The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-08-20
CHAPTER W.
The Service OF the Strong.

The Service OF the Strong.
To the nation had come a rare pas
sion for building. 1t was tearing down
| it's 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 we're 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 a keen
eyed youth-only the young Differed
this army-who, after one glance, ac-
copied 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 were
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 Houlahans gang"
Thus, he reflected, he had taken the
first step in his campaign of conquest
he was private in Houlahan's
squad.
Cit move on" Numbered a voice
in his ear. Dye think yez are a
prathy shtuck in tn ground? Marrch!"
1t was the voice of Houlahan. Mark
marched.
Corporal Houlahan had no romantic
conception of his duties, and his tyr
amy was of a sort to give his under
lings the realistic point of view.
Here, we Oily"
"Ay bane Johann"
"Ye're Moike, f Oh 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 a nervous
haste that added nothing to his eff
cheney. Mark saw the red creep into
the fair skin.
"Shtir it up, We Frinch loafer!" the
corporal addressed the next in line.
Were runnin' no barber shop here.
FIR two cints Ord bate some worruk
into yez."
II was tired and sadly fretted gang
the noon whistle relieved. Mark
stretched himself out on the ground
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 a loaf OF
brown bread-all his meal-in the
middle and proffered Mark one-half.
"Un' t'irsty?" The Swede held out
bottle filed with cold coffee.
Mark looked covetously at the gifts
but he shook his head.
"Msieu ate dat dam 'Oula'an?" the
Frenchman inquired
81 do" Mark responded with fervor
Dat max fr'en's out of us, Ell? Eat
m'sieu."
Hunger overcame scruples. Mark ate
the bread and drank the coffee.
Much obliged. was hungry. You're
al right" He paused inquiringly.
Marcel Masquelier," the French
man completed the sentence.
Johann Johannsen," rolled from the
: region of the Swede's stomach.
Mark identified himself.
Dat YER good name.-Br-r-ri" The
! exclamation was for the corporal. who
with the labor boss, approached. The
! latter glanced over the excavation.
How many loads have you taker
out?"
; "Thirty-nine, sor."
"only thirty-nine?" the boss rejoinet
, sharply. ct ought to be fifty"
The domd loafers won't worruk.
Houlahan defended himself angrily.
The boss cast his swift appraisini
, glance over the resting groups.