The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-07-30
THE IRON WAY

freight, had lost Ogden for his COM
pany. and 30 miles Of road.
Idle men make no muscle. Gregory
knew 1t, and chafed still more, as he
fretted about the camp, keeping away
from his guests and his a~nxious-eyed
wife. And now the welcome whistle
once again. Preparations so carefully
made were r~einspected. The camp
awoke. Idle men stretched themselves;
lazy mes regretfully, honest ones glad
ly. Buttons, straps, buckles, shoes, hats,
tobacco-all were made ready, forevery
one knew that tomorrow would spare
no moment for broken gear, for long.
ing tongues.
To the very tip-end of the last rail
the construction train had been
pushed, the iron train close behind 1t,
and iron dropped In piles beside the
track, when both trains had backed to
the rear. The little, low car that moved
the iron was loaded; every foreman
charged his gang, looked after his
tools; every man set his teeth for to-
morrow's work.
iNoh5 bClOAC ~ Saihp "1S
aroused. The cooks calls followed
quickly, and breakfast was taken a.
gulp. With the first dawn-glow that
could show a hammer head where to
find a spike, the ringing racket began.
Men on the trot pushed the little iron
car-little, yet how heavy!-back and
forth over the newly laid rails, drop
-I~- erneh c,,nnlu of thn franI, nrA
each time the previous load had been
. spiked a few rods to the eastward.
Another footing OF whistles, and the
trains moved up. The rails rang loud
upon one another as they fell to the
ground, half a mile ahead Of the morn
ing camp. The foremen urged, en-
couraged, inspected, hurried. Faster
and faster the rails dropped into
place! Blow upon blow, spikes and
Sbolts were driven home. And so on
through the hot, late April day. Every
boss was alert. Every man did his
best; perhaps was sworn at for not
doing better. Only Bennett. calm, un-
hurrying, held his men to their task
with neither curses nor buster; and
BENEFITS gang had the brunt of the
fray.
Mrs. Gregory and her guests
watched unwearyingly the great work
drama unfold: the miles, rail by rail,
banded together in the glorious iron
way. At what cost wa it done! Yet
how great was the result!
rs it always So" Esther asked,
looking up at Alfred. Must the road
TO great achievements be always by
way of the sweat of the face, the
hearts blood?'
His look was tender, compromising.
Are they not worth the costH"
Yes, yes; l must believe they are"
Yet she turned away, her eyes blurred
with tears. She was thinking of Gid
con alone under his posies.
Dinner was a farce for time, If not
for quantity. And all the afternoon
men with pals and dippers marched
up and down the sweating line. serv-
ing to the thirsty incredible quanti-
ties of warm, brackish water that was
nectar to the sweating men.
A short pause for supper. and at 1t
again! Night came on, and a MOON.
Eastward they could see the camp
ores of their oncoming rivals. They
answered with their W huge bon
dres, built to reinforce Luna's pale
'ay.
On and on, hour after hour; there
vas no talking, not even the desultory
ntnrinntinnc nf tho 1aU or tho rarcnuC
orders of the foremen. Muscles moved
q automatically. Hammers struck as
'hythmically, but more slowly. Each
nan bent to his task with grim endur-
nee, too weary to protest. Some sank
lown and were allowed to crawl away.
All day Gregory, pale and tense, had
aged up and down the line, directing,
rying orders far and near, calling for
he impossible, often getting the n
expected. He hurried men, scored in
3~eeyiduals, mathematical tools, earth,
IN, heat. He was impatient, fiercely
nsAger; yet, with 1t all, not far from
- very honest heart there; for he was
tghting for the company-and sue
ess. Bearer to him it was than any
I pIioC VI ulo oWh C'Sl "ouiu w.
he men knew this, and honored him,
ore with him, respected him, for the
chievement, which many declared no
ther man could have made.
In the dead Of night, when the air
vas chill upon wet, weary backs
hen men were dropping from fatigue,
nd others, more logged, were work
lg on, praying silently for relief-at
tst, down the line came Gregory's
Ibilant cry.
"Rozel!"
No man among them all had worked
hard as he had worked. Month
month his flesh had dropped away,
s cheek tanned darker, as he fought
S way from ocean to inland sea The
ARE, square frame and the scanned
ce had changed him, aged him sad
He had paid in heart and body on
is tremendous project. And to his
xious wife, praying for this con-
ct to end, no less than to the ex-
listed men, his cry came like a
I'd clarion.
ITS ten miles, boys! Ten miles
one day! There's their camp! Well
Ich Union Pacific rails tomorrow
Promontory!"
Hooray! Another stride of the Cen