Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-03-22

out he SAID never a word; lust took
his pay with the rest, and thanked
me, and went off
The next morning was very
busy, and although l thought of nv
gentleman once or twice, l didn't
manage TO get down to the wreck
till noon, soon after the whistle had
blown for knocking off work.
When | got there saw the Italians
lying round on the ground or squatting
on the fences, eating their back bread
and sausage, and chattering away as
usual; but no sight of my gentleman
in the flannel shirt.
Ono! said | TO myself. 'One day
was enough for him, was ito And I
thought it would have been enough for
me- too. When you are not used to
the swing of pick. the way it takes
you in the back is something beyond
belief. | turned to come away. and
%! there he was, sitting off in cor
ner by himself, all crouched up. with
great hunch Of bread in one hand and
book in the other.
u strol.ed up behind him and looked
over his shoulder at the book. 1t was
an Italian grammar. sir!
MY shadow failing on the book
startled him, and he looked up. | sup
pose | must have looked as astonished
as ! felt. for he smiled and said: L
couldn't afford to lose such an oppor-
tunity. The boss is very friendly. and
have learned several phrases. Buon
giorno, signore!'
Are you a schoo,master.' I asked,
and working down in that hole?'
No., he said, quietly. 4 am book
keeper. 1t is "A great advantage for
a bookkeeper to be able to read and
answer foreign letters. and although
| have some knowledge of French, y
has never come in my way to hear Ital-
ian spoken. So now is my chance. got
this grammar for Is cents he added,
turning il over, with a smile-the book
was pretty ragged and one cover was
gone-'and am getting on pretty
we'll
why in the name of everything
foolish didn't you apply for position
as bookkeeper,' | asked, instead of this
kind of thing?'
Nobody will take a bookkeeper
without references. l shouldn't think
much of firm that did, suppose he
said, flushing. My references were
in my wallet that was stolen, and il
will be week and more before get
new ones, as my native town is off the
main lines and letters take good while
to get there. I've always been fond of
open air and exercise he added. with
quizzical look at the hole where he
had been digging, and now l am get
ting lots of it,
Back stiff?' | suggested.
So, so! I'll manage, though-often
been worse after a days rOwing-and
this is just as good bread as any other
and he took a bite out of his hunch
and looked at his book, as much as TO
say he had talked enough and wanted
to be back at his grammar.
81 walked off and didn't see him again
till he came for his pay in the even
ing, shaky again, but smiling as if he
had had an excursion down the har-
bor. So il went on till the fourth day.
Every day | looked TO see hin give out;
bnt his pluck kept him up. and its my
belief he would have worked in that
hole and got stronger and stronger-if
something hadn't turned up.
THE fourth day | was sitting in the
office, when the door opened and in
came Green, from the boiler works !
over the way. Morning, he said. DO
you know Of bookkeeper? Our poor
fellow, who's been sick for so long. died
yesterday. | have TO think about get
ting another
81 shook my head, but an idea came
to me.
VIII you take a man on trial?'
"'What kind Of a man . asked Green.
well, ! hardly know said /. I'll
think he's a pretty good kind. but I've
only known him four days. | can an
swer for his power of work, and told
the mans story.
Green went out with me, saw the
young man, liked his looks and en-
gagged him on the spot. He finished his
days work, came out of his hole in
the mud, shook hands with me and the
next day found home for the rest
of his life.
That is seven or eight years ago,
and he has been at the boiler works ever
since. II he's not TO be made part
ner soon I've been misinformed today
and that is what put him into my
head when you were talking about
pluck just now. That man. sir, had
the real article; and when a man has
the real article. and is honest to boot,
don't talk TO me about his not succeed
ing in life Going? Wen, good morn
ing! Good luck to you in your new
venture, and let your watclwulL be
Pluck!"