The St. Johns herald., 1901-02-16
'fUEs," said the ironmaster, "frst
 honesty. and then pluck

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 was full of the sound of great hammers, crashing and pounding; of the sharp hiss of molten metal, and the clear ring of smitten steel.
 ''I was sitting here in this very chair" the ironmaster began, lone day about seven years ago, or maybe eight. Time goes so fast l hardly try to keep count of it in these days. At any rate, here I was sitting, reading the newspaper, when there came knock at the door.
 "'Come in!' said; and in walked stranger. He was young man, about 25 years old, dressed like a gentleman, though his clothes had seen a good deal of service. Tall, with his head held up, and gray eyes that met mine fair and square.
 Always look first at a mans eyes, my boyi If he looks you in the eye, he is worth trying. If his eyes shift about here and there, as If they didn't know where to look, or were afraid of seeing something they didn't like have nothing to do with him! That's my experienced
 "Weu. 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, sir!' he said; and his voice had clear ring to it that l liked. I want work. Can you give me any?'
 'I shook my head. We never took strangers in that way, and l don't recommend the practice at any time.
 "'No, sirl' said. We have no work here. Sorry I can't accommodate you took up my paper again, and looked to see him go out without more words. but he stood still. I must have workl' he said. T would try to give you satisfaction, sir, and tell you l must have itl'
 My good sir I said, putting the paper down, there is no vacancy in the place. If you will give me your name and references, will make note of them. and some day when we do have job to dispose of I will re- member you. That is the best I can do for you today
 "The young man shook his head. That won't dol he said. Think again. sir Surely in this great place there must be something a strong, willing mar can Go It is useless to talk e. waitlng till vacancy occurs. I must have work now, to-uay! It is absolutely recessaryi'
 "It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him that it was absolutely neces- sary for him 10 leave that office and shut the door after him; but looked at him again, and didn't say it.
 "I saw that he was telling the truth, and that he must have work. It 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 look in his eyes-well, 1 hardly know how to describe it, but the man was desperate, and had some reason for being so.
 "syEhat kind of work do you want?' said, putting down the paper again.
 "'Any kind
 "'You mean thstp
 "T do. Anything that will put bread in the mouths of he choked a little. and stopped. Then, T came from Canada two days ago, with my wife and three children. and was robbed in the train of my wallet. have not penny!'
 "'Come with mel I said. And he followed me out of the works. His story might be true, or it might not, but 1 had thought of a way to test the metal of which he was made.
 ''The Stark mill, in which I 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 water, and the whole place was muddle of rusty iron and burnt tiInbers and what-not-looked like the end of the world, and the wrong end at that.
 1.-The gang I had on were 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, work ing away, and chattering in their un- earthly gibberish. I 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?'
 "sWen enough he said, as cool as possible.
 "'You'n get "a dollar and half a day. I told him. You'll get your death, too, probably. When will you go to work?'
 Tn an hour he said. We'll, of he went. and I hardly expected to see him again. But before the hour was out he was back again, in flannel undershirt and pair of old trousers. He took his pickax, and down he went into that hole as if it was an ox,ar;rc- v,o~Sv efr