The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1899-01-21

came to him one afternoon as he wa
pushing a fiat pattern in and out I'M
der the jig saw, and, throwing off tn,
lever, told him that he wanted to hay,
talk with him. They sat down OF
the bench, and William picked up
pair of compasses and dug the points
into the bench as he spoke. He toli
"Old Rofey" that he thought the lat
ter had worked about long enough anG
was entitled to rest after his years o.
faithful service, but he did not loob
at him as he said so, and the old man
was glad that he did not. For when
cold Rofey" 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 be might, he could not keep
his hands from trembling.
eff it is about them car wheels
William, he began in faltering voice,
mot a bit of it," said William, re-
assuringly. CHAD forgotten all about
that never thought anything of it
anyway. I've been thinking over this
fol- some time and I've got it all fixed
up. Sullivan will take your place,
though I know he won't be able to
handle it as well as you. That re-
minds me, Rofey, it's part of the al.
rangement that I can call on YOU at
any time and get your advice when I
want it"
"Old Rofey" pulled himself together
with an effort as his daughter came
downstairs and told her he believed
he would take walk. He put on his
old plush cap and his o7ercoat and
stood still while his daughter brushed
him down theoretically with whisk
broom, then he went out and stood on
the sidewalk for few minutes look.
ing up and down the street, undecided
which way he should go. AS he stood
there Hayes, the bartender at Jim
Payson's place, came by and stopped
to offer his congratulations.
"They tell me you're a gentleman |
now, Mr.. Roffey," he said. Nothing
to do but amuse Yourself"
"That's it," assented cold Roffev"
iryly, nothing to debut amuse nv.
"You're in mighty big luck" said
Hayes, enviously. "Most of them
when they've wore man out and amt
5ot no more use for him turn him off
md let him starve if he amt got moth
ng laid by. He must be a good man
0 work for, that boss of yours"
He's all Of that" said "Old Rof-
ey," with fervor.
He did not stay out long, however
1e walked up the street and down the
treet, and in the course of his walk
e met number of his acquaintance
no tellcltated him heartily, but with
he same sort of Wistful envy that the
arkeeper had shown. The old man
lmost decided that they must be right
nd that he was lucky. Then he went
l and smoked thoughtfully until din
or.
In the afternoon he yielded to the
npulse that had been strong upon I
I'M for days and went over to the S
undry. 1t seemed to him as he t
assed into the cinder-strewn and '
oppy yard with its stacks of charred
asks and litter of scrap iron that he {
I'd been away for years. Looking I'D G
the bank at the rear of the build. q
6 he saw that the c1pola was send t
g aloft its sheet of flame, while half \
dozen men were staggering to and
om the mouth of the raging furnace
len with pig iron and broken cast
gs which they threw in with mighty T
avings under the direction of Muir :,
y, the foreman. Murphy barely i
dded at "Old Rofey," and almost q
medlately poured forth q blighting .,
cam of profanity on the devoted y
nd of one of the helpers who was in y
act of pitching some wrought iron ~
o the cupola. None Of the others .,
de any sign of of recognition. They h
re too busy. y j.
The old man turned slowly away o.
descended the steps that led into 81
foundry, and as he 70 Murphy ..