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Updated: June 7, 2025
Smaltz's face wore a look of keenest interest, as with one shoulder braced against the side of the building, his hands in his pockets, he watched the plant burn up. Down below, Banule had thrown out the switch and the machinery was running away. A rim of fire encircled the commutators.
"Alf" Banule, the electrical genius for whom Jennings had sent to help him rewind an armature and who therefore had taken Jennings's place as constructing engineer, had the distinction of being the only person Bruce had ever seen who could remove his socks without taking off his shoes. He accomplished the feat with ease for the reason that there were never any toes in the aforesaid shoes.
Bruce read it carefully and handed it to Banule: "Read this and witness it." Banule did as he was told, for once, apparently, too dumfounded for comment. "Now copy it," said Bruce, and Smaltz obeyed. When this was done, signed and witnessed Smaltz looked up inquiringly his expression said "What next?" Bruce stepped to the double doors and slid the bolt. "There's your trail now hit it!"
"Didn't see one handy," Banule replied cheerfully, "took the first thing I could reach." "It just about keeps one pack-train on the trail supplying you with tools." "Guess I am a little careless." Banule seemed unruffled by the reproach because he had heard it so many times before, no doubt.
"There's not an hour to lose. It's going to storm; I must get done." "I 'spose we can start." Banule looked dubious. "I'll try it, but I think we'll have to quit." Was there anything more that could happen? Bruce asked himself in dumb misery as he picked up his scoop and brush and mechanically went to work when the pumps started and the water came.
The peculiar emphasis did not escape Bruce and he was still thinking of the look he had caught on Smaltz's face as he asked Banule: "Is this mica right? Is it the kind you need?" Smaltz looked at Banule from the corner of his eye. "'Taint exactly what I ought to have," Banule responded cheerfully. "I forgot to specify when I ordered, but I guess I can make it do it's good enough."
"Looks like you ought to get several hundred dollars out of that," Banule said hopefully as Bruce gathered the four corners, twisted them and began to squeeze. "Yes, looks like I ought to," Bruce replied ironically. The quicksilver came through the pores of the skin in a shower of shining globules.
When he realized that he couldn't, he sent for Banule to pull him through. "Jennings failed because of his ignorance but this feller knows, and whatever he's done he has done knowin' that his work couldn't by any chance last. All he's thought of was gettin' the plant up somehow so it would run temporarily any old way to get through get his money, and get out.
Banule lingered. "Say," he hesitated obviously he found the confession embarrassing or else he hated to lay the final straw upon the camel's back "just before you told me to shut down, the motor on the small pump started sparkin' pretty bad." "Yes?" Bruce knew that if Banule admitted it was "pretty bad" it was bad indeed. "I'll look it over if we can stop awhile." Bruce shook his head.
"Yes, you're careless," Bruce answered vigorously, "and I'm telling you straight it worries me; I can't help wondering if your carelessness extends to your work. There, you know, you've got me, for I can't tell. I must trust you absolutely." Banule shrugged a shoulder "This ain't the first plant I've put up, you know." He added "I'll guarantee that inside two weeks we'll be throwin' dirt.
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