The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-09-23

VI WDIkiuH ut htu V''ibHes M ub
Induccment Hallnm promised 10 In.
crease the double wage per hour.
which the men were already receiving.
10 triple wages on condition that they
should work In two instead Of three
shifts. Az the work was exbausting In
its nature and must DO done Under
deiugc OF bone chilling rain. this over
tasklng Of the men quickly showed IL
self In their loss Of energy and cour.
sgc. Some OF them threw np the en-.
ploymcnt and made their way home
ward. All Of them were suffering and
discouraged. But nc the end OF the
three days the rude crib was 10 far
finished that even should the floods
come II would still be possible to con.
tInue the work OF filling In by running
tho dirt cars TO tho slowly advancing
end OF the temporary track and drop
ping their contents Into the crib.
Thus the work went slowly on. The
men daily showed more and more the
effects OF their oycrwork. for each was
working for twelve hours Of each
twenty.four now. They grew sullen
and moody Of mind and slow Of move.
ment and Of response. Every day a
few more Of them gave up the task.
aud Duncan began seriously to fear
that q Wholesale quitting would occur
In spite of the enormous wages he was
paying.
With his soldier experience he knew
the symptoms Of decentralization from
overstrain, and he began now to recog-
nizc them III the conduct and counte-
nanccs of the men. His soldier life
had taught him also how large d part
feeding plays In such case as this.
He therefore mlnutely inspected the
out OF door mess kitchen and found II
in charge of careless and Incompetent
negro women who knew neither how to
cook nor how tc make food attractive
In appearance.
"The men eat a good deal" he said
to Temple. "but they are not properly
nourished. must remedy that. We
simply must win this struggle, Dick,
and we've only six days more IL we
can keep the men at work for six days
and nights more wen either finish or
finally fall"
II was Duncan's habit every even
ing TO call up Barbara's house on the
telegraph and hold little conversation
with her over the wire. She was thus
kept mInutely Informed OF how mat
tiers were going with him, and she was
well nigh sleepless with anxiety lest
he fall IN this crownlng undertaking.
Turning away from Temple, he went
to the telegraph instrument, opened
the circuit and called Barbara. He ex-
planned his new difficulty to her and
the vital Importance OF providing bet
ter cooked and more abundant food.
The men have been living ON mess pork
and "salt horse for weeks. and both the
meat and half baked dough served TO
them for bread are enough to break tho
spirit even of veteran soldiers Now. ]
want your help In earnest. II We can
keep the men at work for six days more,
we shall have chance at least OF sue
cess. II we can't. failure Is Inevitable. i
want you to buy lot OF the best fresh
provisions you can get In Cairo and send
them here early tomorrow morning In
charge OF somebody who knows how to
hustle. Send one of my bank clerks II
you can't do better. Send some molaases.
too--in kegs. not barrels: barrels take too
long 20 handle. Send eggs, butter, rice.
macaroni, onions. turnlps, cheese and.
above all. some really good coffee.
Then. II possible, l want you TO send
me one or two cooks who really know
what cooking means. Don't hesitate
you can only find two cooks who know
burning H. TIL your cooks come. I'm
going to take charge of the cooking my
self.
And he did. Guilford Duncan, dis
tinguished man Of affairs, associate
of financial nabobs, bank president
and president of this railroad company,
sat hour after hour ON log or squat
ted before an outdoor fire, doing his
best to make palatable such foodstuffs
as were to be found In the camp.
"It's a sorry task" he said to Tenn
pie. ''The stun isn't fit to eat at best.
wonder who bought It. God help the
commlssary who should have issued It
as ratlons, even In the starvation days
OF the Army Of Northern Virginia. The
men would have made meat of him.
But can at least make 1t look little
more palatable and perhaps improve
Its flavor little In the cooking till
Barbara sends fresh supplies and some
capable cooks"
'What answer did she make to you
when you telegraphed"
Hardly any at ALL" he answered,
"Shc clicked cut, I'll do my best and
then shut Off the circuit without even a
word Of encouragement or sympathy.
I'm seriously afraid she is III. You
know she shares our anxiety, and she
hasn't been sleeping much, imagine.
since our troubles reached crisis"
''That's your fault" said Temple.
you've told her too much Of detail.
If you ever get married you'll learn
to practice certain reserves with your
wife--for her sake.'
''No, l won't"
"But why so sure"
Because II ever marry, my wife