The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-10-09


make beasts of us, every man logging
the fellow ahead, glad when he drops
and hats 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; hts spirit covered before 1t.
But he who had come so near to fall
ing could know the bitterness Of him
through whose fall advancement would
come.
moi" he snarled in savage con-
tempt for himself and his hollow high
indignation. You can tell him I'm a
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.
Were worried about him. He frets
because he thinks he might lose his
job"
He said nothing.
do you think he will?'
yes" He made shift to raise his
eyes to hers. Il think he will
Just because he's sick. oh. surely
notl"
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 l hate those mills!" she cried.
but don't tell him you think that"
NO" His eyes fell. ''b 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
He tried to make it very gentle.
"Zo?" Roman halted, looked in
tently at Mark. He drew long whis
/ 81
But his presentiment had not told hin
how deep the hurt would be.
He tried to look the man he hat
BEEN But his tired lack-luster eyes
belied the stiff1y martial shoulders
and firm step. He went straight to thu
foreman.
Mine chop?" he asked steadily
you will take it away?
I'm afraid we1l have to let you go
Roman"
Unit wy" There was no complaint
You're laying off too much,' tn,
foreman answered bluntly. "And your
getting careless in your work. You'v
lost your grip"
Il hat been zick. Meppy," Romal
made an effort to speak the confidenc
he did not feel. "meppy I'll get better.
Il hope SO. You've been good maj
in your time. But don't think sc
You're getting too old for the work.
Gracey was still young: he could spea
carelessly of growing old.
I'm my time! Oldt," Roman +,
peated slowly. IL hat not beliefed
20"
He did not vince. But the shou
ders he had been holding SO bravel
erect sagged.
''Oldt! 1t ISIS TO-"
He started to move away, but tn
foreman called him back
See here, Roman" he said wit
rough kindness. you've always draw
good pay. And you've quite bit lai
by, l hear. Why don't you go BAG
to your own country and take it cas-
the rest of your life?"
Roman eyed him listlessly. "Her
ISIS mine country. But do not var
to take it easy. Always hat l worked
the work of strong men,"
He left the foreman and wake
slowly, heavily before the furnaces III
til he came to his old station. Their
he stopped, watching the crew 9
work; in particular watching the fl,
ure-so slight for that labor-of tn
young man who had endured wher
stronger men fell. How neatly he fl
ted into his new Michel
Unit he ISIS not oldt Oldt!" Roma
shivered.
Mark Truitt ate-or pretended I
eat-his supper in the saloon thi
, night. He could not bring himself I
, face the ordeal of sitting at table wit
Romans family.
{ There was no sense of triumph /
, his promotion, honestly earned thong
> it was as his world measured sue
things.
. He walked to Romans house, wit
. a firm tread that was the outward g
preston of his mood He knew ju,
i what was coming. He dreaded it, I'll
: moment when he must again face Il
/ ~ fol