Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-02-27
"I haven't the head for It,"
"I do not agree with YOU"

! Il haven't the head for 1t.
II do not agree with YOU"
Their eyes met in a long regard.
Here, in the crowded room of work
ers, the ceaseless uproar shut in their
conversation with a walled complete
ness of privacy.
I'm not sure whether you know 1t,
Lestrange, but you've got me all
stirred up since Imet you" the young.
err man confessed plaintively. You're
different from other fellows and
you've made me different. I'd rather
be around the factory than anywhere
else I know, now. But honestly I
like you too we'll to watch you race"
Il want you to come"
IL" .....
One of the mon with vessel OF
white, heaving molten metal was try
ing to pass through the narrow aisle.
Dick broke his sentence to rise in
hasty avoidance, and his foot slipped
in puddle Of oil on the floor.
| It was SO brief in happening that
| only the workman concerned saw the
accident. AS Dick fell backward, Le-
strange sprang forward and caught
him, fairly snatching him from the
greedy teeth. There was the rending
of fabric, a gasping sob from Dick,
and reeling from the recoil Lestrange
was sent staggering against a flying
wheel next in line.
The workman set down his burden
with a recklessness endangering fur
Their trouble, active too late.
"Mr. Lestrange!" he cried.
But Lestfange had already recov-
cred himself, his right arm crossed
with scorched and bleeding bar
where 1t had touched the glittering
Wheel and the two young men were
standing opposite each other in safety.
you are not hurt?" was the first
| question.
"1? I ought to be, but I'm not.
Come to surgeon, Lestrange- Oh.
you told me not to sit there!"
Lestrange glanced down at the sur.
face-wound, then quickly back at the
two pallid faces.
go on to your work, Peters," he
directed. I'm all right" And as the
man slowly obeyed, "Now will you
take my advice and come to the race
with me, Ffrench?"
Race! You'd race with that arm?'
"Yes. Are you coming with me?"
Shaken and tremulous, Dick passed
a damp hand across his forehead.
II think you're mad to stand talking
here. Come to the office, for heavens
sake. And. I'd be ground up there, If
you hadn't caught me-" he looked to-
ward the jaws sullenly shredding and
reshreddlng a strip of cloth from his
sleeve. '1ll do anything you want"
"Will you?" Lestrange flashed
quickly He flung back his head with
the resolute setting of expression the
other knew so well, his eyes brilliant
with a resolve that took no heed OF
physical discomfort. "Then give me
your word that you'll stick to your
work here. That is my fear that the
change in you Is just mood you'll
tire Of some day. / want you to stand
up to your work and not drop out dis.
qualified"
Il WILL" said Dick. subdued and
earnest. IT couldn't help doing it
your arm" H..
Lestrange impatiently dragged out
his handkerchief and wound It around
the cut.
go on" -.. ..s. ...
81 can't help keeping on; I couldn't
60 back now. You've got me awake.
No one else ever tried, and was hav-
ing good time. Il began with liking
you and thinking Of all you did. and
feeling funny alongside Of you" He
paused, struggling with Anglo-Saxon
shyness. I'm awfully fond Of you,
old fellow"
/ The others gray eyes warmed and
cleared. Smiling, he held out his left
hand.
| "It's mutual" he assured. 1T isn't
playing the game to trap you while
you are upset like this. But / don't
believe you'll be sorry. Come find
some one to tie this up for me; can't
have It stiff tomorrow"
But In spite of his protested haste
Lestrange stopped at the head OF the
stairs and went back to recover some
small object lying on the floor be.
meath a pool Of chilling metal. When
he rejoined Dick, It was to linger yet
q moment to look back across the
teeming room.
i SITS worth having, all this" he
commented. with the first touch OF
sadness the other ever had seen In
him. Don't throw 1t away, French
There ia usually q surgeon within
reach Of . factory. When Mr.. French
passed out to tho cart where Emily
waited. he passed Dick and the VII
lage physician entering. Tho elder
gentleman put on his glasses to sur
vey his nephew's white face.
"An accident" he inquired.
The casual curiosity was sufficiently
exasperating, and Dicks nerves were
badly gone.
Nothing worth mentioning" he
snapped. "Just that nearly fell into
the machinery and Lestrange has
done nm his arm pulling me out