The Washington herald., 1907-03-24
BY ALICE CLARKE.

put bis trunk at the side Of a narrow cot,
and presently, clad in a suit Of oyeraIls.
jim stroiled into the engine-room and
presented himself 10 the engineer.
Il am jim" ne said simply. "Mr.
Travers said that Casey was 20 show me
how 10 FIRE"
The engineer nodded over his shoulder
Tell Casey" he said. and went on
with his oiiing
Casey was more companionable. do
deity elected information as 70 Jim's
place OF hailing and other facts. as he
made il apparent that Mr.. Travers was
right when he said thar IL was not merely
a question Of shoveliRg coal
Coal cost much when il had 10 be
brought from the railroad by a horse-car
system. the cars going down loaded with
ore and coming back with the coal when
| il was needed Every shovelful had 70
be thrown just where It was needed 10
feed the IRE evenly, and Jims arms ached
as be strove 70 learn the proper twist Of
the shovel 10 land the coal ga the desired
spot
II was two weeks before he could be
trusted on a trick alone, but az last
Casey pronounced himself satisfied with
Jim's ability and he reigned over the
stoke Dit for eight hours a day.
Il was hard work for d man whose
exercise had been taken in a gymnasium,
but Jim rapidly hardened 20 Il, and IN
six months il had become second habit
/ He sent East for books on engineering,
and by a mistake book on electrical
/ engines was sent him, instead OF the one
/ for which he wrote. He sat Down to look
/ II over before he sent il back, and 10 the
original book he added others
/ He had been there little more than
I year when he sought out Travers and laid
a plan before him. Less than half a mile
/ up the valley a constant fall broke over
/ the high clin and rolled into the valley.
400 feet below. It was Jim's plan TO uss
water power instead Of steam. and en-
/ ploy trolley on tine tramway.
! Travers smiled at first, but Jim worked
out the plan for him. and the New York
Office approved. Jim was put in charge
/ Of the plant-and the company raised
{ Travers' salary
/ It was well toward the close OF the see
ond year that Duford came 70 visit the
mine. No one knew of his intention until
word WAS telegraphed from the station
f The word was flashed about the camp
that the old man had come. but the first
/ hint that ladies accompanied him came
/ to Jim as he stood in the door Of the
power house. The road led past the door.
and as he stood listening TO the rhythmic
purr of the dynamo. the familiar sound
was broken by the quick beat Of horse
h0ofs on the hard road. and around the
curve swung a maddened bronch0 Wita a
woman sWaying in the saddle.
/ Marsden sprsng into the roadway, and
/ in one tense moment fought the insane
/ brute with desperate energy as be was
/ dragged along. Then the fight was won,
/ and he sprang TO the saddle Just as Mar
jorie slipped. fainting. from the seat
Il came because I wanted TO see for
/ myself" she explained an hour later. as
/ they sat on the porch OF the superin-
! tendents cottage. 7 could not believe
/ that you had been content for two years
as a fireman. OF course, Mr. Travers
wanted the credit of introducing the big
! gest money-saving device in the plant
And he did not remember that father
was particularly interested in you Father
ought TO have been more explicit"
But it's been a good thing for you, 4"
declared Mr. Duf0rd, as he stepped
/ through the doorway. You've shswn
the stun that's in you-and it's mighty
good stuff; Mt material for a son-in-law
/ I'm going on 10 the rest of ny holdings
/ in New Mexico as long as I'm out here.
As you are going 10 be put In charge Of
my mining interests when ne get back
/ to New York. you'd better combine a
/ honeymoon and a business trip"