The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-06
AWFUL EXPERIENCE

Twas in Hyde Park one afternoon. COM
fortaiiy ensconcei In q shady nook, from
which could wafch the stream OF gayiy
appointed equipages constantly passing.
The sun shone brightly, soft. ianguor-
oss hseeze sighed through the trees. and
aitoaesher IL was . picture OF such purity,
peace and Joy that even . misanfhrope
would have felt glad TO have looked upon il.
was thinking thus when man to whose
outstrstched hands two little children--a
boy and . gIri--were ciinging passed me,
and finding an unoceupied shelter under
the trees. threw himself at full length upon
the ground. and encouraged the little ones
TO gainboI ON the soft grass.
As he reciined there his face was turned
toward me. and | was SO struck by its
singularity that the peaceful scene around
ma was forgotten, and even the noise was
unhcsrd.
He was. Judging from his bright eyes and
fresh pink and white complexion. about
thirty-two or thirty-three years of age.
A heavy mustache covered his lip. and his
hair--he had thrown of his hat--wss thick
and Way. II and the mustaehe were snow
white. and IL was speculation ~ 70 the
cause OF this phenomenon that distracted
my attention from the scene around me-
could not take my eyes away from him
and Was 10 absorbed that did not hear
the approach OF my friend Barton, who
had spied me ont, and come over TO have q
smoke and chat.
Barton Is . Newspaper writer. and knows
everybody. consequently ] was not sur
prissd when he nodded Familiarity to the
man who he'd 30 attracted my attention,
and called out to him in his CHEEKY way
"Huiio. Derry Taking day outf''
The man bowed In reply, and I seized
barton by the arm, pulled him down on
the seat beside me. lowered my voice and
propounded this inquiry with an eager
THAT Derry--how did his hair be-
come white 7"
Turned In few minutes from fright, I"
replied Barton. cooily. mot an uncom-
mon thing. Derry, though, had . remark
able sxpsrisnos. II he wasn't such mod
eat fellow, I'd write Il up for our paper.
You could do II, though, for it's right in
your line. Disguise the names and places
--eh. old fellowf Wait TIL light my cigar,
and Ill tell you all about H."
And forthwith he did. and have written
il out - near ~ l can remember II, pre-
serving strict incosnito ~ to names and
places.
IL was during great railroad squabble
In France. some years ago, that Lionel
Derry met with the adventure which
turned his brown hair white, won him a
bride. and made his fortune at the same
time.
Derry was . minor clerk in the main
Office of the great WILSON'S Company but
sharp, shrewd. attentive TO his duties, and
well thought Of by his supenors
When the Parray company began to build
rival road and attempted 10 cross the
Seine on property belonging 10 the Wis
sous people, Derry was sent up with 9TH
ere. 10 "hoid the fort" until the matter
could be settled by the courts.
The station near where the WILSON,,
road crossed the Seine was romanticaiiy
situated, and already an enterprising spec-
aiator had erected large hotel there and
advertised II far and wide as q pleasant
Summer resort. Tbs employees of both the
'iyal railroads were CHARTERED in the
eosteiry, and you can depend upon IL they
watched each ether like hawks
The Wilson's Company's bridge was
only Temporary affair OF tressle work, bu,
plans had been prepared for a substantial
canhievsr, AMI IL would be put I'm place a.
soon as the trouble about the right-of-w nv
was settled.
IL was necessary 20 keep force If hand,
constantly employed. Strengthening and
repairing the trail treste bridge. and ths
engineer IN charge OF this work becsms
Lionel perrys arm friend.
lie vas an elderly. sedats man, named
tfeFre isssooreus. intensely devoted &
Us profession. ard great inventor.
Among the lshor~Sayinr machines fha
he had devised was an improved mia
driver, which utilized the water OF III,
river as = motor power. snd could be ,a.n
aged by one man. By shifting a lever
such as Is IN use in locomotives nowa
could be applied % the Eitt. and the ron
deeous hammer was arranged 10 fau anto
matiealiy. The instant IL descended il xa.
seisea by the ssongs,R and again RAISED
and 81 rapid we're ttS movements that IN,
work Of TIVE ordinary machines roald h.
done ty II in . day. and then there was n.
consumption Of eosl.
I-smoareax explained his iavent;o,
Ia Derry, and taught him how 10 manipu
late IL.
Ore day il Was moved IN close b~si.s
the bridge 10 10 some piling, and N
enytnesg, pasHting to the beams ard eros
riesses above their heads. said:
That's the weakest part If the hr;ars
Ten minutes work viii GixrlscS q nrnhs
ny there thss VIII cause the whole affair :
collapse the minute ) train attempts /.
PASS over. I've keea AFRAID THAI some q
these fsrrsy allows would notice q
matter ard de cur company irrersrshs
damage"
Noa doat saean 20 say" began nerrt
Yes, ] do" INTERRUPTED the enxsneer
With positive emphasis. They are IA,
lot. and tsesos. the head raaa. woafS saeri
ace hundred snnoceng hves 90 give h;
company a. advantage Cnta the conrs
settle The difficulty. SET hays 10 he yer
careful II a. Socsdent happens here.
wsli work against the Wilson's. and rns
xfve the ether fellows The SAT-
Lionel Derry n@A no reascs 70 Ike fsugs,
for--xssde from sAe natural rixa.r
eaxeaaervi ~ ep<ng "A the sEnplOv of
corporation 81 wxr With taas ssprssers~
hs hina-the latter was nos sealox Z
take tr." AEsa Derry theugas he was pas
sng slscrexasr soo much ssssn Ion 10 pFsss
Asmeej L sEsc.le. who. strangely xnoUga