Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-29
[coNrINUED.l

That was what Callahan, up with
Bucks at the window. was trying to
fgure-what it meant.
"The man that looks to Omaha for
rhyme or reason will beggar his wits.
Callahan" said Bucks slowly as he
watched Ed PcetO swing the stay bolts
NJ into the car so they would crack
the baggageman across the shins and
then try to get him into fight about
It. "They never had man-and l bar
none; no, not Brodie-that could han
Gle the mountain water like HALEY;
they never will have man-and they
dump him ont like pipe of tobacco.
How docs 1t happen we are cursed
with such crew of blooming idiots?
Other roads aren't"
Callahan made no answer. II know
why they did it," Bucks went on. but
/ couldn't tell HALEY"
"Why?"
81 think l know why. Last time
was down the president brought his
name up and asked a lot of questions
about where he was educated and so
ON. Somebody had plugged him; l
could see that in two minutes. gave
him the facts-told him that Brodie
had given him his education as an en-
gincer. The minute he found out he
wasn't regularly graduated he froze up.
Very polite, but he froze up. See?
Experience. actual requirements
Bucks extended his hand from his vest
pocket in an odd wavy motion till It
was lost ut arms length-"nothing-
nothng-no,iing"
AS lie concluded, HALEY was climb
ing behind his father into the smoker.
No. pulled down the yard and
out. One thing HALEY meant to make
sure Of-that they shouldn't beat him
out of the finish Of the Spider bridge
as lie had planned 1t; one monument
HALEY meant to have-one he has.
The new superintendent Of bridges
took hold promptly. We knew he had
been wired for long before his appoint
ment was announced. He was good
enough fellow. guess, but we all
hated him. Bucks did the civil, though,
and took Aguew down to the Spider IN
q specialize inspect the new work and
introduce him to the man whose bread
and opportunity lie was taking. i've
been wanting to meet you, Mr.. Haley"
said Agnew pleasantly after they had
shaken hands. HALEY looked at Ag-
new silently as he spoke; Bucks looked
steadfastly ut the grasshopper derrick.
"I've been expecting you'd be along
pretty soon," replied HALEY presently.
"There's considerable to look over
here. After that we'll go back to Peace
river canyon. We're just getting things
started there. Then We'll run up to the
Bend and III turn the Office over"
mo hurry about that. You've got
good deal Of bridge here, Mr.. Hal
ley"
you'll need good deal Of bridge
here"
81 didn't expect to find you so far
along out here In the mountains.
Where did you get that pneumatic
process?"
It touched HALEY, the pleasant, easy
way Agnew took him. The courtesy OF
the east against the blunt Of the west.
There wasn't mean drop anywhere In
Hailey's blood, and he made no trouble
,,,ho tayor fnr hio supcpSSOr
After he let 90 OH the West End Hal
lev talked as ii he would look up some
thing farther east. He spoke about 1t
to Bucks, but Bucks told him frankly
lie would find difficulty without reg
ular degree in getting a satisfactory
connection. HALEY himself realized
that; moreover. he seemed reluctant to
quit the mountains. He acted around
the cottage and the Wickiup like a man
who has lost something and who looks
for 1t abstructcdly. as one might feel
in his pockets for fishpole or a bur-
giar. But there were lusty little Hal
leys over ut the cottage to be looked
after. and Bucks. losing rOadmaster
about that time. asked HALEY (after
chewing it long time with Callahan)
to take the place himself and stay Oh
the stan. Hc even went home with
Haley and argued it.
~ know 1t doesn't seem just right"
Backs Put 1t, ''but, HALEY, you must
remember this thing at Omaha isn't
going to last. They can't run a road
Ike this with Harvard graduates and
cosion tyi,cwriters. Therell be an en-
Ire new deal down there some fine day.
Stay here with me. and I'll say this
i.ai.ey. if 90, ever, you go with me-"
And HALEY, sitting with his head be-
tween h.s hands, listening to his wife
and to Bucks. said, one day, Enough"
ana tine first of the month reported for
Guty as roadmaster.
Agnew. meantime, had stopped all
construction work not too far along to
discontinue. The bridge ut the Spider
fortunately was beyond his mandate;
1t was finished to rivet as HALEY had
planned 1t. Three spans, two piers and