The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-04
Ill.

City Engineer Murdoch, who was no.
body's fool was under ordinary cir
cumstances the last man to let young
engineer come in from outside to su-
pervise such an important job as the
paving of Zenobia avenue.
The circumstances were not ordi-
nary, however. A combination of the
street car lines of the city was in con-
temptation, which would involve
changes in operation and lead to con-
siderable extensions. Murdoch ex-
pected to become superintendent and
practical manager of the combination
with a good salary and a fair block
of stock at ground floor rates; and he
was so busy arranging the new deal
that he simply didn't want to be both
cred with the city work for which he
was hired So he left small matters
to his assistant draughtsmen and Of
flee boy, and asked for the temporary
employment of an expert to look after
the paving job.
This was one of the facts which
Faith Stoddard had learned, assimi-
lated, correlated and used in her cam
paign. She had recognized soon after
meeting Otis, the new engineer, that
he was the man who was likely one
day to become her husband, and she
resolved to keep him in town until
after Murdock's resignation was sent
in.
He knows ever so much more than
that hateful old Murdoch and he might
nGt IaN hn rN1a OF ,
she used to inform herself, privately
but positively. Her campaign, it may
be remarked in parenthesis, was well
under way before Otis even knew he
was in love. Men are so stupid.
That was some time ago. Otis had
, been an accepted suitor for a month.
Judge Stoddard had made some fuss
about his daughters wish to marry a
young man of such wandering ways as
civil engineers must be at first.
However, the fond parent was pacifed
by an agreement that the wedding
should not take place until Otis had
secured a permanent and profitable
berth, and the happy couple walked
| on bridges of rainbows. Sometimes
| the young man became respondent
| over his inability to hear of such an
engagement as he wished, but his
sweetheart found means to cajole him
| out of his pessimism.
Faith had in her own right small
sum of money, very few thousand,
| left to her by a bachelor uncle who
| had died in the West. In the capacity
| of a possible investor she had become
| possessed of the confidence of the fore
| most operator in the street car deal,
| whose daughter was her most intimate
| friend
The magnate was a stout, dark man
| with short, stiff black beard and an
| incisive, breezy manner. Meeting him
| one day by a carefully arranged acci-
| dent Faith made most minute inquir-
| les about the plans of the combination,
| eliciting no information new to her.
| about how much money would you
| like to put in, Miss Stoddard?" asked
| the operator at last II suppose Nell
| lie has told you that / am taking a
| few shares for her. ] can assure you
it is a good thing"
"Why / don't know" purred the de-
| ceitful mink hesitatingly; Il have $500
I'd like to invest, If you're really and
truly sure it's perfectly safe, but may
be l could have fifty or hundred
| more if-would you mind telling me
exactly when it will be?"
Just like woman," thought Ell
bert Janney as he replied, not a lit
tie amused but with grave counter.
ance "The deal goes into effect Sep
tember 1, but / must ask you as an
investor to remember that it is an alb.
solute secret"
| Il
to any living SOUL" cried Faith Stod.
dard, "and does Mr.. Murphy resign
then?"
"Who? Murdock? About a week oil
ten days sooner probably. But that's
his funeral. We shall be glad to have
you with us for luck, Faith. 1 dom
think your investment will be so heavy
as to disturb the balance of power ir
the company" he permitted himself tC
add with a chuckle.
Faith forgave the chuckle. That
same evening Otis was grumblinl
again about his forced inaction in the
matter of paving zenobia avenue, al
though he held Faith Stoddards hanC
even as he spoke, and should have
been content. Unfortunately he hat
the New England conscience and wa.
fretted by inaction.
"All good pavements is good" HI
growled." can't imagine what make.
them quarrel so about it. OF course
the cobblestones are relic of barbar
ism, and ought to come up, but either
brick or wood or asphalt or macadan
would be better than this delay"
well, why don't you tell them 81
and get to work?" asked Faith, limo
Gently.
Because Tn neither the city engi
neer nor taxpayer" Otis replied
rather testify, whereat Miss Stoddard
with much dignity withdrew her hant
from his.
STILL" said she, resuming the sub
Ject, after a quarter of an hour de
voted to discussion of irrelevant mat
tiers had ended in the resurrender o
the hand, "if anybody asked you 70
your opinion you could give it, jus