Evening star., 1935-11-24
|l1dfe|flnt&5I&osalP2 Pests 2
= llaaY 9oo14

cluded He'd be accustomed to it then.
All afternoon Chuck walked back
and forth from the trucks to the
cement pile, earring his neavy burdens.
Each bag weighed close to hundred
pounds. He could hardly wait for the
whistle to blow. It would be so good
to get to bed. Never i'll his life did
sleep seem so well deserved and SO
justly earned.
Toward o'clock, Mike, who
hadn't spoken for several hours,
stopped Chuck as they were passing
each other on the runway which
joined the truck and the pile, Boy"
he said, smiling benignly, tonight
I'm afraid you be sick Shouldn't do
this kind of work. No good for smart
young feller. Only good for animal
like me. That's what my son tell
me. He smart feller like you. Go to
college. He know everything. He tell
me so Worka like dis would kill him
right queek. Why for you work like
dis? Need da mon. hey?"
Too tired to explain, Chuck shook
his head afirmatively. Its not so
bad, Mike. I'm getting used to 1t.
Don't say anything to the boss"
Me no speak word. Take it easy,
boy, III carry the rest of the bags
from the truck. Sit down and rest
yourself. You no look we'll"
"Oh, I'm all right, thanks Mike"
The whistle blew. Chuck was just
about to lift another cement bag onto
his shoulder. He let it alone. Good
night, Mike" he said and walked
down to the corner. Halfway down
the street he saw cab. Turning
around, he looked to see If any Of
the workmen would see him. The
coast was clear, SO he hailed the taxi
and jumped in.
His face was covered with gray
SCOT from the cement bags. His sweat
shirt and trousers. as well as his shoes,
were in the same plight. The driver
looked at him curiously. He never
had a fare like that before. "Da va
mind if I ask that va pay me now,
he said to Chuck, hesitantly. You
know, we guys have to be sure OF our
dough. Fifty cents is the local fee for
any place in the town limits. Where
da va want me to take ya?"
Just down to Sea-Shell lane. Third
cottage from the road on the south
side" said Chuck handing him the
requested fare.
"Why that's only about quarter
Of a mile from here" responded the
I,a ftxy
ct am" Chuck answered wearily.
AS soon as he reached home. Chuck
pulled off his working clothes, jumped
into the warm tub. had his bath, and
tumbled into bed. He never heard his
aunt calling him to dinner repeatedly.
She even came up and looked into his
room, only to find him fast asleep.
Poor lad" she said half aloud, "he
mustn't be feeling right today. I
never saw him act like this before"
Morning, and Chuck's body was a
bundle of aches and pains. Nothing
aboard ship even approximated this.
| he thought. He tried to get out OF
bed. but his muscles rebelled. With
great pain and tremendous effort, he
managed to dress and get down to the
| job on time.
"I no expect a to see you here to-
day." Mike greeted him. "You looka
mighty seek yesterday. Buta then,
yuse a stronga boy. Soon you no
mind desa kinda of work"
Mike was right. As the time passed,
Chuck became accustomed to the de-
mands of his job. Sometimes he even
carried two bags on his shoulders in
stead of one. Whenever Mike saw
him thus loaded down, he yelled eX-
citedly that he shouldn't do that. "You
spoila da boss, my friend" he would
plead with Chuck. "Soona he'll be
a tellin' me to carry two bags every
| time I unloada da truck"
| Sometimes the boss shifted Chuck
to other jobs. He'd be piling bricks
in rows one day, and carrying the hod
the next. Sometimes he mixed
cement with a long hoe, pushing the
soft heavy stuff around until his arms
ached. All through it he had one
consolation. He knew that when he
went back to Colburn, he'd be in Al
condition, and that the preseason
foot ball session would seem like child's
play after this kind of conditioning.
One night, he got telephone call
from Nancy. She was too happy for
words, she said, and anxious to tell
him all about the trip.
''How about taking lunch together
tomorrow" she suggested.
Fine" Chuck replied, meet me at
the new building on Main street. You
know, the one that's going up now."
But Chuck" said Nancy, a little
confused, cant you even call for me
in your car like you used to?"
mo, dear, I'm sorry, but I won't be
able to-" he explained. land what's
more, bring a basketful of lunch"
Noon the next day saw Nancy drive
up beside the big brick pile just along
side the building. She looked around
for Chuck. Workmen stared at her,
thinking 1t rare sight to see q pretty
girl in beautiful, graceful car, parked
beside a dusty brick pile and o mass
Of construction work.
"oh. Nancy" called Chuck. "Oh,