The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-05

old man: always 'sposed you was mar
| ried to him, sure. You an he amt
! got so you can't hit off together, have
your"
"Oh. the lads got some kind of fool
notion that his health will not admit
of his remaining longer in these parts. -
said McKeon- the 'old man" of the
job.
! Jaw, that's a bluff. You amt goin'
to quit. McDonald?" said Kirby.
NO" said Imrie. I'm going home
for week and then down to that leyee
work below Memphis"
A short, stubby, fiorid person, Andy
Cusack by name, rigger by trade, spoke
up.
You sure goin' down to that river
job. Mr.. Imrie?" he said rs that a
fact?"
1T surely is" replied Imrie, with a
smile.
Il heard somethin like that, talkin'
round on the job. you know contin-
it was SO. Twas Chaplin as told me.
Who do YOU 'spose uuittin'g says
Chaplin. Don't know says l. 'Whog
The 'sistant SUPER says he. You're a
liar says !. just like that: for. why is
he quittin this job. says L. before It's
finished. an him with a girl in Lemont.
too, an a -
onuL up, SuSdch, Sdlu lflIle, SHdil
ly
"AT right, sir" promptly replied the
little mar, very business-like; as though
he was /5eying an order TO make line
fast or 80 up on top OF a derrick.
McKeon emitted a chuclxle that came
from away down in the cavernous
depths of his throat. and winked at
Kirby. The bookkecper grinned and
took time to wipe the perspiration
h,.Cx hi tr.ia 10
look severe. but across his face sped a
moinentary shadow of pain, as if a sad
memory had been recalled.
One after the other most of the old
hands Intercepted the young man on
the why and the wherefore of his pros
Dective movement. and added in crude
and inelegant terms solemnly and with
respect, or Familiarity. like Kirby (for it
was pay-nighO, an expression Of their
surprise and regret. and a hope that
thew would meet on some other jobs of
the companv's. Stewart Brough, stone
setter. stumbled around or his fiat feet,
getting his long and skinny body in the
way of the file Of men while this was
going on. ana finally grasped Imrie's
nand in his own mortar-crusIed paw.
He shook it heavily and tapped the SUI
perintendent's coat with the end of his
bony finger while he said ''Weel guild
luck to We. lad, and mind what Alive
Away; telt We about discriminating
between the guild and the bad Night
and dav the de'll's abroad on the high
way, yell mind"
And no one knows it better than
YOU. Stewart for YOU have met him
often and succumbed." said Imrie, with
a laugh.
IF he don meet him tonight, don
know" began Cusack; with the coin
in his pocket an his bowels cryin' out
So YOU can hear their sufferin' cries for
a little drop that they have n had since
last pay, an the beautiful He con-
tinued on in a low humble. getting no
attention to his words, and expecting
none. and perfectly satisfied thus.
"Weel. guid-bye and guild luck to We,
he blurted out at last. pumping Imrie's
arm again.
I'm not going for five or six days,
Stewart said Imrie-
so ye're not. Weel, guid-bye if All
don't see ye again." Considering that
he was liable to see the superintendent
every time he cared to look up from his
work during the ten hours of working
day, the remark was superfiuous.
Taking their cue from Stewart
Brough. the rest of those who were
hanging around stepped up and shook
hands with Imrie. with a word or two
or saying nothing at all. Other en-
plOyeeS, as they came IN anu lnSeTe1
for a minute. caught the gist of the
and they also shuffied up
to the young man and added their we'll
wishes to what had already been ex-
pressed. The transient hands. not I'M
looked on in wonder.
This your reception day." queried
the bookkeeper.
In fact the assistant Superintendent
was holding levee in the little office. |
and in a quiet. good-natured way re- |
turned the kindly and sincere good
wishes of the uncouth but good-hearted
workers 1t is not an everyday occur /
renee for a mans popularity among his
workmen to be shown so unmistakea-
bly,. and McKeon felt proud. both of
his protege and of the fact that such |