The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-18
" Walli'.n!gford'|
 In His Prime
 By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER  Copyright. 1913. by the Bobbs- Merrill co.
By GEoRGE RANDoLPH cHEsTER
Cconsinued.l
1913, by the Bobbs-
 Merrill co.

"No. thanks. 7. replied walfngford, with careful gravity. If you don't mind my going through your factory unattended I'll hunt him up.'
 With a fair certainty of what he would find WaIlingford walked back through the grinding shop and out the side do0. Across the yard on one of the little narrow gauge tracks that ran everywhere came black casting car, rattling and pumping at top speed, and standing on the buffers was tall iank figure in new vivid blue oyeralis and blouse and wearing workman's cap tilted rakishly up over one corner of his forehead.
 Cant stop. Jimr' he yelled as he flew past They're waiting for this car.''
 Wallingford. finding no place clean enough to sit down, stood where he was for ten mortal minutes until Blackie came back with a face which, though well grimed. was perfectly happy.
 "T thought you were supposed to stick around the town in silk hat and in- spire confidence" complained Wallingr ford by way of greeting. ssYou know, Jim, sometimes think you're a dub after all, reproached Blackie. "You never will get the finer points of stagecraft had myself made assistant manager, and Pm fn- spring so much confidence that this morning had Bessmer lock my own money up in his safe for fear I'd trust myself too far.''
 Assistant managern chuck1ed Wal lingford, who had the born instinct for mechanics, of which BIackie had no , trace What do you, manage princi- pally?''
 'sThe oil can till the engineer hid t.'' Blackie informed him, with regret. 'rHe admitted that was some sure enough oiler, but objected that the cost of the stuff came off his fuel appropri- ation. On the level, I'm crazy about this business! Say, do you know, the fireman went home sick last night, and I, got here in time to have the safety valve popping of at o'clock. I have to teach that fellow how to build a fire when he gets back. You do it like this: First you scrape all the ashes and clinkers out of the grate bars, then you put in an even layer of shavings and build lattice work of kindnng all over 1t, then you spread thin layer of coal on top of that and light cigarette and Q two minutes after I blew the whistle l had the engineer in there-he gets pale when he's excited-fussing with the pump. Ke says I'm corker of a fireman. But he has a cheaper man on the job now
 T don't suppose you've thought of that nst," observed Wallingford in a half Hopeless tone. 2. zszzscs eS
 Im So dfscouraged.s' asserted Black ie. "I never get credit for anything. Here's your list Stay and have lunch with us. Jim f''
 'Lunchp' puzzled Wallfngford. 4Why, you're not over four blocks from your hotel.''
 True" assented Blackie, sfbut am I one to assume airs of superiority over my own intelligent workmen? IYtreat them as fellow human beings. You see. intend to run for mayor of my suburb on the reform ticket this fall. So bring my lunch with me in a little tn pail every day and play them the saxophone at noon time. I've improved lot in my music, Jim. Shall come up1and play for you tonight?''
 If you do I'll murder you,'' declared WalIngford- .sYou stay away from my hotel until we are through"