Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18

a rule Of taking but one in hundred. and you're
number two. Try again--a little further down the
line-and you may be the hundredth one-At any
rate. wish you luck"
He reached out a Aabby hand mechanically, gave
the boy from Tech. quick shake and then, prompt
ly forgetting him, deved among the mass Of papers
his desk. The interview was closed.
Craig Gordon bit his tongue. This was
WE'LL it . bit different from what he had antci-
pated. He had not calculated on the combined out
put from all Of the technical schools. Very few
young graduates ever do. He looked down from the
vce-presdents window into the dirty yard Of the
bridge plant It was horrible place. An upturned
comb Of iron stacks rising from the ridge of the
nearest shed poured down sooty spray of cinders
upon everything about upon the narrow open spaces,
and upon the bent figures of men who toed like
beasts under cover and out of it. The glare OF
opened furnaces sent uncanny lights and shadows
through the hot and grimy place. 1t was horrible
and it was like earthly paradise to boy who was
stepped in theory and hungriy wanted to roll up his
sleeves and plunge into action. The man
sitting at the big desk looked UP and caught sight
of young Gordon.
What, you here still? I told you-"
But before he done, resolve had formed Itself
within Craig Gordons soul. 1t took nerve, and per-
haps this Mr.. Minor would end by sending for the
police-or by taking the law into his own hands.
II know" said Craig Gordon, you said I
ninety-eight degrees removed"
"And that ended it. Good-day. I'm busy man."
said Orvie Minor.
The figure by the window did not move.
II like to look down into the yard" it said Can
/ stand here awhileP
lyon can stand there as long as you damn please"
said Orvile Minor.
An hour later Minor looked toward the window.
The young man still stood there.
well, how long?" demanded the vice-president.
tha0 nj -etuhf de0p
Then you'll drop in your tracks," said Orville
Minor.
That's my lookout" the young mans reply.
Another hour passed-two hours-three hours.
The vice-president went out to his lunch, took his
time over it. When he came back, the figure was
still at the window. The long June afternoon
dragged itself out. Minor finally pulled his desk
shuttle was off for the open country to play a
round with Adrienne Coutant He looked sharply
over to the window, than half expecting that
his caller gone. He frowned, then broke into a
grin, for the boy still there.
"Well, Mr.. Gordon" he said. Were locking up
for the night"
you told me-" said the boy from Tech. that
could stay here as long damn pleased"
"You can't" snapped Orville Minor "for I'm your
boss now. You to report to Shop IA at seven
o'clock tomorrow morning to take your turn upon
a lathe. It'll be hot work, and you'll sicken on 1t
before the summer is through All you college boys
do But it's yours-to-morrow and not any other
day. No getting home to fix up"
"I'N answer the whistle Tomorrow" said Craig
Gordon.
So it was that the boy from Tech. came to Inter
national Bridge at the beginning of the hottest
mer that fremont has known. He started at
the bottom. and then he began to rise in that smoky
dirty place, as straight bubble to the
surface Of roy water.
Pat Cullen said HE is good workman, even if
he is Scotch"
Old Pat was the foreman Of the Fourteen shop.
and one who judged neither men things hastily.
Orville Minor began to look with favor upon
Craig Gordon-that certainly was a nice boy who
had come to them out of Tech. He had none but
good reports of Gordon; within six months he was
standing as old Pat Cullens assistant Orville Mil
nor did more than merely look with favor upon
young Gordon-he taking him up socially in a
town that was too friendly to strangers. Mil
nor was proud of his own social proves; he was
glad to have big houses open their doors that his
protege might see how big man In every way was
his boss. He took him to one house after another
and finally he took him to Adrienne. And when the
boy from Tech had entered the dimly lighted parlor
of the big oid-fashoned house the very crest OF
fremont Heights. where girl in white sat upon a
long sofa-then Craig Gordon had passed within the
very gates of Paradise.
For time young Gordon hesitated-rumor had
been whispering In his ears. Now, mind you, there
was no engagement no photographs in the news
papers, no cleaning stone held proudly upon slim
finger; but rumor had slipped into the gaudy draw
ing-rooms, had crept unobserved into the shady re
cesses of the clubs. and rumor had said that tn,
clever vice president of international Bridge wal
going to take Adrienne Coutant to be his wife. Mil
nor had never said that. Craig Gordon thanked Coo
that Minor had never said it. and still he hesitated
Paradise seemed SO unreal
Adrenne did not hesitate. She liked the boy-il
some ways quite as much as Minor-and sh
showered dozens of little favors upon him. And II
return the boy from Tech. took hope and inspiration
into his work-that lifted him to higher levels in 1T
so high that Orve Minor took sharp notice of him
Minors eyes saw much. Gradually he began t.
neglect his protege socially. He no longer took hin
around to smart clubs or asked him to his Owl
luxurious apartments. In fact he might hau
dropped Craig Gordon, but that would not have bee