Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-09-17
CHAPTER v.


nre-clay and slag In the tap-hole. The
Stag that had floated on the metal was
now dripping into the cinder pit, send.
ing up a shower of golden sparks.
Roman Andzrejzski, melter in charge
OF the furnace, was watching the
scorched, haggard face Of his second
helper" That young man, leaning
4 with an air of exhaustion and discour-
agement on his inverted sledge, was
coughing violently. He had been just
three months in the heat and toll the
open-hearth furnacemen must endure
and an unnerving fear was upon him:
that his steadily waning strength
would not hold out
Vat ISIS It? Zick?" Roman spoke
in the slow, careful fashion that was
his habit when he used English.
Mark shook his head. "Tuckered
out"
"Tuckeredt out?" Roman looked
at him gravely. you drink too much ?"
Il don't drink at all"
That iss goot. Mineself," Roman
explained nalvely, II drink too much.
Unit that ISIS not goot. But always
hat been very strong. 1t iss the douple
turn" he added ut ISIS very hardt
on the young. Later 1t gets not SO
hardt-zometimes. Ware do you Hf?"
with Frenchman in Rose alley.
Rose alley-it stinks! It's too near
the mills. I can't sleep for the noise.
I'm tired and my head aches all the
time
FOR two, three days then you must
mot york but zleep."
Marks red eyes darted angry yus-
picion at his chief. II suppose you
want my Job for somebody else" he
sneered
mo. You are goot worker. Unit
like you"
!. "All the same" Mark answered dog
gedly, II QUIT when have to--not be-
fore"
You do not belief me-" Roman
shrugged his big shoulders. Wat do
afjEe eat?"
Ok .IFand brown bread and po-
tatoes mostly. That's the trouble,
guess"
"Hundert t'ousandt defils! 70 little
unit you work here! You are Ameri.
can, you must eat Wy you not If
another placer"
'oThe Trenches sort o. think they're
friends. They wouldn't understand"
'Eo? But here" Roman shrugged
his shoulders again. ut iss 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
shiyered when the raw, early April
wind struck him.
"Yaitl" And Roman was beside
him. Il hat decitedt. You come LII
by my house."
Il guess not" Mark answered wear
lily. Il guess you don't want me-"
Il hat decitedt," Roman repeated
A'You hat been goot friendts to your
frfendts--you will be to us also. hat
a big house. II ISIS still there; you
shah zleep unit not hear the mills. Unit
my Matka. she ISIS goot cook Unit
meppy you make friends Wit my Piotr.
He hass no American friendts."
"fou might get tired OF me-" >
II 70? Then viii tell you" said
Roman simply eAlsp, you viii tell
US, ven you ga t1redt of US. Unit you
viii not be chargedt too much. You
VIII Gomez.
Mark hesitated, then laughed grim
Z ly. will comet" s...,.
"Goot!" Roman laid a kindly hand
on Mark's shoulder. Now viii you
belief me unit not work till The coldt ISIS
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,
wHs on quiet street on one of the
cityr seven hills Mark was tucked
away In third-story room Not even
his fancy, less lively than In months
aepne but stin fertile, could conceive
the cheap bed and rocker, rag carpet
aud implanted table as the trappings
OF luxury. But It was clean and COM
Portable. through its windows swept
the clean air for which his country
bred lungs were starving and the mills
were heard only as q subdued. not un.
musical rumble. Also. Unreasonable
boon! there was In that house bath
tab; his attendance upon It astonished
even Kazia. who esteemed bathing
more highly than did the rest of Ro-
MANS household. The Matka's cook
ing. supplemented BY Kazias arts, fell
nstls short Of Romans prospectus and
the fare had substance.
For three days. hearkening to 70
nanb counsel. he did nothing but
deep and eat His cold disappeared.
HIS tagging strength revived Then
10 gave himself anew to the endless.
narrow grind-toil. eat, sleep and toll
sgxin.
Romans house. 1t Is true, contained
more than comfortable beds and o
bathtub. fact to which Mark gave at
first but scant attention. There was
Roman himself, In the mills q precise.
patient. unhurried workman, outside
eood-natured. impulsive giant, wih q
<h8ld's ungoverned appetite. There
whs Hanka, bis wife, alwSys called
Haeha-mothsr-a drab. sbrfvsls6 nts'
rxsarNes. ~. r--c>---><sA~c 20.