The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-01-18
ca APTER l.
KNIGHT ERRANT.

I'm the heart of the foothills. In q
basin where two rivers meet to
form mighty third. lies the Steel
City. To see it you must Journey
BY night along its rivers. whose vel
low. placid waters. rejecting the lights
Of hundred steamers, seem a 6eId of
gold incrustpd with diamonds. rubieS
and emeralds. Mile after mile You
pass by mills, mills. mills not hing but
Oills-magnifcent monuments to the
Thousands Of black faced. muscular
Titans rush hither and thither swift.
0ethodicaI. earnest. single purposed
But even this powerful army. levied
3fom the worlds strongest. il pygmy
Ike beside the marvellous mechanism
which works. seemingly. of it's own
Will. unerring. unfaltering. unceasing.
Irresistible. Rivers Of molten meta!
Sow beneath your gaze Massive in
COTS of white bot iron. beyond the
strength OF men to ut. swing easily
On the cranes from cast to car. Fiery
osrpents of steel writhe and plunge as
though obsessed by the spirit of bell
that broods over the smithy Of the
world. This is the Steel City.
He was standing ut the window in
enc of the city's hIeakest tenements a
sagged. dirty faced boy In the years
De remembered Of his ten he had
known no other surroundings or
what went before be knew was to
know-nothing. From without came
the sound OF shutting. uncertain foot.
steps. he turned in an attitude Of sui
I'm expectancy.
IF he ticks me again III run away
be muttered. The faded drudge who
shared the room with him nodded
AopeIessIy.
The door opened and the relic of
what had once been man entered
my fetish tashuns. chenille par'ner f
my jhoysh an shorrowsh." be ad
dressed the woman in drunken irony
~Wha've y got t. eat:"
Nothing
An why not. faithful PeneI'pe? I'll
have you know I'm hungry. Woman,
I'm hungry. Why not?"
mo money" answered the woman
astiessiy, hopelessly.
mo money! That reminsh me
Where'sh that Bob? o.. there y'are, y
little devil You got ny money!
How'd ! get any money! demand
Cd the boy sullenly.
beg it-shteal it-it'sh all one tine +"
"Ain't a beggar, amt q tnief," said
the boy doggedly.
In sudden unexpected movement
he drunken man lurched toward the
boy and with one hand seized him by
the collar and with the other picked
Up stout stick. For time bob sub
0itted to the beating in a stole silence.
horrible In such Il mite of humanity
6evOting his energies to the unsuc,
cessfui effort to dodge the descending
stick until blow Of unusual force
fell upon his shoulder. Then his dirty
face was distorted with pain and hate.
His clinched lips parted in the Shriil
scream Of wounded tiger cub Quick
- b tuOuSut ue SSAZpU the manu- tudt
Grasped the stick and buried bis teeth
In the flesh until they met the bone
Offering bowl the drunken brute
dropped to the floor. rolling in agony
The boy darted through the door, pull
Cd up loose board in he hall and
drew out the sum total of his worldly
wealth a single dime Then his fight
was resumed
He did not cease running until the
enmbiedown tenement district was far
behind him Then he set his face to
ward the downtown, business section
A portly gentleman Of good natured
aspect came toward him The boy
boldly accosted him
Say mister where can J buy some
papers.'
"I'pe ne rnaner fer Fau. answered
the gentleman irnpafieBtly
"Don't want any money Got all
want. the hoy said sturdy
The gentlenaan la.ghed That's more
~ Sn / hann r,v vo,r<h\ul (YFnfatIc