The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-01-23

wide and looking groteslue in their
rims of iron black.
You don't mean this. Mr. Brayton."
he gasped. 81 have no means. no Sc
curity, not even my college expenses
paid yet Then there's'
"I've seen your work." coolly. "and
am ready to lend you the money until
the 1st of January. Unless you bring
the output to Il profit by that time.
however, l will try to sell Do you
want it!'
"Of course, if you're willing.
though
"Theres tho train whistle" inter-
rupted Brayton. rising from his chair
and starting toward the door. You
may draw ON me for the money as you
need it up to $4,000, no more. And
| er." as the train curved in sight
around hill and slowed toward the
platform, remember our compact.
| There's to be no correspondence what
ever between you and Helen until you
are fully able to support WIFE,"
! Longmore watched him board the
train With conflicting emotions. then
| went back to the office.
| First he wrote to Mr.. BraytOn.
Offering him one-half of the profits aft
er he had brought the furnace to a
| paying basis, in the meantime incur
ring all expenses of running work and
improvements himself. That done, he
called the men and made them ac-
quainted with the change.
"NIr. Brayton had arranged for you
to leave Saturday night he said, land
to stop work altogether However.
am going to run the furnace myself
awhile experimentally, but will close
the foundry l shall require only fifty
men, and they must be willing to work
hard and accept long hours. We will
begin at daylight instead of at 7, as we
have been doing, and will have one
hour for the noon meal and rest and
then work until dark, but l will pay
YOU So instead of the s. you have
been receiving. 1t will be hard work.
of course, but will ask no one to
work any harder than l do myself,
and | will add that do not want any
except trustworthy men who will do
as we'll by ME when l am absent as
when l am with them. Those who
feel they can meet these conditions
and are willing to work for me may
| step forward"
Several Of the more energetic men
were talking among themselves.
Longmore's eyes swept over them and
over the rest of the group, singing
out a face here and there that he
thought looked promising. Presently
he went among them, with few ear
nest. persuasive words here and there
and in the end he hired fifty men who
promised to work as he desired.
Monday morning he and two of the
men descended into the furnace tc
make some changes. When they came
out Longmore went to the mine to sec
how the work of getting out ore was
progressing.
AS he approached the mouth of the
mine he listened for the sounds Of
work, but could only hear the regular
strokes of single pick. Then rs IL
turned Il spur he saw the reason
Three of the men We're lying Oh th'
ground in front of the opening, appar
emily asleep; two were tossing pebbles
at each other, and the rest were lyin:
about in various attitudes of ease.
"Got the furnace job done:' asket
stalwart young fellow as he rose
yawning.
"Yes. Why are you not at work?'
"Got tired an thought we'd rest ;
spell Sides, one of the men 'lowe'
there want much show for our get
tin paid az that We had only wha
ye'd earned as boss. l s'pose it's q,
right. though" lazily, "an' if ye 'sa.
tits we'll start in ag'in after we lie
spell"
YES" quietly, ''the money part is al
right Who is that working in tn
miner
Billy Brooks contemptuously
THAT man IL wear out an drop dow
dead fore he knows, an nobody II b
to blame 'cept himself an mebbe tn
man who drives him on to such work
The fellows crank an don't know
any more'n to do jest what he's tolt
am
But Longmore had passed on.
Ten minutes later he came bacl
The men were stretching themselyc
preparatory to resuming work.
"Now you can come to the Office an
get your pay" he said briskly. "Ther
will be less than half Il day coming
I you, for Brooks says YOU rested tw
hours or more this forenoon and ths
S you have been here about two hour
II now. shall pay you for just the tim
IL you work"
o ooh, we lon't want any pay yet
it's all right" answered the youn
J. man sullei.y. But It's been thre'
!" quarters of day Folks have to res
II an if Billy Brooks don't look o,
J. he'lF'-
It ''stop right there" requested Lon'
It more, with a sudden ring in his voic
l. ''Mr. Brooks will be your foreman af
k er this. in my absence, and will kee
e On exact account Of the time yo
II work"
< "Foreman.' angrily. BILLY Brooks
s. Why. he don't know any more abo'
minin than l do I'd make bett'
e foreman any day"
.e perhaps. but Mr. Brooks seems
a have been The only man faithful to II
interests so far, and he will be Ii
N foreman, with an advance in wage
TO Now you may come and get your mo
le ey, or you can go back to work. ju
Of as you choose