Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-06-29

U&s lnHgCd in. But in spite of his
care ard watchfulneSS the result was
not satisfactory, and the newly made
pig iron was carried round and cast
back into the furnace, to be once more
melted, Again and again was this
done, and though the results were often
improvements on the preceding ones,
they were not what he hoped and was
striving for. SO he worked and expert
mentCd, the loaned capital growing
smaller and smaller until at length he
began 10 discharge the more shiftless
of the men. At the end of November
his working force had dwindled to ten
men and himself, and his money to
less than 500. During the last few
weeks hut little time had been given
to sleep. Through the day he had
worked with the men, silent, watchful,
untiring. and most of the nights were
given TO study, and the deyising of
new experiments. Something was lack
ing, some little point which he had
missed. Perhaps Il was in the ore,
perhaps In the furnace, possibly some
where else. Only he had missed 1t.
And yet the secret was lowering ut his
very finger tips. He was sure of that.
The ten men remaining to him
were the pick Of the neighborhood, In
whom he was every day growing to
repose more confidence. They were
all hard working, and tried to meet
his wishes, and in way they were
beginning to understand that he was
passing through crisis of his life.
One evening, after an unusually hard
day, as Allison almost staggered to-
ward his office, one of the men fol-
lowed him, laying OBTAINING hand
upon his shoulder.
'Look here, Mr.. Allison" he said
anxiously, you just leave that office
alone tonight an go into your room
to bed. You're runnln' yourself out.
An'-an'," hesltatlng little, 'lf you
don't mind, me an the men have been
talkin' about you some lately. We've
been workln' pretty steady an amt a
bit hard up now, so II it'll be any-any
easier you might let our pay lie over
month or two We don't mind,
an"
Allison swung round and grasped his
hand.
"Thank you for this, Brooks" he
exclaimed, his eyes molstening. "You
don't know how ] appreciate 1t just
now. Tell the men so. But / shall
not take advantage of your friendship.
It has been something OF a strain with
me lately, don't mind admitting that.
But another day or two will decide
the matter, one way or the other. |
was up all last night working and
thinking, and am going TO make one
last trial, n holder one. sent my
last so away this morning and the
things will be here on the train tOmor.
row morning. The next day will de
eide whether we keep on or close, ant
whether-But goodnight BE on hand
at daybreak. shall work in the
office tonight but after this will
sleep"
The next morning he was on the
little platform when the train came
and took his package straight to the
office. Soon after he went TO the
mouth of the furnace where the men
were throwing In ore, the package in
his arms. All day he worked there
with them, fevershly, but the next
day when he went below to watch the
results, when the molten iron was re-
leased, he was calm.
But as he watched a strange light
began to glow in his eyes. AS soon
as the bars were sufficiently cool he
took several of them to the station
platform, addressing them to Mr..
Langhorne. Then he went to the office
and wrote long letter. And 1t lacked
but two days Of the years end.
The first OF January the letter was
answered by LanghOrne In person.
His face seemed unusually excited as
he swung to the platform, even be-
fore the train stopped,
"Are these bars fair samplesr he
demanded.
Eyes, SIR"
"Well, well, well. I'd never have
believed It, never In the world! They
are the finest ever saw, and mean
fortune. But | can't accept your
proposition, Allison; to take over the
plant with you again as foreman. No,
no. Wen run 1t half and half; my
capital against your discovery and
services. And I'll increase the capac-
ty, and the working force to three
hundred men. You'll want superln-
tendent now, Allison, and foremen for
the different departments. You'd bet
ter hire them at once"
They're already at hand, sir, men
on whom can depend, and who viii
make our interests their own"
Good That's the kind we want
Now lets go into the Office and con
slider plans for the increase. "Why,"
explosively, 'lt's fortune, and the
most unbelievable thing ever heard
Then wen run up home and see
Helen. She'll be glad and-er-I won't
say another word"