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

more confidence. They were all hard
working and tried to meet his wishes,
and in a way they were beginning to
understand that he was passing
through a crisis Of his life. One even
ing after an unusually hard day, as
Longmore almost staggered toward his
office, Brooks followed him, laying a
OBTAINING hand upon his shoulder.
"Look here, Mr.. Longmore," he said
anXiously, you just leave that office
alone tonight an go into your room to
bed. You're runnin yourself out. An
an" hesitating a little. ''if YOU don't
mind, me an the men have been talk
in about you some lately. We've been
workin' pretty stiddy an amt bit
hard up now, so if it'll be any-any
easier you might let our pay lie over a
month or two. We don't mind. an y
Longmore swung round and grasped
his hand
THANK you for this, MIR. Brooks he
exclaimed, his eyes moistening. 'Yo"
don't know how l appreciate it just
now. Tell the men so. But l shall not
take advantage Of your friendship. 1t
has been something of Il strain "ith
me lately, don't mind admitting that.
but another day or two will decide the
matter one way or the other. was
up all last night, working and think.
ing, and am going to make one last
trial. bolder one. l sent my last $50
away this morning. and the things will
be here on the train tomorrow morn
| ing. The next day will decide whether
we keep on or close and whether
But good night Be on hand at day
break. shall work in the office to-
night, but after this will sleep
The next morning he was on the lit
| tie platform when the train came and
| took his package straight to the Office.
| Soon after he went to the mouth of the
furnace, where the men were throwing
| in ore the package under his arm. All
| day he worked there with them, fever
| ishly, but the next day when he went
below to watch the result. when the
molten iron was released. he was calm.
| But az he watched a strange light
began to glow in his eyes. AS soon as
the bars were sufficiently cool he took
several of them to the station plat
form, addressing them to Mr.. Bray
ton. Then he went to the office and
wrote long letter. and 1t lacked but
two days of the years end
The 1st of January the letter was
answered by Brayton in person. His
| face seemed unusually excited as he
swung to the platform even before the
train stopped.
"Are those bars fair samples?' he
demanded.
Eyes, sir"
"Weil, well, well! I'd never have
They're the finest l ever saw and
mean a fortune But l can't accept
your proposition, Longmore, to take
over the plant with you again as fore
| man. No, 10, Well run it half and
half. my capital against your discov-
cry and services. And Wen increase
the capacity and the working force to
800 men. You'll want supeiintend
ent now, Longmore. and foremen fo,
the different departments. You'd bet
ter hire them at once"
They're already at hand, sir, mer
on whom l can depend and who viii
make our interests their own"
"GOod! That's the kind we want
Now let's go to the Office and considel
plans for the increase. Why ex
pIosiya}y. s'it's a fortune and the mos
unbelievable thing ! ever heard OF
Then we'll run up home and see Helen
. She'll be glad. and-er-I won't sa.
another word"