Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-05-18


frowning across the anvil at his helper,
a white man, and the foreman of the
pouring floor.
The helder nodded, being mai of
as few words as the master,
s We'll. I reckon we-all hain't got any
call to stand by and see them nightly
ers ride 1t roughshod over Major Dab
ney hathaway said Gordon, briefly.
Go down to the shanties and hustle
out the day shift. Get Turk and Hard
away and every white man you can lay
hands on, and all the guns you can
find. And send one o. the black boys
up the hill to tell the Major. Like as
not, he amt up yet"
Helgerson FASTENED away to obey
his orders. and Caleb Gordon went out
to the foundry scrap yard. In the
heap of broken metal lay an old cast
iron field-piece, relic of the battle
which had one day ragged hotly on tho
hillside across the creek A hundred
times the ironmaster had been on the
point Of breaking 1t up for remelting,
and as often the old artilleryman in
him had stayed his hand.
Now 1t was quickly hoisted in the
crane shackle, - Thomas JEFFERSON
sweating manfully at the crab crank
'clamped on the axle OF. pair of wax-
on wheels. cleaned. swabbed, loaded
with quarry blasting powder and pieces
Of broken iron to serve for grape, and
trundled out on the pike at the heels
of the ore team.
BY this time Helgerson had come up
with the furnace men, motley crew
In all stages Of Sunday dis
heveiment. and armed only as q mob
may arm itself at moments notice.
Caleb. the veteran. looked the squad
over with slow smile gathering the
wrinkles at the corners Of his eyes,
You boysll have to make up In
fierceness what-all you're lacking in
soidier-looks." he observed, mildly.
Then he gave the word of command
to Helgerson. Take the gun and put
out for the Majors hawss-lot. I'll be
along as soon as can saddle the
mare.'
Thomas Jefferson went with his
father to the stable and helped silent
ly with the saddling. Afterward he
held the mare, gentling her in sup
pressed excitement while his father
went into the house for his rife
That'n do. Buddy" he said, when he
came back. Run along in to your
nanny. now"
But Thomas Jefferson caught again
at the bride and held on, choking.
70 pappy!-take me with youi I-vll
die II you don't take me with you!'
Who can tell what Caleb Gordon saw
In his sons eyes when he bent to loos-
en- the grip of the small brown hand
on the rein? Was 1t some sympathet-
lie reincarnation of his own militant
soul striving to break its bonds? With
out a word he bent lower and swung
the boy up to seat behind him. Hold
on tight, Buddy" he cautioned. .Ill
have to run the mare some to catch I'm
with the boys"
When the one-piece battery dashed
at,a clumsy gallop through the open
gate Of the Dabney pasture and swung
with q sharp turn into the vista OF
felled trees. Thomas Jefferson beheld a
thing to set his heritage of soldier
blood dancing through his veins.
Standing fair in the midst Of the AK
and shovel havoc and clearing wide
circle to right and left with the sweep
Of his old service cavalry saber, was
the Major. coatless. hatless. and crying
them to come on. the unnumbered host
of them against one man.
Opposed to him the men Of the con-
struction force. generated by the young
engineer in brown duck and buttoned
leggings, were deploying cautiously to
surround him. Gordon spoke to his
mare; and when he drew rein AMI
wheeled to shout to the gun crew.
Thomas Jefferson heard the engineers
low-toned order to the shovelers: "Be
careful and don't hurt him. boys. He's
the old maniac who threw me on tho
seranda Of his house. Two Of you take
him behind, and"
The break came on the uprush of the
unanticipated reinforcements. with
the battle readiness of disciplined
soldier Caleb Gordon whipped from
the saddle and ran to help the eun
crew slue the makeshift fieldpiece into
position.
Fall back, Major" he shouted; fall
back on your front line and give tho
artillery chanst at 'em. reckon a
dose O. broken pot-iron'll carry fu'ther
than that saber O yourn. Buddy, hunt
me punk match. will yer"
Thomas Jefferson ran to the nearest
rotting log, but one of the negroes was
before him with blazing pitch pine
tsplint. There was respectful recoil
in the opposing ranks which presently.
became somewhat ,paniciky surge to
the rear. The shovelers. more than
half of whom were negroes, had not
come out to be blown from cannon's
mouth by grim-faced veteran who
was SO palpably at home with the tools
of his trade. 81
That's right: keep right on goin'!"
yelled the ironmaster. waving his blaz-
ing slow-match dangerously near to
the printing. Keep 1t up"
The panic had spread by its own
contagion, and the invaders were
fighting among themselves for place on
the. fat-cars. And while yet the rear
guard was swarmiug upon the engine,
hanging by toe and hand holds where
1t could, the train was backed rapidly
out Of range Caleb Gordon kept his
pine splint alight until the echoes of
the engines exhaust came family from
the overhanging cliffs of the mountain.
They've gone back to town, and
reckon the fires plum out for to-day,
Major" he drawled. Buck and few
O. the boys'll stay by the gun, against
their rallyin' later on. and you might
as well go home to your breakfast.
Didn't bring your hawss. did ye? Take
the mare. and welcome. Buddy and
NELL walk"
But the Major would not mount, and
so the two men walked together as far
as the manor-house gates: with Thorn
as Jefferson pace in the rear. leading
the mare.
1t was no matter OF wonder to him
that his father and the Major marched
In solemn silence to the gate OF part
Ing But the wonder came tumultu-
ously when the Major wheeled abruptly
at the moment Of leave taking and
wrung his fathers hand
sub. you are right true hearted
gentleman, and my very good friend,
Mistuh Gordon!" he said. with the
manner Of one who has been carefully
weighing the words beforehand. .If
you had been given youth just dues.
sub. you'd have come home from f.
ginia wearin' youth shoulder straps"
And then. with little throat clearing
pause to come between: sub; an own
brotheh couldn't have done mo-! T.
I've been mfai,, n Gin, yo,, C,v,I, III