ver try to put me on a rush job
I'll quit and buy a small farm.' I could make the laziest farmer in
twelve states. Well, I've got to go out on the job."

An elevator is simply a big grain warehouse, and of course the bins
where the grain is kept occupy most of the building. But for handling
the grain more than bin room is necessary. Beneath the bins is what is
called the working story, where is the machinery for unloading cars and
for lifting the grain. The cupola, which Bannon was about to frame, is a
five-story building perched atop the bins. It contains the appliances
for weighing the grain and distributing it.

When Bannon climbed out on top of the bins, he found the carpenters
partially flooring over the area, preparatory to putting in place the
framework of the cupola. Below them in the bins, like bees in a
honeycomb, laborers were taking down the scaffolding which had served in
building their walls. At the south side of the building a group of
laborers, under one of the foremen, was rigging what is known as a boom
hoist, which was to lift the timbers for framing the cupola.

While Bannon stood watching the carpenters, one of them sawed off the
end of a plank and dropped it down into the bin. There was a low laugh,
and one or two of the men glanced uneasily at Bannon. He spoke to the
offender "Don't do that again if you want to stay on this job. You know
there are men at work down there." Then: "Look here," he called, getting
the attention of all the carpenters, "every man that drops anything into
the bins gets docked an hour's pay. If he does it twice he leaves the
job just as quick as we can make out a time-check. I want you to be
careful."

He was picking his way over to the group of men about the hoisting pole,
when he heard another general laugh from the carpenters. Turning back he
saw them all looking at a fellow named Reilly, who, trying to suppress a
smile, was peering with mock concern down into the dark bin. "My hammer
slipped," Bannon heard him say in a loud aside to the man nearest him.
Then, with a laugh: "Accidents will happen."

Bannon almost smiled himself, for the man had played right into his
hand. He had, in the four days since he took command, already become
aware of Reilly and had put him down for the sort ambitious to rise
rather in the organization of his union than in his trade.

"I guess we won't take the trouble to dock you," he said. "Go to the
office and get your time. And be quic