The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-10-05

your You don't look much disturbed
mot a particler Steve stIll smiled
II never do, either. unless there Il
something worth while TO make me
! just thought perhaps you might have
contracted II from Mr.. Elliott. Hes
been bothered. you see. by the way
some Of the men are acting. We're
short lot Of labor this week"
The big man wheeled aud squinted
at the droves Of men sweating under
the unseasonably hot sun. lie peered
keenly at each clump Of laborers, some
Of them scarcely dlstinguishable knots
Of humanity In the distance.
mot very short" he stated comfort
ably. II don't claim 10 he wholly
competent judge. but II looks to me as
though they would be IN one another's
way II there were any more Of them.
What's wrongT'
The chief engineers answer was
drawing In its deliberntion.
II wish knew" he replied. II wish
I could be positive. And there aren't
too many Of them: they are altogether
too few. We're going to need them.
and more, too, before we finish, Mr..
Allison. Perhaps I'd better figure on
perhaps II they continue to quit on
ne, by twos and threes. as they have
In the last week. I'll have to-
His pause seemed almost an invita-.
tion that the other suggest a remedy.
and. whether II was or not. Dexter Ali
son was quick 10 seize the opening.
His suggested solution was heartily
blur.
Import some more" he said. when
you've employed these men rs long As
I have-the type Of man who has
worked all his life on the river-you'll
know as well as do just how uncer.
tain and unreliable they are. What
you need In a gang that doesn't want
to think for itself. This crowd has too
much imagination for a grind like
this"
Steve nodded very thoughtfully.
"If Il Is all Imagination" be won
dered. But they're not merely dis
contented. you see. Mr.. Allison. They
they are misleading themselves. They
seem to think. from what I've gather
ed from Mclean and few with whom
! have talked. that they are working
themselves out OF job for good when
they help 10 build this strip Of rail-
road. They think 30. They have been
ct hat n..l. L. eh< ex,teh
sonaily. however. I feel sure that be
tween Us We can correct that impress
SION
Even though he was looking In the
direction of heavy smoke cloud that
had followed a sharp blast TO the north
OF them. Steve felt the weight OF ALI
sons questioning glance.
"we." he echoed. Where do I fg-
ure In itT'
The younger mans upward glance
was seemingly surprised.
Your Why, you're a stakeholder.
10 means as much 10 you as II does to
Mr.. Ainnesley and Mr.. Elliott"
Allison interrupted him
'0f COURSE" he exclaimed. Surely!
I see, What ! mean was how In the
world can ! make them understand
that such fool idea In all wrong7 So
far rs this constructive work IL con-
cerned. I'm not an active member.
Il had that understood with Elliott
when ! went into this thing"
"Of course" Steve In turn broke I'm.
II understand that But they know
you: they know that Morrison would
be nothing more than n street Of well
kept lawns and COW pastures II you
hadn't seen its possibilities. And SO
I've already told some OF them, Mr.. Al
llson. I've gone even further and CIV
en- a lot Of them my word that you'll
yourself that this Is the big
gest thing for the good Of this section
that has yet happened"
The speaker smiled frankly into the
bigger mans eyes.
And that was all they needed. was
it?' Allison queried. at length. THAT
fixed II. did III"
Absolutely Stoves cheeriness
should have been infectious. "Abso-
Aiurbn. N iot VI kcoDit
have come 10 look on your word rs law
in this country. you know-a lot of
them
"Hum-m," replied Allison. "Hum-m."
Roth Of them were quiet for a time
Steve's next remark brought Allison's
head IN sharply.
II meant 10 bring some OF my esti-
mates and plans down with me when
came" he told him. You spoke OF
wanting to run over the whole prop
osition with me. youTl remember. the
first day You arrived"
Allison nodded shortly. II remember"
an bring them next trip" Steve
finished. II came so near TO losing
them last night that I'm taking no
chances until they're In duplicate. We
can run over them laterf'
Allison wheeled and gazed meditat.
Ingly toward the group who were slow.
ly moving their way. His daughter.
Barbara, with Wickersham at her side.
was In the lead.
ANY time" he agreed. There's no