Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-10-01
CHAPTER X
Wounded on the Field.

The accident was one that happened
,eften. Occasionally, after tap, water
weuld be turned into the cinder pit
that the cooling Stag might harden and
10 broken without delay. Not seldom
the water would be conveyed under
the crust, come into contact with the
Hsh molten alag and be converted sud.
osnly into steam. Then there would
De an explosion. Men might be seri-
opsly injured, or even killed, which
vas very sad-but one Of the hazards
II the employment. 1t happened when
NhIk had been following his straight
road ahead for more than five years.
Five years during which he had won
ssScess, substantial II not brilliant!
T4s lack Of brilliancy might have been
disputed by those few who knew that
sahdry labor-saving devices installed
inithe Quinby mills during this period
were of his invention.
When Henley heard OF the acct
dent he frowned; Henley detested ac-
oadents, which spoke of inefficiency
somewhere. But when the informa-
ton was added that the foreman of
TIM open-hearth battery was among
the injured. he said: DAMN" and
~ person at once called the hospital
and his own physician by telephone
and through these agencies command.
.sersd the best surgical skill and care
fer chat valuable workman.
The doctors gathered In solemn
,qpDclave and did various things to
ark's shattered body. They logged
~ steps into the very shadow of
eath and would not let him die. They
% that. knowing they condemned him
70 Afe Of pain. and having the Sc
surfty Of Thomas Henley's word that
their bills should each and every one
OF them be paid.
while Mark still fingered In the vale
" zstsfy that leads to full knowI
edge. two men began their daily-and
nighelT-watches. One was a thin
faded man who wore the rusty black
OF the country preacher. The other
WAS an awkward. gray little man
who would SIT motionless by the hour,
0sver taking his eyes from the still
form under the white sheet.
Mark did not die. His broken body
began slowly to mend. He passed out
gf immediate danger; he was even al
lowed to talk and to be talked to lit
Dc. Bat In the manner OF the nurses,
II his visitors from Bethel, even of the
calloussd doctors. were grave gen.
ueAess. an absence Of the exultation to
b expected after triumph over death.
Hb felt It.
He put his question to his father.
What are they keeping back from
pAf"
simon's glance did not waver, nor
DID he try to evade with a soothing
& yell never walk easy again.
YEN have to use crutch. leastways
= zane, always"
IT'S my hipf"
''Yes."
s'Is that all?"
"Ys were hurt innardly Yen have
TO ~ careful always. No more work
IN the miIlsA"
Mark closed his eyes, uttering no
complaint. But within was q turmoil
Of protest and rebellion. A cripple,
a partial invalid for life! Half q
uaan! 30 had ended the dreamed cam.
pa1gn OF conquest. Tears of futile rage
seeped out through his closed eyelids.
His recovery was slow and very
painful; six years of driving ahead at
top speed had left him but little re-
serve vitality for the emergency. The
mood Of rebellion died down from
sheer exhaustion. He accepted his
misfortune; but sullenly, with no swell.
ing heroic resolve to defy untoward
circumstance.
There was no conscious desire to
rstsrn to the mills from which he had
teen banished. They were too much
the object Of his smoldering resent
pent Just then. He felt toward them
gs the betrayed toward the traitor.
Il think" he said once to Simon and
Richard Courtney, who had not yet
Aeft the city, ''I'll go back to Bethel"
TT will be good place to recuper-
ate," said the preacher
but l mean to stay"
We shall be glad to have you back"
Thoughts Of Bethel naturally revived
the memory of Unity Martin. Mark
found q certain grim humor in the
recollection. eR
He had had his period of tragic re-
morse for Kasia. He had not. how
ever, let conscience push to the ex-
Heme Of disturbing the Fixed destiny
inst mentioned Nor was he long In
attaining comparative peace of mind
q which he could congratulate himself
% having avoided serious blunder.
Not many months later he by chance
paet Piotr. who conveyed the news that
kaxia had married Whiting. Piotrs
manner Of narration implied that.
though Whiting was a poor refuge.
Khzia had been fortunate to escape
Marx. He seemed disappointed that
his auditor showed no deep emotion.
Marks letters to Unity had contin.
ed, at erratic intervals. Soon her re-
plies, too. began to dwindle In number
and In length; they had never had
Inuch 70 lose In the way Of intensity.
And then he sent q letter that she
eAiled TO answer ct al. leaving their
~ sxaGr ssAssndsd, % to speak IN