The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-11-27

fasclnate her, with Its chuggy-chuR-
chugging and Its snorting as Il strained
ut its base and seemed several times
on the point Of overturning Itself.
thrustlng the huge shovel against tho
dirt wall and forcing II upward, grad
ually filling II, the tremendous, VI
bratlng 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 a waiting wagon. Then the
hoisting apparatus was again set at
work on the hank OF dirt and the proc
ess repeated. lapse came with
break in the chain of wagons which
cnrrled the dirt away. Then Cassie
turned to me.
az knew this was coming-some
time she said. and dreaded the mo-
ment. Jim, think lot Of you. You're
very clever, but--there's one thing,
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. I admire strength. ! adj
mlre power. If you were only like
like that steam shovel there, tearing
away Mt the earth. crushing all resist
ance. could be happy with you. Some
day there'll be mammoth building
there where the machine Is working.
"T can't help II, Jim. and probably
II seems foolish TO you but must tell
| you, no matter how II hurts, that II
you were the engineer on that steam
shovel you would stand a much bet
ter chance with me than you would as
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 foored
me. We started to walk away. but a
wagon arrived, and the steam shovel
started operations again, and Cassie
had to watch II some more.
strangled, gulped and finally managed
to say. weakly:
"Yes, 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 It
was not long before ! began to win
success-success such as It Is. I'm
making good as a criminal lawyer. I'm
winning victories right along In court.
but when II comes to finances I admit
I'm not overburdened have a few
thousand In the bank and Tn making
more every day. but I'll never be rich.
Perhaps would save more II had
an incentlve-like that stenm-shovel
engineer has"
"You mean" I broke in. my eyes
popping with astonishment.
"Yes, I 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"
Glenquists cigar had gone out. and
he rose and went across the room to q
shelf where he kept matches. His
: cigar stand, Mt his elbow as he sat
and talked. was never known to hold
match. although there was a place
for box OF them. He took few
: puffs and came back to the chair.
, "Well, I made good on my boast
that some day 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 a nicotine cloud.
at 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
, had obeyeG, he pointed at a big yellow
: automobile just coming to a stop at
. the curb in front of the building.
Its 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 and me here"
We returned to our chairs, and
, Glenquist partook Of few puffs on
I. his cigar.
Hell be up here in minute" he
said. "and wish you'd observe him
closely. He's the man I've been talk
. ing about-Cassie's husband"
/