Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-02-19

Two more barrels or cement. I told
youl"
a knot OF iaborers gathered around
them 10 await the result The fore
man saw that the head superintendent
was coming toward them.
~All right, then" be conceded re-
luctantls; make It two more barrels
OF cement"
But that same afternoon the fore
man singled Chaiioner out and paid
him. Then he lunged out. and. strik-
ing Challoner on the shoulder. he ex-
claimed
There. you Internal jackass. you're
discharged
Discharged The exclamation fell
from his lips before Chauoner could
check II. and. Notwithstanding his
great disappointment. be turned on his
heel and left. He brought his case
before the head superintendent. who
said:
IF Perkins discharged you / can't
help II. / won't interfere"
But what was ! discharged forF'
"Oh. come nOwr' cried the superin-
tendent You must know that you
were discharged FOR stealing cementr'
Stunned Cor a moment. ChaIIoner
said not word Then slowly he be
gan TO understand. Graft. Yes. that
was the solution OF the matter
After this incident Challoner cult
waited a habit OF strolling into the or
fees OF the various dealers In the
city.
What are the proper concrete pro-
portionsr' was his request in ali OF
them
Charts were taken out and consulted.
There was no difference OF opinion.
an agreed that the head superintend-
snts figures were out OF the way, and
~ one barrel Of cement.
Graft. There was no doubt about IL
N his mind. and he proceeded 10 figure
'ut just where the trouble lay. on
chat department store Job there were
several mixers. on every mixing the
head superintendent made one barrel
n cement. There were several fore
men. on every individual mixing the
foremcn severally made two barrels
~ cement. In every mixing three bar
rels OF cement were left out.
But what about the tcaHF'' ChaIlo-
ner asked himself when once more
alone
Challoner was quick 70 seize his OBJ
portuuity Besides. he was conscious
that duty rested upon him Dav
and night he scanned the papers. and
when De found q concrete contract re-
corded ne looked up the owner. saw
him personally aud told him facts.
You don't say So" the owner would
respond. opening wide his eyes.
Some contractors. he acknowledged
were honest but many were careless
Ana then the foremen on these Jobs
unquesuionably were poorly paid. sure
~ the temptations were great.
you don't say So" the owner would
repeat
And when the job started this own
er would put competent man on TO
oversee 10. Frequently 90 happened
that this man was D. L. Challoner
The time came when De made 81
day. Moreover. the time came when
many OF the good concrete walls ip
town owed their strength 90 him.
But even though his time was fun
IL did not interfere with Chalioner's
interest In the evolution OF concrete
and concrete graft. nor was he SLOW
20 recognize its value 10 politicians.
And SO when the ring" sprang its lit
Tie surprise Chaloner Gnew what was
coming
a new concrete hospital" said the
ring" and they foresaw a new con-
crete jail Possibly they could go still
further. II they could educate the
people up TO IL they might have more
new concrete city buildings
However. the new concrete hospltal
came first IL was one-third finished
when j. L. Challoner applied for ana
secured job as foreman OF the mix
ing gang on the east wing.
Great Scott, The graft in cement
Is appalling" Chanoner exclaimed
before be had been on the work TWEEN
" minutes lie found that the hos
pital was being built chiefly OF sand
and broken stone
III have TO see him boys" the su-
perintendent said I'VE must have him
in with us"
But Challoner could not be seen"
To the contractors the superintcnd-
ent remarked:
"Challoner is dangerous man"
"Oh. he'll come around all rightp'
they assured him. They all do"
The ring" the inner circle OF tn.
politicians. descended on ChaIloner
ike a cyclone
Come. conner they said. WHATS
your price, Name it and shut up"
Challoner still shook his head.
It's case OF using force" they told
each other"
Il have got to tell somebody about
this" Challoner assured himself. and
then al inspiration came TO him. II
know-In go TO MurgatroydP
CHAPTER XIV.
Z L is. OF course not given VA 10
know what dreams OF fame were
MurEatrOVl's uVhap no 6afarr,g-o1