BNR ER Rm Author of “THE MAN HIGHER U Be 44 . TIS RISE TO POWER,’ SYNOPSIS, Mark Truitt town of Bethel sweetheart, Unity In his project fortune His avek his Martin, enc CHAPTER 1 {—Continued. He went again to the cupboard and and Half-way, turned, He lighted its candle toward the inward door. stopped abruptly and mouth working strangely. “If ye ever git rich,” he dragged the words out slowly, even painfully, “come back here an’ build a plant. There's a heap of fine coal an’ iron in hills, an’ the river railroad'll give ye good transportation. This valley's meant fur it. I was jest a little too early—an’ a little too igno rant, [ reckon But yve're smarter an’ better schooled than me, an’ the time's comin’. I'd like Truitt it.” Never before had Simon Truitt spoken of his dream and failure to his son. “Why, ves” sudden pitying about it.” “Yes. Keep think it's a big idea.” Mark started. The phrase Simon went to the window and peered out into the silvery night the south. Then he moved heavily toward the door. He turned again: the flick ering light from the candle threw lined, patient face into sharp relief. “Good night, Mark.” ‘Good night, father.” The door closed. Mark, left alone, pocketbook who had given his these to see a Mark impulse, answered, “I'H in’ about it. toward absently fingered the and thought of the man it to him. Then he table. He, too, looked out into the south. He tried to see the valley as his father had dreamed ft alight with the fires of many furnaces palpitant with the rumble engines. He thought he saw The picture faded He saw on vague shadowy mass in a moor meadow, the dismantled forge, witness that for those who upon the battlefield that dustry is no third choice. conqueror be conquered! night toward the i of it 1 marc! is called in They must CHAPTER Ii. The Masters, He found himself, a lonely figure knowing not whither he £0, somehow in the city's heart Chance led him to the principal thor oughfare. The city had begun to quit its toil, and the released toilers wers pouring into the street, an endless un ordered horde, heedless of him as thes were of one another. Never before had he seen 80 many people. He had a confused sense of being sucked Into a narrow, gloomy canyon through which poured a flood of hu manity, a treacherous, dangerous tor rent, with many cross-currents. Count less faces, wan in the unnatural twi light, streamed by him; a stranger type to him, fox-featured, restless of eye. Full darkness fell. He paused under a flery sign, The Seneca. Through a great plate-glass window he saw a gaudy red-and-gold interior broken by many columns that to ‘the Inexpert eye somewhat resembled marble. Uni formed pages scurried to and fro. Well dressed men lounged in easy chairs or sauntered leisurely about. Many lights burned brilliantly He looked within longingly, While he debated whether or not te enter this expensive-looking hostelry a porter swooped upon him and snatched from his hands the anclent carpetbag that held his slender ward robe. “This way, suh!”’ He followed the porter to the desk, painfully conscious of the figure he cut, uncouth, out of place. A clerk of lofty mien placed an open register before him. “Write your name here.” Mark wrote it. “And your town.” Mark hesitated—and then, with a dogged lowering of his head, firmly wrote the name of that city, In the dining room that night many smiles were cast at the raw country youth. He did not regard himself as a subject for mirth. As he attacked the strange viands the walter set be. fore him, a little of his self-confidence returned. The vivid sense 6f a cruel, overpowering entity faded. Home. sickness for Bethel, the refuge, sub sided, He began to take in details of the novel ecene around him, His ears strained to catch the re. marks that floated to him from the neighboring tables. It was a strange tongue he heard, lightly dismiesing topics that would have busied the gos. sips of Bethel for a moon. There was a young man who wore diamonds and talked in a Youd and impressive fashion. “. . , Elizabeth, I see, broke the record again” (Elizabeth, it devel: foreigr would sped, was not a race horse, but one of aces.) “Yes, sir! More'n forty thou- snnd tons, Henley says—I think so we're going to have the big- steel yeéar yet. No-o, 1 don't exactly know him, but I know that do.-—And Tom Henley's to the biggest steel man gets his fifty gest going be 1¢ business a year already Quinby? Oh, they're the the richest the See steel while oney ? Ha! ha’ nn Henley's the brains of the And he's the d—d lator Worth his half d ain't aver thirty let otl make they Quinby est specu crowd iillion, they say, an And this nella 1 3 angi i om was the fre another Henle well city yin , evidently, monster in hand The name had a familiar ring. Mark drew from his pocket a letter Co that morning irtney had given him 1 To Thomas pon cribed, Henley, He squire be help willing to had sald Lourtney hought regarded He wondered was in i moment's on he opened hesitati mel ang read it im strike at once the ugly truggle that now But we have And last thing 1 who we this the can man He would and the latter to isfon. vers that would do it rose or from h he inquired clerk, “does Thomas tonight brought is di of night He Where, nn the super ilious ive? | must see him directions ength into ty Mark mall The the heart of a 8 the city i from which it a hum hich olonies ble distan« Was no respecter From a tall iron fence wide sweeping lawn dotted intervals with trees and And its center hadowy mass, 80 even of sloped exact JETTY at shrubl in punctured by into the fog It was the castle of the amer 0 adventurers in valling CArriages eled drive to i he “idorado, Oop lined the wide veranda here From hin came the strains of music and a gay clamor He could not know this night the tamer gave a feast, formal dedication of the new castle o the entertainment of his kind. But he feit the hour to be illsuited to his purpose, Yet it was effected Curiosity to look within carried him ‘0 a window To his wondering gaze nfolded a vista of Irish point and lamask satin, carved mahogany and marble figures, gilt-framed pictures ind silken rugs And amid this lavish display of beau: ties paraded a bevy of creatures seem ing hie excited fancy to have stepped out of “Arabian Nights.” “Unity,” he sald, “will like that.” While he stood there a troop of men, garbed in a monotony of black and white, marched into the room. At the same time voices came from another wing of the veranda, And then he, son of the blacksmith of Bethel, became a spectator at the birth of a project that for a bHef but brilliant period was to move the world to hosannas! “Henley,” said the first voice, deep, yet softly flowing as honey, “I have come to the time of life when a man of sense puts away the lusts of the flesh" “Is your digestion out of order?” in- terrupted the second, sharper, less musical and with a eardonic quality that delighted the listener. “I noticed you didn’t eat much tonight.” “Ah! It is more than stomach. It is soul!” the mellow voice flowed on. “My labors and Investments have been blessed with good fortune. So I am now able to turn my energies to the higher duties, to dolug large things for humanity. And lately my thoughts have dwelt much on--philanthropy and paleontology.” The speaker, like Brutus, paused for a reply. "Mmm! Two ‘p's,” it came. “Quite alliterative. Go on.” “Henley, you are the first to whom 1 have spoken of my purpose. It is fixed. In what nobler work, what past the the grav way, haited wit f voices that to ment of the sclence of paleontology? Think, Henley-—to add to humanity's knowledge of the extinct life that came before our own! It is a labor to fire the Imagination, And that is my purpose. 1 shall bulld and endow In this city the most complete pale ontological institute in the world, and before 1 lay aside the project, a branch Inatitution In each of the largest cities of the nation.” The volce trembled with emotion. There was a sound as of two hands sharply meeting. “Good! [I see! the Scotchman look to his Quinby shall have his paleontological institutes!” Mark wondered at the answer. “Ah! jest, And,” sighingly, of wealth and power.” “My dear Mr. Quinby,” purred, “no man in jest at paleontology, devil!” The speakers had turned the corner the veranda and upon the eavesdropper. Thus for the first time the patience the his senses What other could the of come Who has rait ol not in fancy's Jeremiah Quinby, taken prints of the day when swept so brilliant through The lofty brow seems to shelter ferment of projects. The eyes and mouth speak to us of \ great soul anguished by the suffering humanity's needs 8 bravely, self-effaci ingly elleve from the his star the a very noble grave sight of he to which seeking Photography has been less kind No philanthropy laimed him as its apostle less prom His body squat face was bony and ugly and Thomas Henley was a ising subject the art Was and neavy: his HrORAT i, cynic t, often still further marred by al sneer A lesser man, ted, would 1 been repul Henley presen ave radiated a ould galvas mad first pon ! effort deman looked 11 far naer giance Quinby; un stood why the pil Hanthropist swallowed the nso yught, “is a man Henle barged upon him, gri is arm x What PRIDE § the devil,” he repeated. “are to the window. ™ 18 that Mark ans anything ph rvously, sneak hold § # W for? at Bex AUSE are you dol: wered simply ‘1 never saw before.” o-be away, like it Probably,” the ian backing thief him throniat.s hropi uggested ne is some Perhaps better while 1 get oie help Oh, don’t be frightened.” Henley won't let him you." The sardonic n Mark, th Le ole was again looking down at advantage of bh head was himself No, | Mr. Quinby.” Quinby wther step backward, nervousness becoming more mani ‘He knows my He may crank who “My dear sir! This time there was a touch of impatience 1¢ words ‘Gentlemen importance must upper Henley is captor itarily, impudence most he by half a had grinned involun led lato 't bite you, took an won name! be some in the of your “If That's All You Good For? expect their names to become house hold words. If you'll feel easier, step inside while I attend to this Peeping Tom.” The philanthropist, still insensible— it seemed-—to the thinly veiled inso- lence, accepted the suggestion “Now then,” Henley demanded sharp ly, "what do you want here? You don’t look like a sneak thief.” “1 brought a letter to you.” “Who from?” “Dr. Richard Courtney.” “Who's he?” “He's our preacher in Bethel.” “Bethel? Elucidate Bethel” Mark defined the village geograph cally, “Humph! Let me see the letter.” Mark gave the missive to him, and Henley, opening it, began the perusal. "How many letters like this do you suppose 1 get every day?” “A good many, | expect.” “Dozens!” Henley snapped. “Dog ens! Enough, if I gave "em all jobs, to cover the Quinby mills three deep with Incompetents in a year.” He completed the perusal of the let ter, “Well,” he sneered, “you who peep v through windows, I suppose you want a nice, fat job you're not fit to fill? They all want that.” Suddenly Mark felt anger, hot an- ger, at this arrogant young man, not 80 many years his senior, who balted philanthropists with as faint scrupling as he rough-handled the seeker of work. Henley saw him stiffen, “No, I don't,” Mark cried hotly. “1 only want a chance to work. A chance to show what I'm good for.” “If that's all you want—what are you good for?" “I'm a blacksmith, thing.” “Humph! can do anything shovel. Do you know where building our new plant?” “1 can find out.” “Go to the labor boss and tell him to give you a job with the construction gang. If you're good for anything, can work up the way l-—no, not way | did, but the way want get along where running things.” “All right,” Mark turned on his heel but | can do any- we're the you to gald shortly and CHAPTER Iv. The Service of the Strong. To the had come a pas It was tearing down build bigger nation rare sion for building its old barns, and stronger raised in the deserts: and be made stanch and lasting neer and his harvest by crawling but by the would go down to anew, they The plo must be carried, conestoga and power of steam not train, to the ships of that mocked wood, but in floating palaces the storm Those impenetrable ramparts and, equipped with engines and missiles be fore which stoutest defenses crumbled Tollers on land and mu find their hands weapon Keen bring forces and treasures, sen Bt new and sure, to nature, into bon Bervice Therefore, And, workers steel! therefore, the army wind had A ettong ( and the west sprung night sun + line of that day's recr they uits fF one a keen wih passed before eyed yo only the young glance, The the this army-—who, cepted turned gave ned fr AiLer rejected to numbered io one ac ar were over timekeeper cards Various Wal who them ansig them squads A big Swede, a wiry little French passed He nodded curtly to All right! Get this recruit was accepted Thomas Henley's challenge The latter had siready incident, but Mark was still with the determination to prove his mettle to the tamer He gave his and mand, the next appli your card.” he who forgotten hot name to the time card, also the com Houlahan's gang.” received hi “Go with first step in of cong he squad ‘Git a move in his ear Dye yez prathy shtuck In th’ grround? Marrch it was the volce of Houlahan, Mark marched Corporal Houlahan had no romantic conception of his duties, and his tyr nny was of a sort to give his lings the realistic point of view, ‘Hers, ye Oly Ay bane Johann.” Ye're Moltke, 'f Of say ut.” bellowed He enlarged upon Johann's "Dig in!" The Swede, the best worker in the gang, began to shovel In a nervous that added nothing to his eff Mark saw the red creep into his campaign was a private in on! thinl ain ciency “Shtir it up, ye Frinch loafer!” the corporal addressed the next in line “We're runnin’ no barber shop here It was a tired and sadly fretted gang the noon whistie relieved Mark stretched himself out on the ground. closing his eyes on the dinner pails his comrades produced; in his eager. ness to be enlisted he had not thought of his midday meal, and he was very hungry. He felt a hand on his shoulder and opened his eyes. The Frenchman and the Swede sat beside him. “M'sieu ees ‘ongree, eh?” The Frenchman carefully broke a loaf of his meal—in the middle and proffered Mark one-half. “UR t'irety?” The Swede held out a bottle filled with cold coffee, Mark looked covetously at the gifts, but he shook his head. “"M'sieu ‘ate dat dam’ 'Oula‘’an?”’ the Frenchman inquired. “1 do,” Mark responded with fervor. “Dat mak’ fr'en’s out of us, eh? Eat, m'sien.” Hunger overcame scruples. Mark ate the bread and drank the coffee “Much obliged. | was hungry. You're all right--" He paused (hquiringly. “Marcel Masquelier,” the French man completed the segtence, “Johann Johannsen,” rolled from the region of the Swede’s stomach. Mark identified himself, “Dat ver’ good name. Brrr!” The exclamation was for the corporal, who, with the labor boss, approached. The latter glanced over the excavation. “How many loads have you taken out? “Thirty-nine, sor.” “Only thirty-nine?” the boss rejoined sharply. “It ought to be fifty.” “The dom’d loafers won't worruk,” Houlahan defended himself angrily, The boss cast his swift appraising glance over the resting groups, “It's a ood gang,’ * he sald shortly "And it's your business to make ‘em work.” He passed on, “We'll got it now,” “That Irish bully'll to get work out of men tell the boss so.” Johann's face began to work. skoll kill Mister Houlahan,” slow growl, "mebbe so.” “Mebbe 80 not’ Marcel his shoulders. “One mus’ leeve one mus’ work. Eh? “Bteady, Johann!” counseled Mark. | “Don’t let him rattle you.’ “You ‘ear, Jo'unn?’ Marcel added earnestly. “I ‘ave respec’ for w'at my fr'en, M’sleu Mark Truitt, say.” They “got it.” indeed, that after | noon. The Irishman, under the sting of his boss’ reproof, raged and cursed endlessly in ths effort get more work out of his nen gang, irri table and sullen, erratically, feverish spurts brought in- vitable reactipn; the men became de- moralized, interfered with one another. | Mark, some of the mak fusil Mark muttered never know how I'd like to “Ay came his { shrugged | An’ to The worked that boss the whim ial target for [— mutinous Swede a desire the AREABE] th as 4 Lise CRAY for end of n arcel grew Somehow Mark hour for BO hic M © philo atured and snarling 1e 5 their hospitality of the noon Wien “iin they years pon igh ten must |i ed Marcel not a responsibility were his seniors least he work like a dog out a long! French oath jo'ann, you ‘ave my COnsen Suddenly the “Ay was 1 ve, know, re must Swede by dropped his endt. Ja! glow in his bane Johann 00 mental shamed into and 1 ds patience get to harply stupidly for a that sho “Pick work, The moment, then slowly You our sneered “No, up © Mar x Cor Swede bi v nande ‘okes d obeyed boss, . hein? Marcel Marcel Mark responded stared and since Marcel with a if dog Loo then, ly to his Mark thou He looked task ght he heard a chuckle i up to meet the ayes of the | tamer As to chuckle, he may | have been mistaken; in the keen im- | personal glance was no sign of recog nition Henley, with the labor boss, departed on his tour of inspection Mark gave himself anew to his work. | with a sudden inner expansion Not Henley, but the submissiveness of his | malcontent “friends,” was the cauee | of that expansion Mark learned that there are a right method and a wrong doing ven simple task plying a shovel; that there is a fashion of handling | even so common an animal as the day laborer which brings out his highest efficiency He found, moreover. that | he had the gift—granted as often to | the false and the foolish as to the true and the wise-—of popularity Men | liked him; they laughed at his jokes; on a day's acquaintance they confided | to him their troubles—squalid trage- dies they were, alas! only too often. | Marcel always called him “m'sieu.,” a distinction he accorded not even to Blair, the labor boss One chill, foggy evening, as the whistle blew, he looked about him and realized that the excavation for the new mill was completed. “Why, we're through!” he muttered Johann stared stupidly “Mebby dat Meestair Blair ‘e geev us anudder job, you t'ink so, eh?” ven. tured Marcel hopefully. “No. We're the rottenest gang on the work. It's Houlahan's fault. And 1 haven't had my chance, Dn him!” “Dewsn!" The impending calamity was becoming clear to Johann. “M'sieu ‘as los’ ‘ees chance. Dat ver’ bad. Jo'ann an’ me, we ‘ave los’ a job,” Marcel sighed, But the fear was not justified At the toolshed they were ordered to report next morning a half hour ear ler than usual, And: “Truitt,” said the time clerk, boss wants to see you.” Mark made his way to the rude shanty that was Blair's office, “Truitt,” the latter demanded, “what's the matter with Houlahan's gang?” “Too much bullying” swered directly, “1 thought so. Report morning.” “Yes, sir. Of course.” “I'm going Ww put your gang on the th Lie of of “the Mark an: tomorrow new coke oven beds, It's a rush job. I glve you three weeks for it.” “Give me?” “Yes. I'm putting you in charge of the gang.” For an instant Mark stared foolish- Then grinned Nould you mind saying that again? Blair complied “lock here,” he taking a chance look and talk ly he I'm on you, because you intelligent. Are you? Mark admitted it “Then prove it this job Houlahan,” Blair and he loses his job Mark saw In the morning happily unaware things “Houlahan, ally, ruftt day." Ho Mark "And where to make a you ve got “didn't I want and added, Bee?" on BO to reported, order Houlahan of 4 new of announced take your gang Casl- Lo- ulahan glared male volently at Of go? “You can take Truitt ' sald Blair cu "My God! Ther: dazed rtly was pick an ark have lowed M You come docile and age Wien a o th aster takes the re wus with Houla- han’s, now Truitt's ang. They were, gince the ad survis the weeks of bullying, no mean type i re sponded grate changed leadership. Where sul n id resentful, willing and promptly « the they they had been they LOW ybedient pace, became As the of advanced inetead under Hou mE gystem system of nio a A Bingie nraciaels precisely ght, over He and bridge watching the ith and over the the hook tongs worked a twoton ingot rolis “What it? What's bh around for an the ejaculation Nothing. 1 how big it is feebleness of his is ked y ord appened Blair lot accident to thinking how aughed at the “What would you give to There | ich thing as hin luck A who had not » had just idge, heard, the eager man yet become exploiter unnoticed and with a half smile face Blair shrugged } it's big But it's pay, though “1 suppose e0," wasn't ome on “Yes, Good iis shoulders. hard work. Mark answered care- thinking of that’ The spoke ‘Good eyening, Blair." Oh! Good evening, Mr struck a respec . Sir." looked at Mark “I dom™ Where have 1 seen man Henley.” Blair tful attitude “A bad night Henley just place you before? Mark flushed at the recollection “1 took a letter I had for you and you caught me" ‘So you're Peeping Tom, eh? you get a job?” “Yes, sir. With a pick-andshovel I'm boss now.’ Henlay seemed Did “He's the man that dug the new oven beds,” Bilalr interposed gener ously, “He did it in two weeks and days.” “Two weeks and two days.” Mark “So ferent, “I had a spoiled gang. It took =» week for me to shape ‘em up” “Humph! That's what we pay bosses for. We gave you credit for that job, Blair.” “1 took him out of the gang and put him on the job. But he did the work. He knows how to get work out of men.” And that was high praise—the very highest, Henley thought He turned again to Mark. “Are you satisfied with your job? “No,” cried Mark. “I don’t want to be just a Hunkydriver. I want te learn how to make steel” “It's easier to learn how to make steel than to be a Hunky<driver,” Hen- ley said dryly. “However, | think we can find you another job” (TO BE CONTINUED.) Roundsman Emulates Naturalist There is a policeman in the Middle sex Falls whe carries a book, a pair of opera glasses and a bundle of note pa per with him on his rounds. “I've been here a number of years,” he sald to a visitor, “and | got ashamed when everybody asked me about birds and flowers and | could not tell them about anything One day 1 saw Mr. Packard, the naturalist, at work, and I've been imitating him since then "Boston Traveler long? Henley continued indif-
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers