The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-09-25
CHAPTER ".
The Service Of the Strong.

10 the nation ndu come u rare pas
sion for building. 1t was tearing down
its old barns, to build anew, bigger
and stronger. There were cities to be
raised In the deserts; and they must
be made stanch and lasting. The pio-
neer n his harvest must be carried.
not by crawling conestoga and mule
train, but by the power of steam. Men
would go down to the sea no longer in
ships of wood, but In floating palaces
that mocked the storm. Those who
made war were to be sheltered behind
impenetrable ramparts and, again,
equipped with engines and missiles be-
fore which stoutest defenses crumbled.
Toilers on LAND and sea must find in
their hands new weapons, hard and
keen and sure, to bring nature, her
forces and treasures, into bondage and
service.
Therefore, STEEL.
And, therefore, the army OF steel
workers.
A strong west wind had sprung up
during the night and the sun shone
clear on the line of that days recruits.
One by one they passed before a keen
eyed youth-only the young differed
this army--who, after one glance, &C
cepted or rejected. The enlisted
, were turned over to the timekeeper,
who gave them numbered cards and
assigned them to various waiting
squads.
, A big Swede, a wiry little French
Canadian and a slow-moving Pole were
passed.
, He nodded CURLY to the next appli-
cant. All right! Get your card"
| And this recruit was he who had
accepted Thomas Henley's challenge.
y The latter had already forgotten the
incident, but Mark vas still hot with
the determination to prove his mettle
to the tanner.
He gave HIS name to the time-clerk
r and received his card. also the com
mand, GO with Houlahan's gang"
Thus. he reflected, he had taken the
first step in his campaign Of conquest
he was a private in Houlahan's
squad.
y Git a move on" Numbered a voice
in his a Dye think yez ARE a
s prathy shtuck in tn ground? March,
1t was the voice of Houlahan. MARI
marched.
Corporal Houlahan had no romantic
amy was of a sort to give his under
lings the realistic point of view.
Here, ye Oily"
! "Ay bane Johann"
! "Ye're Moike, f OF say Ut" beloved
Houlahan. He enlarged upon Johann'i
: dishonorable pedigree. Dig I'M"
! The Swede, the best worker in thu
gang, began to shovel in a nervous
, haste that added nothing to his eff
z cheney. Mark saw the red creep int
Y the fair skin.
4 "Shtir it up. we Frinch loafer!" tn,
z corporal addressed the next in line
4 Were runnin' no barber shop here
N F'r two cints Ord bate some worrul
M into yez."
1t was a tired and sadly fretted gan
y the noon whistle relieved. Mar
: stretched himself out on the GROUND
closing his eyes on the dinner pail
: his comrades produced: In his eager
) ness to be enlisted he had not though
Do VI hio hiihuoy HiCaib II hC was Wei
. hungry.
He felt a hand on his shoulder an
\ opened his eyes. The Frenchman an
: the Swede sat beside him.
"M'sieu ees 'ongree, eh?" TIL
re Frenchman carefully broke a loaf {
brown bread-all his meal-in tn
middle and proffered Mark one-half.
Sc I'm t'irety?" The Swede held O,
ep a bottle filled with cold coffee.
ng Mark looked generously at the gift
but he shook his head.
- "M'sieu ate dat dam 'Oula'an?" tt
So Frenchman inquired.
Il do" Mark responded with fervo
rp- Dat max fr'en's out of us, Ell? Ea
GU m'sieu."
Hunger overcame scruples. Mark a
the bread and drank the coffee.
Much obliged. | was hungry. Your
all right He paused inquiringly.
Marcel Masquelier," the Frenc
man completed the sentence.
Johann Johannsen," rolled from Il
PHI region Of the Swede's stomach.
Mark identified himself.
- Dat YER good name.-Br-r-r!" tt
md exclamation was for the corporal. VIII
'al. with the labor boss, approached. II
latter glanced over the excavation.
"How nan loads have you TAX,
out?"
"Thirty-nine, sor."
BIS. only ~thirty-nine?" the boss rejoin
eep sharply, 1T ought to be fifty"
THE dom'd loafers won't worrul
let Houlahan defended himself angrily.
The boss cast his swift appraisal
eep glance over the resting groupR