The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-21
A Mystery
Romance
-S|~
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead {, Co.
Continued from Yesterday
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old man was In for few fines sure. I"
nobody else knew how to use it. He
found that in his eagerness he labored
three times as hard as before. Be
sides, he was even better at the work
than the Italians who knew it, had
become accustomed to It and who
we're better fitted for. it-And yet there
was nothing wonderful in this con-
trivance of his. But, Challoner was
convinced that Ii some time he could
induce the boss to put 1t into constant
operation it would save that gentle
man great deal OF money. Nor did
il ever enter Challouer's head TO have
Il patented its principle was that of
the lever. and. of course. even if he
had tried, he could not have obtained
patent La no way was there dol
lar in 1t.
But" he told himself. IF ever l go
into this concrete business | shall in
sist upon its use. AS business" he
went on, what can he more profitable
than concrete? 1t produces a wall as
solid as a rock and as indestructibie
as brick. Bricklayers receive S. and
So day, and brick costs money. But
this sand. cement. stone and aHskilied
labor Challoner could see millions
In it.
Meanwhile he was useful at two and
a half dollars day. Now they deter
mined TO put his brain TO work for
them. 1t became his duty to direct
the mixing gang at his end of the new
store.
Don't forget. now: watch out" said
the superintendent. taking him aside
$50 many barrels of cement, SO many
barrels Of sand and SO much stone"
The very first day that he watched
the mixing process he discovered that
the mixer had put in too much rock
and too much sand and too little &C.
ment-
Look here" cried Challoner. you've
made mistake. Two more barrels of
cement go in there"
But the mixer merely grinned.
Two more barrels OF cement, l told
you" persisted Challoner. The head
superintendent had given him his in
structions. and Cballoner meant to see
that they were properly carried out.
The mixer grinued again. Challoner
, leapea up on the platform and stood
over the mixer. At that the man
waved his arm. His signal brought
not the head superintendent but the
general foreman Of the work.
whats the trouble?' he demanded.
Challoner explained in few words.
"You blamed idiot.s burst out the
raging foreman. you leave the man
alone. Do you think that he doesn't
know how to mix concrete:"
But Challoner now was not man
10 be SO easily turned from his orders,
and again he insisted
Two more barrels of cement. / told
you"
A knot of laborers gathered around
them to await the result. The fore
man saw that the head superintendent
was coming toward them.
.'Ail right. them" he conceded re-
luctantiy; make IL two more barrels
Of cement"
But that same afternoon the fore
man singled Chailoner 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 Chaiioner could
check it. and. Notwithstanding his
great disappointment, he turned on his
heel and left. He brought his case
before the head superintendent. who
said:
IF Perkins discharged you ] can't
help it. won't interfere"
But what was / discharged for?"
''Oh. come now" cried the superin-
tendent You must know that you
were discharged for stealing cenentr'
Stunned for moment. Chaiioner
said not word. Then slowly he be
gan to understand. Graft. Yes. that
was the solution Of the matter.
After this incident Chaiioner cuiti-
waited habit of stroiIing into the Of
fees of the various dealers in the
city. "
What are the proper concrete pro-
portions" was his request in all of
them.
Charts were taken out and consulted
There was no difference of opinion
All agreed that the head superintend-
ent's figures were out of the way, and
by one barrel Of cement.
Graft! There was no doubt about II
in his mind. and he proceeded to figure
out just where the trouble lay. On
that department store job there were
several mixers. On every mixing the
head superintendent made one barrel
Of cement. There were several fore
men. On every individual mixing the
foremen severalIy made two barrels
Of cement. In every mixing three bar
rels OF cement were left out.
But what about the scallf" Challo-
ner asked himself when once more
alone.
Challoner was quick to seize his OPP
portunity. Besides. he was conscious
that duty rested upon him. Day
and night be scanned the papers. and
Ehen- hA found i cpncrets xontract ~
S N VI Il