The Clio messenger., 1919-12-25

rascinate her, with Its chuggy-chug-
chugging and Its snorting as 1t strained
at Its base and seemed several times
on the point Of overturning Itself,
thrusting the huge shovel against the
dirt wall and forcing It upward. grad
ually filling 1t, the tremendous, VI
brating power Of the machine winning
against great resistance from the bank
OF dirt. as well as the law Of gravita-
tion.
"She watched the big crane swing
the shovel round and dump its con-
tents into waiting wagon. Then the
hoisting apparatus was again set at
work on the bank Of dirt and the proc
ess repeated. A lapse came with a
break In the chain Of wagons which
carried the dirt away. Then Cassie
turned to me.
"T knew this was coming-some
time she said, 'and dreaded the mo-
ment. Jim, I think lot Of you. You're
very clever, but-there's one thing, a
tremendous big thing, lacking in you.
It's physical power or the ability to
control physical power. You may
have great mind, but you are puny
physically. admire strength, l ad-
mire power. II you were only like
like that steam shovel there, tearing
away at the EARTH crushing all resist
ance, could be happy with you. Some
day there'n be mammoth building
there where the machine Is working.
"1 can't help II, Jim, and probably
1t seems foolish to you; but must tell
you, no matter how 1t hurts, that If
you were the engineer on that steam
shovel you would stand a much bet
ter chance with me than you would as
a lawyer. At least, you would be
earning money with your strength, for
the man that operates the shovel must
be strong
81 confess that little speech floored
me. We started to walk away, but
wagon arrived, and the steam shovel
started operations again, and Cassie
had 70 watch 1t some more. I
strangled, gulped and finally managed
to say, weakly:
eyes, and some day I'll have an
office In that mammoth building
"That was the last time I was ever
with her. With mingled disgust, Bit
terness and sadness l went back to
college and finished my course.
came home with my diploma and 1t
was not long before began to win
success-success such as 1t is. I'm
making good as criminal lawyer. I'm
winning victories right along in court.
but when It comes to finances / admit
I'm not overburdened. 1 have few
thousand In the bank and Pm making
more every day, but I'll never be rich.
Perhaps I would save more If had
an incentive-like that steam-shovel
engineer has"
"You mean" broke in, my eyes
popping with astonishment.
"Yes, mean that Cassie somehow
got acquainted with the engineer Of
the steam shovel and married him.
She took that man, grimy and ig-
norant, who worked with his hands,
instead of me, clean and educated,
who worked with my BRAIN"
Glenquist's cigar had gone out, and
he rose and went across the room to
shelf where he kept matches. His
cigar stand, at his elbow as he sat
and talked was never known to hold
a match, although there was place
for box Of them. He took few
puffs and came back to the chair.
swell, made good on my boast
that some day 1 would have an Office
in the skyscraper that was going up
where the shovel was excavating," he
observed.
He leaned back and looked dreamily
into q nicotine cloud.
1T seems the engineer was rather
clever In a way, at that" he contin-
ued. AT least he knew how to save
coin, and somehow he managed to in
vest 1t advantageously."
He rose and went to the window,
looking down on the traffic which
slowly was being obliterated by gath
ering darkness.
"Come here" he said, and when I
had obeyed, he pointed at big yellow
automobile Just coming to a stop at
the curb in front Of the building.
"It's the owner Of the building" he
explained. "He usually collects my
rent on this day Of the month. He's
coming at rather late hour, but he's
pretty sure he'll find me here"
We returned to our chairs, and
Glenquist partook Of a few puffs on
his cigar.
Hell be up here in minute" he
said, "and I wish you'd observe him
closely. He's the man I've been talk.
Ing about-Cassie's husband"