The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER -(Continued.)


Why Mr. Duxbury Farley spared the
fron-master In the freezing-out process
was an unsolved riddle to many. But
there were reasons. For one. there was
the lease of the coal lands. renewable
year by year-this was Calebs own
honest provision inserted In the con-
tract for the Majors protection-ano
renewable only by the Majors friend.
Further, a practical man at the practi-
cal end of an industry is sheer ne
cessity; and by contrfving to nave
honest Caleb associated with himself
in the receivership. a fine color or up
rightness was impaired to the promot-
er's far-reaching plan of aggrandlze-
ment.
So, later, when the reorganization
was effected; when the troublesome
dividend hungry stockholders of the
original company were eliminated Dy
due process of law, Caleb's name ap-
peared on the Farley slate with the IL
tie of general manager of the new COM
pany-for the same good and sufnclent
reasons.
It was during the fervid six months
of Chiawassee Coal and Iron develop
ment that Thomas Jefferson had
passed from the old life to the new
from childhood to boyhood.
simultaneously there were the coal
mines opening under the cliffs or
Mount Lebanon, the long, double row
OF coking owens building on the fiat
below the furnace, and the furnace it
self taking on undreamed- of magni-
tudes under the hands of the army or
workmen Thomas Jefferson did his
best to keep the pace, being driven by
q new and eager thirst for knowledge
mocha nical, and of gripping desire to
be present at all the assembling of all
the complicated parts of the threefold
machine. And when he found 1T i'm
possible to be in three places at one
and the same moment, it distressed
him to tears.
OF the home life during that strenu-
Gus interval there was little more than
the eating and sleeping for one whose
time for the absorbent process was all
too limited. Also, the perplexing ques-
tions reaching down into the under
soul of things were silent. Also. again
mark of a change so radical that
none but Thomas Jefferson may read
and understand-an awe-inspiring Ma
jor Dabney had ceased to be the first
ing now occupied by tall. sallow,
smooth faced gentleman, persuasive of
speech and superhuman in accomplish
ment who was the life and soul of the
activities and whom his father and
mother always addressed respectfully
as Colonel Farley.
One day, in the very heat of the
battle, this commanding parsonage, at
whose word the entire world Of Para
disc was in travail, had deigned to
speak directly to him-Thomas Jeffer-
son. 1t was at the mine on the noun
tain. The workmen were boiling into
place the final trestle of the inclined
railway which was to convey the coal
in descending carloads to the bins at
the coke-ovens. and Thomas Jefferson
was absorbing the details as dry
sponge soaks water.
Making sure that they do it just
right, are you. my boy?" said the great
man, patting him approvingly on the
shoulder. That's good. / like to see
a boy anxious to get to the bottom Ut
things. Going to be an iron-master.
like your father, are your
IN no." stammered the boy. Il wisht
/ was!"
well, what's to prevent? We are
going to have the completest plant in
the country right here and it will be a
fine chance for your fathers son; the
finest in the world"
~'Tain't goin' to do me any good
said Thomas Jefferson. dejectedly. u
got to be a preacher"
Mr. Duxbury Farley looked down al
him curiously. He was religious per-
son himself, coming to be known as a
pillar in st. Michaeps Church at South
Tredegar, liberal contributor. and a
prime mover in plan to tear down the
old building and to erect a new one
more in keeping with the times and
South Tredegar's prosperity. Yet he
was careful to draw the line between
religion as a means of grace and bust
ness as a means of making money.
That is your mothers wish, sup.
pose: and it's worthy one: very wor-
thy. Yet. unless you have q special
vocation-but there; your mothea
doubtless knows best. / am only anx-
fous to see your fathers son succeed
in whatever he undertakes"
After that. Thomas Jefferson secret
ly made Success his god. and wa,
alertly. ready to fetch and carry fol
opportunities were infrequent
For. wide as the Paradise field seem.
ed to be growing from Thomas Jeffer.
sons point of view, it was altoRethe,
too narrow for Duxbury Farley. TIL,
principal offices of Chiawassee Goa
and Iron were in South Tredegar. ant
there the first vice president wa,
building hewn-stone mansion. anf
had become charter member of thu
city's first club: was domiciled in du.
form. and was already beginning I,
soften his final RS" and to speak q
himself as Southerner-by adoption
So sped the winter and the sprin,
succeeding Thomas Jefferson,s 1atl
birthday. and for the first time in hi,
life he saw the opening buds OF til,
ironwood and the tender, fresh green.
OF the herald poplars. and smelled tn,
sweet, keen fragrance Of awakenin,
nature. without being moved thereby
Ardea he saw only now and then. a
old Scipio drove her back and fort]