The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-05-20
/" Knockers
Last Granny :
IBy Frank Caldwell.)

10y IdLPh Sdlu WCll.J
Perched high on the steel frame
work of tail building. "Knocker" sat
moodily eating his MONDAY meal.
There was something wrong with his
appetite that day. for he did very un-
common thing-he left the second
piece untouched.
From where he sat on the fiat roof
truss, the lad could look down on any
side through tangled web-work of
steel beamms, nine stories below. To
any one not accustomed to climbing,
this would have seemed a dizzy
height; but to Knocker, who had help
ed erect the building, it was very un-
interesting thing.
Knocker had won his remarkable
name, from the many positions he had
held on the Claypool Building. Begin,
ming in the basement as water boy he
mad worked his way up during the
erection of the building to the dignity
of rivet-beater. That was something
to be proud of, thought Knocker; but
after all, what did it amount to if he
could not become union man?
That had been the height of Knock
er's ambition, to become union man.
and march with the iron workers in
the Labor day parade. But Labor day
had come, and it had found Knocker
keeping solitary watch over the build
ing while the union men were off en-
ioying the holiday.
- L
to tie the square hitch" muttered the
boy to himself, as he closed the lid
of his dinner basket
All the long summer Knocker had
BEEN diligently preparing for the ex-
animation he would have to pass be-
fore entering the union. The day be-
fore he had taken the examination,
and had failed in it. 1t was, as he
said, all on account of not knowing
how to tie the square hitch.
big Jim." one of the top men, and
the boys good friend, had given him
lessons in tying knots and rigging.
Jim had repeatedly warned his
young pupil about that knot. but it
seemed SO easy and simple to till that
Knocker had given it slight attention.
When, however, he appeared con-
fidently before the board of examiners,
and they told him to tie the square
knot, he became confused, and did, the
very worst thing possible; he tied a
granny"
The only difference in these two
knots is that in the square hitch the
two lines forming the loop are parallel,
while in the granny they are crossed.
The latter will sometimes slip when
placed under a strain.
Perhaps only structural iron work
er or sailor would have noticed the
mistake; but among these two classes
of men the offense of tying a false
knot cannot be overlooked. The head
of the examining board. an old man
who had grown gray in erecting iron
work, saw the error in an instant. and
kindly but firmly refused to proceed
further with the examination.
s'They wouldn't even give me a
chance to show what I know about
iron work." said Knocker, holly, that
evening, as he related his failure to
Big Jim.
''Well, according to rules. you can
send in your application again in three
che square hitch"
Big Jim meant that for consolation,
as well as advice. but it fell short of
the mark The true cause of Knockers
deep desire to enter the union did not
come from the dollar and half in
crease in wages.
To Kfocker fearless iron worker
e.. was a hero. What would his boy
friends have thought when they saw
him marching with such men in the
parade? That would indeed have been
q trump.
Three months! Much good it will
do me then to be in the union!" was
Knockers mental comment, as he
looked round for some source OF
amusement. 81 don't care whether
ever learf- to tie the square hitch OF
not"
Just then a band down the street
struck up tune, and Knocker became
all excitement. He knew the different
unions were forming for their march
In few moments the great Labor day
parade w-uld pass the Claypool Build
ing.
Knocker looked round for a place
from which to watch \. Picking uI
a long scafHolding board, he's ran one
end of it far out past the edge of the
building. and hastily maze the Other