Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-02-03

many NuHuClos lOl StNt
months a reporter on tn
A Daily Enterprise, was sen
EA 9lU TO write up the new cit
water works for the mex
days edition, so that the subscribers
enjoying the first glasses of the fres
supply at their breakfast tables, nigh
at the same time read how that suppl
had been brought to them.
A letter from the managing editO
admitted him inside the grille at til
water company's office, and secure,
him an introduction to George After
bury, the supervising engineer.
Although barely forty, Atterbury wa
one OF the leading water works expert
in the country. He was well built anC
athletic. His duties, being largely out
ot-doors, kept him strong and healthy
When the reporter asked him for ,
half-hour, he consulted his note book.
Il haven't time TO talk now" sale
he, but perhaps little later can dt
better still. The first part of the even
ing I'm going to inspect a piece of TIT
main line above Waterford station
How would You like TO tramp with mC
through a half-mile of pipe? The gate
at the lake will be lifted at :. hui
Wen have full hour before the water
Is due at the station. After We get
BACK I'll be at your service until $50
then l have an engagement"
Sanders welcomed the novelty of al
underground interview with Atterbury
1t would make good copy"
Accordingly, at half past 3 that after
noon, just as the first drops Of a south
east storm We're falling, the newspaper
man Joined the engineer on an out.
ward-bound electric car. After riding
thirty minutes, they got off, and took
wood-path for the Waterford station
two miles away across country.
AS they passed through n thick
growth Of young birches. a projecting
branch caught in Atterbury's watch
chain, wrenching his watch violently
from his pocket. He rescued it, and
held it up to his ear.
Hasn't Jared it bit" said ne.
Its going all right. Ticking away rs
steady as a clock. You couldn't hurt
that watch if you threw it from the
top of the Washington Monument |
dropped it face down once, and
smashed the crystal to flinders: but It
went on keeping time without varying
a second"
The path now brought them to n
deep, swollen brook. As the crossing.
plank had been washed away, they
spent some time in finding a place shall
low enough TO ford. Once on the other
side, they made quick progress, and
soon the light from the station window
a won mnAa a red ahead. By this time the rain
sanders rejoiced thar shelter was near.
Before opening the door. Atterbury
pulled out his watch, drew an electric
lantern from his inner pocket and
flashed the light upon the dial. The
hands were together at twenty-seven
minutes to =
i've telephOned the lake to turn the
wafer on at sharp, unless they hear
from me to the contrary" said he. I'm
sure everything is all right, for Con-
nors told Inc it was, and I've found
every inch of the other eighteen miles
just as he said it would be-"
. The two entered the sstt2tion; After 4
Swedish Waterman, Atterbury in
formed him that he was going down
into the pipe on short tour of inspec.
ton.
"Water turned on at Z, sir" said the
Station man.
81 know it," replied the engineer,
"We'll be out by that time"
The Swede lifted the round iron
cover Of a manhole in the centre of the
floor and dropped a short rope ladder
through the opening. Atterbury de-
scended first, disappearing into the
gloom. Almost instantly, however,
the bright light of his electric lantern
shOne below. Sanders climbed down
after him, and found himself in cir.
cular brick tunnel, about six feet high.
Atterbury tramped off TO the west,
talking as lie went.
1t was cool and damp in the gigantic
conduit. Water hung in drops upon
the bricks overhead and trickled down
the walls. Outside, Sanders knew it
must be raining heavily, yet no sound
of the dOwnpOur reached them. Elk.
cept for their voices and the scuftling
of their feet, everything was deathIy
still. 1t was novel experience for the
reporter; and he tried to memorize the
descriptive phrases suggested by his
surrOupndings.
Atterbury shot back abrupt sentences
as he walked briskly on, flashing his
electric lantern on the nicely fitted
joints.
YES" exclaimed he, at is an Al
job! Six feet in diameter lined with
best red brick, set in q backing OF
concrete REINFORCED with metal. Con
norS' men have been in our employ {
good many years. but never saw then
do a prettier piece of work than this
That's what it means to have experts
Every man a specialist in his line
that's my motto. No matter il it's Onl!
shoveling sand or digging with pick.
His words came back in hollow
rumbllng echoes to the Swede in tn
station. He inferred that Atterbu:,
knew his own business best, and tia
he was simply going a short distNnc
in the pipe. Nevertheless, he begal
to feel uneasy as the minutes passed
and still the two did not appear. II
pnt his head down and listened. ia
away he heard the murmur of thNi
voices.
The stiffness impressed the two me
MS they walked on.
1T may be hundred years befOr
another mans foot will tread thpS
bricks" said Atterbury, musng!l
1--WE had TO work night and day {
finish the job on time. My compan
would have been obliged TO forte
$500 for every twenty.fOur hours
was incomplete after ~ o'clock u
night"