Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-01-14

been, the reproof his W boot had
given had delayed the precious
freight, had lost Ogden for hts COM
pany, and 80 miles of road.
Idle lei make no muscle. Gregory
knew 1t, and chafed still more, as he
fretted about the camp. keeping away
from his guests and his anxious-eyed
wife. And now the welcome whistle
ono again. Preparations SO carefully
made were reinspected. The camp
awoke. Idle men stretched themselves;
lazy ones regretfully, honest ones glad
ly. Buttons, straps, buckles, shoes, hats,
tobacco-all were made ready, for rel
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 it,
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 mar set his teeth for to-
morrow's work.
Long before daylight the camp was
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.
ping a fresh supply at the track end,
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
bolts 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, I'M
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 was it done! Yet
how great was the result!
SIS it always SOP" 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 cost?"
Eyes, 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 moi
for quantity. And all the afternoon
men with pals and dippers marched
up and down the sweating line, serv
ing to the thirsty incredible quaint
ties Of warm, brackish water that was
nectar to the sweating
A short pause for supper, and at il
again! Night came on, and a moon
Eastward they could see the camp
fires of their oncoming rivals. They
answered with their W huge bon
fires, built to- reinforce Luna's pale
ray.
On and on, hour after hour; there
was no talking, not even the desultorJ
Intersections of the day, or the raucous
orders of the foremen. Muscles moved
automatically. Hammers struck al
rhythmically, but more slowly. Each
ma bent to his task with grim endur
ance, too weary to protest. Some sanl
down and were allowed to crawl away
All day Gregory, pale and tense, hat
ragged up and down the line, directing
crying orders far and near, calling fol
the impossible, often getting the I'm
expected. He hurried men, scored in
~dividuals, mathematical tools, earth
iron, heat. He was impatient, ~fiercely
eager; vet, with it all, not far from
every honest heart there; for he was
fighting for the company-and sue
cess. Bearer to him it was than any
enterprise of his own ever would be
The men knew this, and honored him
bore with him, respected him, for the
achievement, which many declared M
other man could have made.
In the dead Of night, when the all
was chill upon wet, weary backs
when men were dropping from fatigue
and others, more logged, were work
ing on, praying silently for relief-ar
last, down the line came Gregory
jubilant cry.
"Rozel!"
CTo BE CoNT1NUED.)
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