The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-03-31

~ IS
HMZ

away IWcstS outA uUlkI SJi ouSC
mansions in their snlitudes.
1t was not this. however, that
chained her attention. High up over
this mushroom city whore ilhad been
silent and darkening when she went
below. now cleaned myriad lights
strung as by genii OF the lamp while
others rested from their toll White,
fiaring streaks of brilliance thrust
spearlike rays into the gloom, illumin-
ating below them the creation Of a
day. From the distance came the
steady hum of steam driven dynamos.
telling with monOtOnOus insistence
that there would be no cessation until
the last spike was driven. the last ma
chine set and the last betting hung.
Into this spot of the night began to
come black figures; answering the call
OF the siren. On a sudden, as if By
precOncertcd signal. the echoes again
awoke to the clang OF hammers on
steel and the hum Of voices in COM
maEd. Like weird pygmies doomed to
twist their thcws in never-ending ef-
fort. she saw them resume their IN
completed task. eXer.ing themselves
increasingly for its mplishment.
\ launch which had come alongside
ON some errand was suffering spas
medically 1t the foo: of the ladder
below as if Impatient To he off. She
boarded il. and in q few minutes a
smart young naval officer stepped into
the stern. gave a curt order. and they
raced away toward the shore.
All. good evening, Miss Roberts"
he said. suddenly spying her. Look
ing for yOnr father, who went ashore
awhile ago. | presume? I'm going
right in his direction. and will be glad
to guide YOU" He seemed too busy
for further conversation. and almost
before the boat had come to stop
sprang to the shinsIc and offered his
hand.
Through steadily working groups III
men. past unfinished buildings. and
over lighted floors where machinists
wrought with levers and wrenches,
they went to the far side of the camp.
Here were officers with coats cast !
off and sleeves rolled mp. and labor
crs in overalls intent on setting q
huge blast furnace: and in the very
heart Of this activity. besmirched with
dirt. his hat discarded and his shirt
thrown open. she found her father.
Not even he with all his weight OF
years could resist this terrific call Of
energy. She stood and watched for a
few minutes while he. the master
spirit of the group. directed the work
II seemed TO have passed it's critical
point. and after some final instruc-
tons to the engineer in charge he
Strengthened up and looked round.
Hello. here's the assistant" he said.
walking toward her and looking fondiy
into her eyes. She besOught him to
rest. and her appeals were seconded
by these of the officers who feared
for the physical strength of this man
on whom SO much depended, and who
would have guarded him as a precious
jewel of untold worth. He protested
at first. and then. like one waking from
a dream and suddenly conscious of a
great WEAKNESS, made NO objection
when the rear admiral, who now
looked like a workman. put his hat
upon his bead and rendered him his |
coat. He permitted them to throw it !
over his shoulders. and finally, with a !
lock of infinite satisfaction at the |
growing structure before him, took |
his daughters arm and tramped away
He was an old man again, yielding |
the tribute of age to the toll of youth |
They boarded the boat and sought |
their cabins: but even as they retired |
there came to them through the open
portfolios. like a lullaby. the sounds |!
of unremit:ing labor interm!ngled with |
the lap of waves on the coral beach. /
The. first creative step toward a ma
tiOnal victory and supremacy had been |
taken in a day. even while the war |
cloud across western seas was gath
ering strength for its overcast: and.
waiting, wondering, and expectant, the
world was unaware
tTO BE CONTINI'ED.)