The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-10-02
CHAPTER "


Gro9&fu&uHs
IL had been an unusually stubborn
-'hardtap." requiring quick and heavy
sledging to break out the hardened
fire-clay and siag In the tap-hole. The
Stag that had fioated on the metal was
now dripping into the cinder pit. send
ing up shower OF golden sparks.
Roman Andxreixski, melter In charge
OF the furnace. was watching the
scorched. haggard face OF his second
helper" That young man. leaning
with an air of exhaustion and discour-
agsment on his inverted sledge, was
-coaghing violently. He had been just
three months in the heat and toll the
sopen-hearth furnncemen must endure
and an unnerving fear was upon him:
that his steadily waning strength
would not hold out.
wat las III zickT Roman spoke
in the slow. careful fashion that was
his habit when he used English.
Mark shook his head. "Tuckered
out"
"Tuckaredt outf. Roman looked
at him gravely. You drink too much?"
Il don't drink at ALL"
s',rhat isa goot Mineself," Roman
explained naively. Il drink too much
Unit that ISIS not goot. But always
hat been very strong. II ISIS the douple
turn" he added. ut iss very hardt
,on the young. Later II gets not 80
lhRrdt-zometimea. Ware do you lif?"
with Frenchman In Rose alley
Rose alley--it stinksl It's too near
tho mills can't sleep for the noise.
I'm tired and my head aches all the
stime.'
For two, three days then you must
not work but zleep..
Marks red eyes darted angry sus-
picion al his chief. Il suppose you
want my Job for somebody else" he
sneered.
mo. You are a goot worker. Unit
II like you"
-Ali the same" Mark answered dog
gedly, Il quit when have to-not be-
fore"
You do not belief me-" Roman
shrugged his big shoulders. Vat do
you eatf'
"Oh. soup and brown bread and Do
tatoes mostly. That's the trouble.
sgaess.''
-Hundert t'ousandt defilsi 70 little
unit you work herei You are Ameri-
can. you must eat Wy you not liz
another placef"
THE Trenches sort o. think they're
friends They wouldn't understand"
20! But here" Roman shrugged
his shoulders again. 1T ISIS man must
be for himself--ve work now" They
returned to their task.
Even double turns have an end The
night shift came on at last At the
trough for cooling tools Mark washed
away the grimy sweat that streamed
down his face. Then he donned dry
shirt and heavy overcoat. Despite
this covering his overheated body
shivered when the raw, early April
wind struck him.
"Vaitl" And Roman was beside
him. Il hat decitedt. You come If
by my house."
Il guess not" Mark answered wear.
lily. = guess you don't want me-"
II hat decitedt." Roman repeated.
You haf been goot friendts 70 your
friendts-you viii be TO us also. haf
a big house. II ISIS etill there: you
shall xleep unit not hear the mills. Unit
my Matka. she ISIS goot cook. Unit
meppy you make friends Wit my Piotr.
He bass no American friendts"
you might get tired OF me-"
10? Then viii tell you." said
Roman simply. "Alzo, you viii tell
us, ven you get tiredt Of us. Unit you
win not be chargedt too much. You
win conner"
Mark hesitated, then laughed grim,
ily. win / GOMEZ"
"Goot." Roman laid a kindly hand
on Marks shoulder. Now viii you
belief me unit not work till the coldt iss
veil You will come tomorrow"
And. the matter arranged, they part
ed for the night.
Romans house. big only by com
parison with three-room tenements
was on quiet street on one OF tn,
,city's seven hills Mark was tucke,
away in third-story room. Not ever
his fancy. less lively than in months
agone but still fertile. could coneeiv,
the cheap bed and rocker, rag carpe
and implanted table as the trapping
of luxury. But 1t was clean and con
Portable. through it's windows sven
the clean air for which his countr,
bred lungs were starving and the mill
were heard only as subdued, not vi
musical rumble. Also, immeasurabl
boonl there was in that house batl
tub; his attendance upon it astonishe
even Kazia. who esteemed bathin
more highly than did the rest OF R
mans household. The Matka's COO
ing. supplementary by Kazia,s arts. fe
little shorteof Romans prospectus ar
.she fare had substance.