The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-12-06
''May spend $4,000 If I get this Job
done By 7aoonf"

N0y 1 SpenG S2,OOO II get this JOB
done by 1aoonf"
the ambition for success. I've seen
soldiers fall in precisely that way, too
far gone even to shelter themselves
from cannonade"
For the first time in his life Guilford
Duncan realized that there is such a
thing as the impossible.
The simple fact was that the long
strain had at last begun to tell, even
upon his resolute spirit. For three
days and nights now he had not slept.
For three days and nights he had not
sat down. For three days and nights
he had been wading in water and
struggling in mud and exhausting all
his resources of mind and character
in efforts to stimulate the men to con-
t1nued endeavor.
He was playing for a tremendous
stake, as we know His career, his
future, all that he had ever dreamed Of
of ambition, hung upon success or fail
ure in this undertaking, and now at
last and in spite Of his heroic struggle
failure stared him in the face.
And apart from these considerations
of self interest there were other and
higher things to be thought of. If he
failed now an enterprise must be lost
in which he had labored for a year to
induce others to invest millions.
At last this resOlute man whose cour-
age had seemed unconquerable was
discouraged.
Might as we'll give it up" said Will
Hallam. ''The men simply will not
work any longer"
1T isn't case Of will not, but Of
cannot" answered Duncan.
Barbara heard all as she lowered
over the fire Of logs and busted herself
with her tasks regardless of rain and
WEAKNESS, regardless of every consid-
GRAFTON Of self. She wore no wraps or
protection of any kind against the tor
rents of rain. "They would simply
bother me-" she said when urged to
protect her person. Her face was
flushed by the heat Of the fire, but
otherwise she was very pale, and her
tightly compressed lips were livid as
she Strengthened herself up to answer
Duncan's despairing words.
"You are wrong" she said ''They
can work little longer If they will. It
is for US to put will into them. Call
them to the fire, dozen or twenty at
time, for breakfast. I've something
new and tempting for them-something
that will renew their strength. You
and Captain Hallam and Mr.. Temple
must do the rest.'
A dozen of the men had already come
with their tin cups to drink again of
the strong coffee that Barbara had
been serving to them at intervals
throughout the night. She had some
thing more substantial for them now.
She had by her barrelful of batter,
and she and the negro boy, Bob, each
with two large frying pans, were max
ing griddlecakes with astonishing ra-
pidity. To each of the men she gave
one of the tin plates with half dozen
Of. the hot cakes upon it, bidding each
help himself to molasses from the half
barrel, from which for convenience Of
ladling Bob had removed the head
'This is BREAKFAST she said to the
men as they refreshed themselves.
'There'u be dinner, and good one.
ready when the work is done.''
The men were too far exhausted to
greet her suggestion with enthusiasm.
The few words they spoke in response
were words of disbursement and
even Of despair. They did not tell her
that they had decided to work no
more, but she saw clearly that they
were on the point Of such decision. The
breakfast she was serving comforted
them and gave them some small meas
ure Of fresh strength, but it did not
give them courage enough to overcome
their WEAKNESS. The girl saw that
something more effective must be done.
She puckered her forehead quizzical-
ly-after her manner when working out
a problem in arithmetic. After a lit
tie the wrinkles passed away, and, lift
ing her eyes for a moment from her
frying pans, she called to Captain
Hallam: :