Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-07-05

T, or went over to the Iolanthe and Bull
Ter fumed away the desperate hours,
touching his bell every few minutes
and demanding a fresh cigar from
Nishima. After luncheon he marched
/ iris of with him to the engineers car,
/ looking fretfully at the great I'M
bridged chasm as he went and wincing
at the sight of a large gang OF idle
yorkmen.
She heard her father say In tones
which she knew were forcedly calm:
"Well, it's four o'clock, Mr.. SHELL.
and don't see no signs O. your bridge.
There amt timber in place. You
know 1t was to be all done by to-
night. That would be-say, four
hours"
ION, we're working right along" she
heard Smell say. Take seat, sir.
Here is the design, Mr.. Butler. OF
course it's only makeshift structure,
not piece OF professional bridge ar
chitecture, by any means"
Two minutes OF ominous, eloquent
silence, and then the cloudburst.
Look here, Mr.. Smell" her father
reared out at last, you haven't caught
on to my idea from The fSst! ask you
for bridge, and you give me a blue
print. You're good enough at fggers,
but it amt h5gers that want. |
want to see the trains runnin' over
that canyon before dark tonight
,"Now look here, everybody. | want
to know II there's man in this car
that can jump up, grab his hat, and go
right out and build that there bridge
by tomorrow morning. There's 200
men a-settin' over there on them fiat
cars a-doin' nothin', an thereH be
1000 more here from the front in an
hour an half. Now, who's the
man%
For a moment no one stirred. Then
from the farther end of the car Arch,
jennings thin, bronzed face and keen
eyes bent forward. A pencil of sun
light strealIed across his square, mas
terful chin and his prominent nose as
he rose and said determinedly:
"Mr. Butler, can do 1t. Let me have
chance at the job"
You're the first one to speak" said
Butler. glancing toward the young fell
low, 80 guess you're the man. Let's
see, what's your manner"
Archibald jennings"
The two passed out, passing Iris on.
the platform. Iris bowed little stiff.
ly to Archie as he turned by her. For
she resented the fall Of her hero
though she would have owned readily
enough that he had presented himself
in rather poor light.
"You understand" she heard her
father say as he turned away from the
young man, "the whole line is at your
disposal. I'm lookin' to you for every
thing"
Iris was up at five the next morning.
It was Just daylight. The donkey en-
gines had ceased their braying and the
canyon was still. Archie Jennings
came whirling toward the Iolanthe on
pulsing motor car. His face looked
q little drawn, but there was a tri-
umphant CLEAN in his gray eyes. He
saw Iris standing on the platform.
GOOD morning" was her glad greet
ing. How is the work getting on?"
"Come and see." he said.
She seated herself and they whizzed,
down the track to the edge Of the
chasm, and all in moment they shot
out above the canyon, the wheels ny
ing over the new-laid rails. Iris caught
her breath.
"Oh," she said, with Just shade OF
terror in her tone. isn't 1t magnih-
cent? And it's all finished-clear'
across-all in a night. You're won
der, Archie-a wonder! Won't papa be
pleased?"
They crossed over, and when they re-.
turned to the other side there stood.
the Iolanthe, with the engine behind
her. not far from the edge Of the
bridge. with Butler and Smell out on
the front platform, Butler full Of the
triumph of 1t all, Smell cool and crit-
cal.
there's going to- be a dangerous
sag in the central span" said Shell
LET her sag! Get aboard here, you
folks" called Butler to Archie and
Iris. LET them lift your car on, Jen-
nings. We're goin' to run across"
But the strains weren't calculated"
jerked out Smell. The whole affair is
acknowledgements. The test is too
great. Excuse me, II get on" He
sprang from the last steps,
The Iolanthe ground over the. new
rails, the engine putting slowly. The
tImbers creaked little as they settled
to the strain of the tremendous weight
of the great car and engine. Thump!
thumpI resounded the wheels.
"A high joint" said Butler. Here
we are on the middle span. Hoorayl
she's steady as a rock. Where's your
sag. Mr.. ]. Hampton snellf" He gave
the signal faster" and the car new
across the bridge. cit onto that sid
ing right awayl" he yelled to the en-
Einesr when they were over. They
trundled upon the siding, and Archie
started to leave the car.