The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-10-20

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he would have gone In pretty quick
time. But there was look in his eyes
well, l hardly know how to describe
it, but the man was desperate, and
had some reason for being so.
"'What kind of work do you want"
l said, putting down the paper again.
"'Any kind
"'You mean that?
81 do. Anything that will put
bread in the mouths Of - he choked
little, and stopped. Then, came
from Canada two days ago. with my
wife and three children, and was
robbed in the train of my wallet l
have not n penny
"'Come with me" said. And he
followed me out of the works. His
story might be true, or it might not.
but had thought of way to test the
metal of which he was made.
"The Stark Mill, in which had some
interest, had been partly burned few
days before, and had gang at work
clearing away the rubbish. A dirty job
it was; the men were up to their
waists half the time in mud and Wa
ter, and the whole place was muddle
Of rusty iron and burnt timbers and
what nOt-loOked like the end Of the
world, and the wrong end at that.
"The gang l had on We're mostly
Italians-it was too dirty work for
Yankee to touch, and even the Irish
were shy of it, They were little, dark,
monkey-looking fellows. working
away, and chattering in their unearth-
ly gibberish. l glanced from them to
my gentleman, with his clear white
skin, and hands which showed that.
whatever trade he had worked at,
clearing away wreckage hadn't been
part of it-though he looked like one
who might have taken good deal OF
exercise in athletic sports.
"'Here is job!' l said. The only
one l know Of How do you like it!
"'Well enough he said, as cool as
possible.
you'll get dollar and half
day. l told him. You'll get your
death, too probably. When Will you
60 to work.
"'ln an hour he said. Well. off he
long "pig-tails" of the Celestials are
went, ana I hardly expected to see
him again. But before the hour was
out he was back again. in flannel
undershirt and a pair Of old trousers.
He took his pickaxe, and down he
went into that hole as II it was 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, ana
strolled round by the wreck two or
three times in the afternoon, making
some errand, you understand, In that
direction.
THAT man was working, sir, like a
like a house afire. 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 4 mus
cular fellow, you could see with half
an eve that he had never done such
work in his life before.
"The sweat poured down his face
like rain. but he never stopped, never
looked up, or knew that I or any one
else was near-just plodded away.
swinging that pick as if there were
nothing else in the world.
"'That's pluck!' said to myself. If
he doesn't die he'll do"
"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 a word; just took
his nav with the rest, and thanked me,
and went of.
"The next morning was very busy,
and although thought of my gentle
man once or twice, didn't manage to
| get down TO the WTeCk III HooH,s Sooi
after the whistle had blown for knock
ing off work.
"When l got there, l saw the ltal-
ians lying round on the ground or
suuatting on the fences, eating their
black bread and sausage, and chatter
ing away as usual; but no sight OF my
gentleman in the flannel shirt.
"'Oho" said to myself. One day
was enough for him, was it? And
l thought it would have been enough
for me, too When you are not used
to the swing of pick, the way 1t
takes you in the back is something be-
yond belief. turned to come away,
and 10. there he was, sitting OF in
corner by himself, all crouched up
with a great bunch Of, bread in one
hand and book in the other.
a.I strolled up behind him and look
ed over his shoulder at the book. 1t
was an Italian grammar, sir!
"AIy shadow falling on the bcok
startled him, and he looked up.
SUPPOSE 1 must have looked as aston
isl,edasI felt, for he smiled, and said