Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-09-24
CHAPTER TX.
Liquid Iron.


The hot spell was over.
For fifty-seven years Roman had
toiled as few men can toil-on the
tiny farm that had been his fathers,
to satisfy the greedy tax gatherer; in
Essen, learning another craft under
the master Krupp; in the new land
whose promise had lured him. Not
once had his superb strength and en-
durance failed him; therefore he had
never known fear, had not believed
that the fate that overlook others
must some day be his. He had been
very prodigal of that strength.
But one day-such one as in that
season the steel-workers called cool
he staggered and fell. 1t was three
days before he could go back to his
job. During that time Mark Truitt
vas In charge of the furnace.
He who returned was not the care
full, precise, unfurried workman. He
knew fear. He tired easily and was
uncertain Of temper. The heat fretted
him and he worried over his work. He
lost in efficiency; several times he
tapped the furnace either too soon
or too late and was sharply repri-
manded. To keep up and to forget
the new weakness he drank more
whisky than ever. Within two weeks
he collapsed again.
1t was during Romans third lay-off
that Gracey, the foreman. said to
Mark: 1T looks like Romans done
for"
1T looks that way" Mark assented.
Its come pretty sudden with him.
It does that sometimes"
Yes" Mark stared sadly through
the furnace mouth at the boiling fame
swept Stag. The drama had become q
tragedy. There was an element in
steel of which chemists took no &C.
count-the lives and souls of men.
He can't expect to keep his job"
he heard the foreman continue. away
half the time like this. And last week
he spoiled two heats. I'm afraid Wen
have to let him CO." \
"Yes!" Marks mouth twisted In an
ugly sneer. He's given you the best
he had. And now he's breaking down.
So-scrap him, Of counsel"
That's funny talk" grunted the
foreman. Especially since the super
intendent and I've been talking 1t over
and we think Of you for the job. That
makes 1t look different. don't it?" he
laughed.
mo, It doesn't. Do you suppose
haven't been thinking Of that-count-
ing on fever since he broke firstT
Mark turned hot eyes on the foreman.
why, that's the worst Of you. You
drive US to the limit and when we
break you kick us of like an old shoe.
And that isn't enough. You've got to
make beasts Of US, every man logging
the fellow ahead, glad when he drops
and let's go his job. Damn you all.
anyhow"
Then I'm to tell the superintendent
you don't want the job?"
Mark looked again into the boiling
furnace, felt its consuming breath, lis
tened to the mills strident voice.
Through every sense he caught their
menace; his spirit covered before 1t.
LUZ hC "hO hdu COhlC oO uCal W ldii-
ing could know the bitterness of him
through whose fall advancement would
come.
NO" he snarled In savage con-
tempt for himself and his hollow high
Indignation. You can tell him I'm
beast like all the rest"
He was on the night turn then. In
the morning he went reluctantly TO
Romans house. At breakfast he was
alone with KaZia But there was no
love-making that morning. Nor did he
explain that he was to supersede her
uncle at the furnace.
"How's Roman" he asked with an
added inward twinge.
He's not much better" she sighed
We're worried about him. He frets
because he thinks he might lose his
job"
He said nothing.
DO you think he will?"
Yes" He ade shift to raise his
eyes to hers. Il think he WILL
Just because he's sick. oh. surely
mott"
Because he's used up. And when
you're used up, you've got to get out
to make room for better-for those
that can still be useful"
"Oh, that would break his heart
How I hate those mills!" she cried.
But don't tell him you think that"
NO" His eyes fell. II won't tell
him. He'll find out soon enough"
Roman did not go back to work
until his SHIFT was on day turn again.
Some presentiment of the impending
calamity must have come to him. for
as he and Mark set out for the mills
that morning the irritability that had
marked him since his first collapse
gave way to deep detection.
1t was not until they were entering
the mill shed that Mark said: Roman.
think Gracey wants to see you. {"
Hs'tried to make 1t very gentle.
f"ZoT Roman halted, looked in
| tkntly at Mark. He drew long whis-
| ding breath. "Zoi" He understood.