipe them, William might have
thought the moisture that dimmed their
brightness was the rheum of age, and
try, as he might, he could not keep
his hands from trembling.
IF IL is about them car wheels, Will
lam" he began. in faltering voice.
"Not bit Of IT," said William, re-
nrsuringly. II had forgotten all about
that never thought anything Of IT.,
anyway. I've been thinking over this
up. Sullivan will take your place.
though | know he won't be able 20
handle il as well as you. That re-
minds me, Roffey, it's part OF the
arrangement that l can call on you
al any time and get your advice when
/ want it,"
"old Roffey" pulled himself to-
gether with an effort as his daughter
came downstairs and told her he be-
lieved he would take a walk. He put
on his old plush cap and overcoat and
stood still while his daughter brushed
him down energetically with whisk
broom; then he went out and stood
on the sidewalk for few minutes
looking up and down the street, un-
decided which way he should 60. As
he stood there Hayes, the bartender
at Jim Payson's place, came up and
stopped 10 offer his congratulations
"They tell me you're a gentleman
now, Mr.. Roffey," he said. Nothing
10 do but amuse yourself"
That's it," assented "0ld Roffey."
dryly, nothing TO debut amuse my
self"
you're in mighty big luck" said
Hayes, enviously. "Most OF them when
they've worn a man out and amt got
no more use for him turn him off and
LET him starve il he amt got nothing
laid by He must be a good man 10
fwY LOO ~
Hes all of that" said "old Rof-
fey" with fervor.
lie did not stay out long, however.
He walked up the street and down
the street, and in the course OF his
walk he met a number OF his acquaint-
nnces, who felicitated him heartily, but
with the same sort of wistful envy
that the barkeeper had shown. The
old man almost decided that they must
be- right and that lie was lucky. Then
ne went in and smoked thoughtfully
until dinner.
In the afternoon he yielded TO the
impulse that had been strong upon
him for days and went over TO the foun-
dry. IL seemed 10 him as he passed
into the cinder-strewn and sloppy yard
with its stacks OF charred TASKS and
litter az scrap iron that he had been
away for years. Looking up on the
bank at the rear OF the building he
saw that the cupola was sending aloft
It's sheet OF flame, while half n dozen
men were staggering TO and from the
mouth OF the raging furnace laden with
pig iron and broken castings which
they threw in with mighty heavings
under the direction Of Murphy. the fore
man. Murphy barely nodded TO "0ld
Roiley," and almost Immediately
poured forth bighting stream OF pro-
family on the devoted head of one Of
the helpers who was in the act OF pitch
ing some wrought iron into tho cupola
None OF the others made any sign OF
recognition. They were too busy.
minute later he was standing in
side watching the men trotting up with
the hented, clay-lined ladies with the
interested air of one 10 whom the
sight was new. Charley Stokes was
there. and Scotch Dave, Tom Burton
and Little Pete. Fritz Schiller, the
stuhby, dark-browed importation from
the Black forest. was standing with his
long pole poised TO poke the clay stop
ping from the cupola spout, and Will
liam was standing behind him, anxious
and obscrvant, but none Of them had
word for him-hardly a look or n
smile-they were all busy.
AS Re passed out into the cleaning
room, where the men were plying ham
mers AID chisels chipping the jagged,
shell-like edges from the castings. the
old man felt momentary impulse to
see whether his hand had lost It's Gun
ming, but they were all busy and he
had not the courage 20 interrupt them.
lie would go up TO the pattern room.
Sullivan was there, but he was too in
tent on his work at the lathe 10 notice
his visitor at first. "Old Rofrey"
glancel curiously around the room.
Nothing was changed but the draught-
ing table; that was moved over 10 the
window. lie looked at his old locker