The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-12-25

went INTO tnaL mole as II IL WIS an
evening party, sir.
''Well, | went back to the Office
couldn't be hanging round watching
the men, or the boss would have
been making trouble; but my new
hand stayed on my mind, somehow,
and / strolled round by the wreck
two or three times in the afternoon,
making some errand, you UNDER
stand, in that direction.
THAT man was working, sir, like
like a house afre. The Italians are
good workers, none better. as a rule
but his pick went in and out three
times for their twice, and there was
no chattering in his corner of the
hole. He had little breath to talk,
if he had wanted to, for though he
was muscular fellow, you could see
with half an eye that he had never
done such work in his life before.
1.-THE sweat poured down his face
like rain, but he never stopped, never
looked up, or knew that l OF anyone
else was near-just plodded away.
swinging that pick as if there were
uOlHlHR else III the NOItu.
That's pluckl' said 1 to myself.
If he doesn't die he'll dot
'For all that, / thought he would
give out after the first day-didn't
think his strength would last. When
he came in for his pay at night. he
was shaky and pretty tired-looking;
but he said never word; just took
his pay with the rest, and thanked
me, and went of.
THE next morning was very
busy, and although l thought of my
gentleman once or twice, / didn't
manage TO get down to the wreck
till noon, soon after the whistle had
blown for knocking off work.
when got there ] saw the Italians
lying round on the ground or squatting
on the fences, eating their black bread
and sausage. and chattering away as
usual; but no sight of my gentleman
in the flannel shirt.
"'Ohoi said / to myself. 'One day
was enough for him, was ito And
thought il would have been enough for
me, too. When you are not used TO
the swing of pick, the way it takes
you in the back is something beyond
belief. / turned to come away, and
1 lol there he was. sitting off in cor
ner by himself, all crouched up. with
a great bunch of bread in one hand and
book in the other.
Il stroIled up behind him and looked
over his shoulder at the book. 1t was
an Italian grammar. sir.
MY shadow falling on the book
startled him, and he looked up. l sup
pose must have looked as astonished
as l felt. for he smiled and said: J
/ couldn't afford to lose such an oppor-
tunityl The boss is very friendly, and
( have learned several phrases. Buor
giorno. signore!'
"'Are you schoo.master.' asked
and working down in that hole?'
NO. he said. quietly. 1 am book
keeper. 1t is a great advantage fol
a bookkeeper to be able to read an,
answer foreign letters. and although
/ have some knowledge of French. 4
has never come in my way to hear ItaE
ian spoken. So now is my chance. go
this grammar for Is cents he added
turning il over. with smile-the booE
was pretty ragged and one cover wal
gone-'and l am getting on pretty
WELL
why in the name of everything
foolish didn't you apply for position
as bookkeeper.' asked, instead of thi
kind of thing?'
Nobody will take bookkeepei
without references. l shouldn't thinl
much of a firm that did. l suppose h
said, flushing. Ny references wer,
in my wallet that was stolen, and i
will be a week and more before / ge
new ones, as my native town is of tn
main lines and letters take good Will
to get there. I've always been fond o
open air and exercise he added. will
a quizzical look at the hole where h
had been digging, and now am get
ting lots of it,
Back stiff suggested.
$50, sol III manage, though-oftei
been worse after a DAYS rCwing-an,
this is just as good bread as any other
and he took a bite out of his huncl
and looked at his book, as much as L
say he had talked enough and wante
TO be back at his grammar.
Il walked off and didn't see him agaii
till he came for his pay in the even
ing, shaky again, but smiling as if h
: had had an excursion down the han
) Dor. So it went on till the fourth day
Every day looked to see him give out
but his pluck kept him up, and it's m
belief he would have worked in tina
| hole and got stronger and stronger
: something hadn't turnedup
! THE fourth day | was sitting in tn
: Office, when the door opened and i
l came Green, from the boiler work
: over the way. Morning, he said. ID
: you know of bookkeeper? Our poo
| fellow. who's been sick for so long, die
| yesterday. have to think about gel
: ting another
Il shook my head, but an idea cam
, to me.
, "'Will you take man on trial?'
, "'What kind of man % asked Greer
"'Well. hardly know said l.