The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-03-25

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and appear on dec6, which tother sur
prise was vacant. Even as she glanced
along Its deserted length there came a
whistle from the shore.
Darkness had descended abruptly
and piled its blacknsss over the Is.
lands and the seas OF the tropics. The
palm trees and shrubbery out to the.
west were silhouetted against the last
faint light of day, and from the
swan1ps of the island came the
cries OF night fowl, the whir and
chirruping noise of insect life,
and the monotonous croaking OF
frogs. Swinging here and there in
erratic circles, like fairies OF the jun.
gle carrying lighted lanterns, went the
fireHies on aimless journeyings, not a
few but many thousands OF them, as
IL in wild dance of,curiosity, looking
through the night to learn what man.
ner of things these were that had
come upon shem so suddenly. ripped
away their forests and built strange
mansions In their solitudes.
1t was not this, however, that
SndiuCu hCI dIlculiOn. high up ONCl
this mushroom city where all had 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,
flaring streaks of brilliance thrust
spearlike rays into the gloom, illumin.
ating below them the creation Of a.
ha Itofa the
steady hum of steam driven dynamos,
telling with monotonous inslstence1
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 sudden, as If by
preconcerted signal, the echoes again
awoke to the clang Of hammers on
steel and the hum Of voices in com.
mand. Like weird pygmies doomed to
twist their thews in never-ending ef,
fort, she saw them resume their un.
completed task, exerting themselves
increasingly for its accomplishment.
A launch which had. come alongside
l On oOtuO ct ihuu was opoo'
medically at the foot of the ladder
below as If impatient to be of. She
| boarded it, and in few minutes a
smart young naval officer stepped into
the stern, gave curt order, and they
raced away toward the shore,
"Ah, good evening, Miss Roberts,"
he said, suddenly spying her. Look
| inc fa. fof xuhr yorf q
| awhile ago. / presume? I'm going
right in his direction, and will be glad
1 to guide you" He seemed too busy
for further conversation, and almost
| before the boat had come to stop
sprang to- the shingle and offered his
hand.
Through steadily working groups Of
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 up, and labor.
ers in overalls intent on setting a
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 q
few minutes while he, the master
spirit of the group, directed the work
1t seemed to have passed its critical
point, and after some final instruc
tions to the engineer in charge he
Strengthened up and looked round.
Hello, here's the assistant" he said
walking toward her and looking fondly
into her eyes. She besought him to
rest, and her appeals were seconded
by those of the officers who feared
for the physical strength of this man
on whom SO much depended, and who
would have guarded him as q precious
jewel of untold worth, He protested
at first, and then, like one waking from
dream and suddenly conscious of s
great weariness, made no objection
when the rear admiral, who nov
looked like workman, put his ha
upon his head and rendered him hi
coat. He permitted them to throw /
over his shoulders, and finally, with {
look of infinite satisfaction at tn,
!, growing structure before him, tool
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 sough
their cabins; but even as they retire,
u 4.