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Now they aren't any printed books hereabouts, but you've got it all in your head " "I can't teach you much," Allan had said soberly, "whispering under bushes and listening for Schenck's cavalry! We might do something, though. You were an awful poor speller. Spell 'sergeant' now 'ordnance' now 'ammunition' 'battery' 'caisson' 'Howitzer' 'Napoleon' 'Tredegar' 'limber' 'trail' 'cannon-powder' "
Not a week passed during my imprisonment that I did not see a Rebel emissary of some kind about the prison seeking to engage skilled workmen for some purpose or another. While in Richmond the managers of the Tredegar Iron Works were brazen and persistent in their efforts to seduce what are termed "malleable iron workers," to enter their employ.
"The futility ?" Bessy broke out, with a flutter of tears in her voice; but before her father could intervene Mr. Tredegar had raised his hand with the gesture of one accustomed to wield the gavel. "My dear child, I see Amherst's point, and it is best, as he says, that you should see it too.
"That young fellow seems sure of himself. You believe in him?" Justine hesitated. "Not in his expectation of recovery no one does." "But you think they can keep the poor child alive till Langhope and her husband get back?" There was a moment's pause; then Justine murmured: "It can be done...I think...." "Yes it's horrible," said Mr. Tredegar suddenly, as if in answer to her thought.
"I'm gettin' right old and no-account, son; there's no denyin' that. And you can't make out to shoulder it all, stout as you are. But what-all can we do different?" "I know what I'm going to do. I had a 'phone wire from Bradley, the sheriff, last night after you went home. He funked like a boy; said he couldn't raise a posse in South Tredegar that would serve against striking workmen.
Mr. Tredegar listened attentively, though the cloud of cigar-smoke between himself and Amherst masked from the latter his possible changes of expression. When he removed his cigar, his face looked smaller than ever, as though desiccated by the fumes of the tobacco. "Have you ever called Mr. Gaines's attention to these matters?" "No: that would have been useless.
Tredegar interposed with authority: "One moment, Langhope, please. Mr. Amherst, is Mrs. Westmore expected at the mills?" "Yes, I believe they know she is coming." "Then I think, my dear, that to go back to New York without showing yourself would, under the circumstances, be er an error in judgment."
The incident turned on the fact of his walking home. Ordinarily he struck work when the furnace whistle blew, riding home with his father behind old Longfellow; but on this particular evening Kinderling, the architect, missed his South Tredegar train, and Tom spent an extra hour with him, discussing further and future possibilities of expansion.
He had meant to take the trolley back to Westmore, but at a murmured word from Mr. Tredegar Bessy had offered him a seat at her side, leaving others to follow. This culmination of his hopes the unlooked-for chance of a half-hour alone with her left Amherst oppressed with the swiftness of the minutes.
"Well, we can do what we have to, I suppose," he said, after a hesitant pause. "Say nothing to my father, but make your arrangements to take the train for the North again to-night. I'll meet you in town at the Marlboro at four o'clock." To prepare for the new exigency, Tom took the afternoon local for South Tredegar.
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