The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-25
CHATTER W.



The Service Of the Strong.
To the nation had come 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 and 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 Knocked 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 keen
eyed youth-only the young Differed
this army who, after one glance, ae-
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 slow-moving Pole we're
| 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.
The latter had already forgotten the
incident, but Mark was still hot with
the determination to prove his mettle
to the tanner.
/ He gave his name to the time-clerk
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
The was a private in Houlahan's
squad.
cit move onl" Numbered voice
In his ear. Dye think yez ARE a
prathy shtuck In tn ground? Marrch!"
II was the voice of Houlahan. Mark
marched.
Corporal Houlahan had no romantic
conception of his duties, and his tyr
amy was OF sort to give his under
lings the realistic point of view.
Here. We Oily"
"Ay bane Johann"
"Ye're Moilte, Z OF say ut" beloved
Houlahan. He enlarged upon Johann's
dishonorable pedigree. dig in!"
The Swede, the best worker in the
gang, began to shovel In nervous
haste that added nothing to his effi-
cheney. Mark saw the red creep into
the fair skin.
"Shtir 1t up. ye Frinch loafer!" the
corporal addressed the next In line.
Were runnin' no barber shop here
Err two cints Ord bate some worruk
into yen"
1t was tired and sadly fretted gang
the noon whistle relieved. Mark
|
closing his eyes on the dinner pals
his comrades produced. In his eager.
ness to be enlisted he had not thought
OF his midday meal, and he was very
hungry.
He felt hand on his shoulder and
opened his eyes. The Frenchman and
the Swede sat beside him.
"M'sieu ees ongree, eh?" The
Frenchman carefully broke loaf Of
brown bread-all his meal--in the
middle and preferred Mark one-haif.
I'm t'irsty?" The Swede held out
bottle filled with cold coffee.
Mark looked covetously at the gifts
but he shook his head.
'sM'sieu ate dat dam 'Oula' am" tn,
Frenchman inquired.
81 do" Mark responded with fervor
: Dat max fr'en's out of us. Ell? Eat
i m 'sieu."
Hunger overcame scruples. Mark at,
the bread and drank the coffee.
Much obliged. was hungry. Your,
all right" He paused inquiringly.
Marcel Masquelier," the French
man completed the sentence.
Johann Johannsen." rolled from tn,
+ region of the Swede's stomach.
Mark identified himself
dat YER good name.-Br-r-ri" TIL
exclamation was for the corporal. who
|. with the labor boss, approached Tn
u latter glanced over the excavation.
How many loads have you take
out7g
= "Thirty-nine, sor."
). only thirty-nine?" the boss reioine
p sharply. 1T ought to be nifty"
THE dom'd loafers won't worruk,
b Houlahan defended himself angrily.
The boss cast his swift appraistp
y glance over the resting groups.