La Junta tribune., 1907-11-30

his second pay envelope he did not
commence crossing the street to the
restaurant for noon lunch. When lie
sat down for few minutes Mt the
noon hour he did not double over In
trcmulons heap as he had done at first.
and. though his face was whittier and
thinner, Its fesh WAS firmer than when
lie tirst came. and his eyes were clearer
The boss looked mt him with more
approval now aud was beginning to
see that the man knew things outside
the working Of his hands and that even
their incfficicncy would be overcome in
time by his determination. For the
most part the men We're illiterate. and
many OF them among the foreigners
could not even read or write. AS Pen
nucton's hands acquired working
knowledge OF the materials and his
mind began To more thoroughly grasp
the details the boss gave him occs-
sional jobs of oversight or authority.
for he seemed the best man at hand
for them. At first 1t was an hour or
two of keeping the mems time. the
stock taking OF some Of the materials
or perhaps n commission downtown to
purchase things that required inspec-
tlon and could not be ordered by ordi-
nary messenger or phone: then. after
n year or so. he began to be left in
temporary charge during the enforced
absences OF both foreman and boss.
And by that time Pennlngtons hands
were as firm and hard as the average
workman's. and his thin face and mar
row shoulders were filing out with
good. solid flesh.
At the end OF three years the fore
man started out as an independent
contractor. and the boss took his
place. Pennington would then have
become boss but the new contractor
asked that he go with him as fore
man. and Pennington. with an odd
feeling of exultation and wonder. con-
sentcd
All this time the agent had heard
nothing. and an expression of specula-
tion was beginning to appear OH his
face. or course Pennington must be
dead. for he was man who required
a great deal OF money, and being In
Europe made the money more impera-
tive. The agent was In half mind to
communicate with the nearest rela
tive. hut hesitatcd and concluded to
walt n little longer.
A small portion of Esther Kilton's
property consisted of downtown tcne-
mcnts. and in the last few years she
had become infected with the reform
movement and was remodeling them
with more regard for the inmates vel
fare than her rent roll Several blocks
had already been rebuilt and occupied.
and recently TO hasten the work she
had given Il block To new contractor.
When the old buildings were demol-
ished and the new walls up Il dozen
or more feet she went down To look
AT the work.
Men were springing up to the cross
timbers. dropping back and walking
about ON the narrow beams carrying
heavy loads. and all with such uncon-
ccrn and fearlessncss that she stood
lookin mt them, fearful and yet fasci-
mated.
Poised on the very end of a timber
almost above her was an alert, COM
pactly bullt man who seemed to be
directing the work. Something about
him drew her gaze back again and
again. yet even while her eyes kind!ed
they filed mistily. He was SO like and
yet so unlike. so what the other might
have been and was not.
Presently the man sprang lightly
across TO another timber. seven or
eight feet away, explained something
about the work to n new man. then
crouchcd and dropped to the ground
twelve feet below.
As he turned he stood facing the
owner, and they gazcd for some min