Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-06-29
THE Girl.
AND THE
MINE
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(0 by D. ]. walsh.(

ANGHORNE, owner, stepped
from the dlngy little room at
! L. the end of the long, black build
ing, dubbed office, and walked
briskly to the door of the foundry d.
vision. He had come down from the
city that morning and was going back
| by the afternoon train. He took out
| his watch.
"Alllson," he called. "AIr. Allison"
A strongly built young man emerged
from the grimy interior. Langhorne
looked at him speculatively.
You will have this lot out by four
o'clock, Allison, I think you saidf" he
asked.
"Yes SIR"
swell, you may draw the fires then
and have the men begin clearing up.
shall not be down again."
In spite of Its mask of iron black,
Alllson'S face expressed incredulous
surprise.
you don't mean close the furnace,
sir"
Il mean just that" calmly. II have
been experimenting two years and los
ing money right along. The ore is too
poor in quality for profitable working,
| shall be sorry to lose your services,
but all my other furnaces are fully
supplied with managers and foremen.
OF course" thoughtfully, ''lf you
should care to commence again as an
ordinary workman, we might"
81 do not wish to leave here" broke
in Allison impetuously, "and If you'll
excuse me, I think you are making
big mistake in closing the furnace.
1t will pay we'll in time. My expert
ments-"
eyes, things have improved since
you took charge" Interrupted Lang
horne. But you have not been able
to eliminate the loss. l can under
stand your enthusiasm. l was that
ely at your age. But iron is plain
hard, practical business. And this Is
your first command, SO to speak," He
looked at his watch once more
Twenty minutes to train time. Sup
pose We walk back to the Office ant
wait until we hear the whistle. OF
course, shall try to sell and, frankly
do not expect to find either custom
crs or lessees. | would be glad tC
lease for nominal sum, just to have
somebody here. But, Of course, no one
would care to operate the furnace al
a loss"
'If | could" began Allison. Ther
he stopped abruptly. He was golnl
to say if he could raise the money
But he could not, so what was the use
thinking about it. He added, instead
eff | could have charge here, Their
would be profit inside of three
months"
Langhorne's eyes twlnkled, and al
odd look came into them. They
walked on for some minutes in silence
until they reached the Office and Lang
horne seated himself in the only
chair It contained, mOtloning Allison
to box. He rather liked the young
fellows belief in himself and his de-
termination, and he knew very well
what the broken sentence had started
to say. If it we're not that
you'd like to take the plant your.
self If you had the money" he said
abruptly. How much would you re-
qulre to carry the furnace on to what
you believe would be expense-making
II | loaned you $4,000 would It be
sufficient"
Allison was on his feet, his eyes
wide and looking grotesque In their
rims of iron black.
"YOu don't mean this, Mr.. Lang.
horne" he gasped. 81 have no means,
no security, not even my college ex.
penses paid yet. Then there's"
1--WE seen your work." CURLY, "and
am ready to loan you the money I'M
til the first OF January. Unless you
time, however, | will try to sell. Do
you want ltF'
"Of course, If you're willing,
though"
"There's the train whistle" inter
rupted Langhorne, rising from his
chair, and starting toward the door.
"YOu may draw on me for the money
ms you need 1t, up to $4,000. No
more. And--er--" as the train curved
In sight around hill and slowed to-
ward the platform, remember our
compact. There's to be no CORE
spondence whatever between you and
Helen until you are fully able to sup
port a wife. On my part, l will show
equal confidence in my daughter and
refrain from sending her to Europe.
| GOod-by."
Allison watched him board the train
with conflicting emotions, then went
back to the office.
lie did not tell the men Of the
change until the furnace had been
emptied and the bars Of crude pig
iron shipped. That ended his duties
rs employee; for, Of course, with him
self as lessee, there would be no need,
at least for the present, Of cleaning
up the plant for inspection. Hence
forth he was to be his own master.
First, he made careful estimate Of
the coal on hand, charging it against
the promised loan, and Of the amount
Of ore OF the mouth Of the mine, es.
timatlng that at the cost Of bring
ing out, then making a list Of such
other things as he could use and which
belonged TO the plant Then he wrote
to Langhorne, Offering him One-half
the profits after he had brought the
furnace to paying basis, In the mean.
tine mourning all expenses Of running
work and improvements himself. That
done, he called the men and made
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