Middletown transcript., 1903-05-02

chair. His fingers toyed with a pair of
dividers.
It's the big bridge matter, Joyce.
| Let it go for tonight.
Oh, it isn't the actual work--Fm only
verifying some things here. It's the
question as to whether get the contract
at all or not. There are some features in
the management of the matter which
rather puzzle me.
| Why, 1 thought it was pretty certain
that you we're to get it.
Iknow. So it seemed. I've done all the
d., @. & c. big work, and some of it's
been among the very biggest in the
country OF late years; but the Mississippi
bridge is bigger yet-it is colossal; and
the difficulties at that point are enor-
nous. Sit down, Joyce. He swung
around on the revolving chair. You see,
they were perfectly satisfied with my re-
port; but, just at the end Of the meeting
Il was congratulating myself that it bid
fair to slip through without their think
ing of it, one of the directors suggested
that before the matter were closed it was
only wise to have a confirmation, and,
of course, competing estimates.
Well, / didn't think much Of it, as ]
had done all their work, but, confound
it! Serrill is no fool, and while he was
about it he wired to New York to the
only other company in America that
could touch this job.
Joyce fared up hotly. That was de-
spicable!
Her husband smiled. No. 1t was only
good business. I'd have done the same
myself, of course. 1t isn't that part of it,;
it's the manner in which their president
has acted that puzzles me. Hodcaster
reports-what's the matter, Jo, ce?
N-nothing. l pricked my finger on
this instrument. Go on.
He reports that if put up the bridge
according to my plans it will go to pieces
at the next food. y
What! Joyce swung around with SYM
pathetic resentment.
Wilmerding nodded.
| What-what does he mean?
He shrugged his shoulders. There's
no denying, Joyce, that both river-bed
and banks are horribly treacherous. l
wouldn't touch the place if there were a
better, but for miles each way it is worse.
| That is the only available spot, and the
road must cross there. All its planning,
its purchasing of right of-way, the sur
veying, have been done with this in
view. Necessity demands it. 1t will be
the biggest road across the continent
open up whole stretches of country.
Besides, it is practically an airline and
shortens time way below the regular
schedule. That is the only place for the
bridge.
But 1 never knew there was riskl
Wilmerding laughed. Oh, there's al
ways risk, but we don't count that. It's
the sporting instinct. Big game isn't in
it with big bridges. Still, I believe Pm
right. No one can tell, OF course, till the
excavations are made, just what, kind Of
foundations We shall find; but went
into it all most carefully. That's what
I've been going over to-night-all my
memoranda taken on the spot.
He was silent moment-then finished
But 1 don't like Hodcaster's action:
We used to be good friends, but this looks
to me as if he were trying to discredit me
and my work.
Well, let it all go for Tonight, he added
YEARLY.
1t was many hours before Joyce Will
merding found rest.
| vi.
The theologians' dictum, that even un-
premeditated evil brings its sure retribu-
ton, does not seem so far astray.
Among the items entering into Joyce
Wilmerding's punishment was suspense
and suspense in vital matters is KILN g,
thing. To the Wilmerdings the Mississ-
ippi bridge was vital.
The loss of the contract meant the loss
of an enormous patronage, the loss OF
his prestige as perhaps the foremostman
in his profession. The holding of it, the
successful completion of the work, meant
the triumphant vindicatoin of his iudg.
ment, an international reputation, aft u
ence for life.
And all this, Joyce Wilmerding felt,
she had imperilled.
From a certain secretiveness OF nature
reserve, courageous bearing of her OWL
burdens, faithfulness to John Hodcaster':
secret-what you will-perhaps all o.
:. these-she had, before her marriage
never mentioned her acquaintance witt
him. When his name, as her husbands
business rival, came as a sudden blow
her first impulse was denial of that &C
= quaintance by her silence; following that
came, with her quick woman's wit, al
instant insight into the iar-reaching pos
sibilities OF that acquaintance.
She saw that to mention it now woul(
: at once awaken her husbands suspicion
. :. and give motive for Hodcaster's action
= would further embitter the two men ant
do no good. But the keeping from hin
of secret of such importance, the posi-
, bility of discovery now or later, the daily
developing consequences, harried her b.
day and forbade sleep at night.
ii And during this suspense Joyce fel
seriously ill. She rallied from weakness
: to find the matter still unsettled; for, TO
this contract Lance Wilmerding wa
making the fight of his life. Every in
fiuence he could command was brough
. to bear upon the company.
His wife once suggested that lie agail
explore most thoroughly the proposes
site for the bridge, seeing il some bette
= plan wonld not evealitself. He resente,
:, the suggestion. Even should he fin,
euch a Dlan could lie admit to tha cor