The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-09-22
" Es," said the ironmaster, first

those are ine things needful. Speak,
Ing of pluck" He stopped to answer
the summons of the telephone. said
"Yes," and NO" by turns for five
minutes, and then resumed:
speaking of pluck, as you were do
ing just now, reminds me of story,
the beginning and end of which Is
that one word"
We settled ourselves in our chairs.
We were sitting in the Office of the
iron works, and the air WINS full OF
the sound of great. hammers, crashing
and pounding; of the sharp hiss OF
molten metal, and the clear ring of
smitten steeL
II was sitting here in this very
chair" the ironmaster begany lone
day about seven years ago, or maybe
eight. Time goes so fast hardly try
to keep count of it in these days. At
any rate, here was sitting, reading
the newspaper, when there. came a
knock at the door.
"'Come inl' said; and in walked. q
stranger. He was young man, about
rs years old, dressed like gentleman,
though his clothes had seen good
deal of service. Tall, with his head
held up, and gray eyes that met mine
fair and square.
"Aways look first at mans eyes,
my boy! If he looks you in the eye,
be is worth trying. If his eyes shift
about here and there, as if they didn't
L y, 30 110I fxo ~
seeing something they didn't like
have nothing to do with him! That's
my experience!
"Well, this young man came up to
my desk, and spoke without waiting
for me; yet it was no want of man
ners, for his manners were good.
Good morning, sirl' he said; and
his voice had clear ring to it that I
liked. I want work. Can you give
me any?'
Il shook my head. We never took
strangers in that way, and I don't
recommend the practice at any time.
"'No, sir!' said. we have no work
here. Sorry / can't accommodate
YOU took up my paper again, and
looked to see him go out without more
words, but he stood still. / must have
work. he said. i would try to give
you satisfaction, sir, and tell you !
must have it'll ~
my good sir said, putting The
paper down, there is no vacancy In
the place. If You will give me your
name and references, l will make a
note of them, and some day when we
do have job to dispose of will re-
member you. That is the best can
do for you to-day
THE young man shook his head.
That won't do!' he said. Think
again, sir. Surely in this great place
there must be something strong,
willing man can do. 1t is useless to
talk of waiting till a vacancy occurs.
I must have work now, to-oay! It is
absolutely necessary
s.It was on the tip of my tongue to
tell him that it was absolutely neces-
eary for him to leave that Office and
shut the door after him; but looked
at him again, and didn't say 1t. !. :
II saw that he was telling the
truth, and that he must have work
1t wasn't that he looked shabby, or
that there was any suspicion of whin-
ing or snivelling about him. If there
had been, out he would have gone in
pretty quick time. But there was a
look in his eyes-well, hardly know
how to describe it, but the man was
desperate, and had some reason for
being so.
"'What kind Of work do you wantr
said, putting down the paper again
"'Any kind
"'You mean th6tr
~ do. Anything that will put
bread in the mouths Of he choked
a little. and stopped. Theft, I came.
from. Canada two days ago, with my
wife and three children, and was
robbed in the train of my wallet.
have not a penny!'
Come with mel / 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 a 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 water, 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 had on were mostly
Italians--it was too dirty work for a
Yankee to touch, and even the Irish.
were shy of 1t. They were little,
dark, monkey-lo0king fellows. work
ing away. and chattering in their un-
earthly gfbberish. / 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 a job!' said. The only
one know Of How do you like it?'
well erough.' he said, as cool az
possible.
: You'll get dollar and a half q
day.. ] told him. You'll get your
death. too, probably. When will You
20 to works'
In an hour he said. Well on fsej