Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-07-09
CHAPTER ~.
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
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 a keen
eyed youth-only the young officered
this army-who. after one glance, ac-
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. wiry little French
~, Ill p.l
passed.
He nodded curtly 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
he was private in Houlahan's
squad.
Cit a move on!" thundered n voice
in his ear. Dye think yez ARE
y
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. ye Oily"
"Ay bane Johann"
"Ye're Moike, f Oi 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 eff
cheney. Mark saw the red creep into
the fair skin.
.'Shtir it up. ye Frinch loafer!" the
corporal addressed the next in line.
Fr two cints Ord bate some worruk
into yez."
1t was a 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 a 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.
I'm t'irsty?" The Swede held out
a hoffIe fIled with cO1d cofYae
Mark looked covetously at the gifts.
but he shook his head.
"M'sieu ate dat dam 'Oula' 'an?" the
Frenchman inquired.
81 do" Mark responded with fervor.
Dat max fren's out of us. eh? Eat,
m'sieu."
Hunger overcame ecruples. Mark ate
the bread and drank the coffee.
Much Obliged. I was hungry. You're
all 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.-Brrr!" 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 re1oined
sharply. 1T ought to be fifty"
The dom'd loafers won't worruk."
Houlahan defended himself angrily.
The boss cast his swift appraising
glance over the resting groupa-