The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-03-14

epected name than that OF Perrln. Inc
firm of John Perrin & Company, has
built ships for generations, and is
practically the Oldest established firm
In w.
The present head of the firm, John
Perrin, is a widower with one daugh-
ter. 1t has been said that Mr.. Perrin
% the longest-headed man in W, and
that what he does not know about
shipbuilding is not worth knowing.
Dorothy Perrin, at the time this
story opens, was 10 years Of age. She
was a wonderfully pretty girl, with
a sweet, sympathetic nature. Most of
the eligible bachelors Of W had
fallen in love with her at different
times, but, so far, Dorothy's heart was
In her own keeping.
Mr. Perrin's Offices were of an ex-
tensive nature, and he employed q
two Of the latter that we are princi-
pally concerned. One of them, Wal
ter Jerrard, nephew of Mr.. Perrin,
was in the private Office, and 1t was
common rumor that one day he would
he taken into the firm. The other
employe, Arthur Evison, was a con-
fdential clerk to Mr.. Perrin, and had
been in his employ since his boyhood
days.
Both of the young men (for they
were each of them but 25 years Of age)
lived in W, but, whereas Jerrard
was an orphan and lived with his un-
Gle, Arthur Evison resided with his
mother, who was a widow, and his
earnings constituted their sole in
rome.
In common with the many other
bachelors of W, both Evison and
,Jerrard had succumbed to the charms
of Dorothy Perrin, but so far the OBJ
ject of the affection was unaware of
II.
Each of the two men, however, knew
the others secret, and this quickened
dislike that they had long mutual
ly fostered. Evison distrusted Jer-
rard; he saw behind that handsome
face and careless expression a mean
and shifty character In his turn Jer-
rard had the natural dislike of Evil
son, which his kind invariably bear
toward men of an upright disposi-
ton
Arthur Evison could scarcely be
called handsome, but there was some
thing attractive in his strong, clear
cut features; people could distinguish
st once his manly, truthful nature,
and in consequence he was liked and
respected by nearly all who knew him.
Some years ago the shipbuilders of
Britain began to grow alarmed at the
competition of foreign countries-Am-
much was this felt in W that many
houses were forced to close on ac-
count of the bad times.
Several of the old houses, though,
such as John Perrin & Co., were able
to face the difficulties, but even with
them matters were serious. For Mr..
Perrin personally it did not matter,
he being possessed of large private
means.
However, when the North Atlantic
Steamship Company asked for tenders
for two new liners from several of the
shipbuilders of w, matters began to
show signs of improving
The two new liners were to be larger
than any of the North Atlantic Com
pany's present fleet, and would be the
largest vessels ever built in w
shipyard.
Perrin & &Co., was one of the firms
asked to tender, and they naturally
made every effort to obtain the order.
Mr. Perrin knew that his only serious
rival was Josiah Grey, whose yard
Rdjoined his own.
Arthur Evison had great deal to
do with the preparation of the esti-
mate, as had also Walter Jerrard. They
were both at the frequent consulta-
tons held in Mr.. Perrin's private Of
fee, and naturally the whole affair
was conducted with the utmost secresy
no one handling the papers without
Mr.. Perrin's knowledge.
Every night all the papers were Sc
curely locked up, Mr.. Perrin himself
carrying the key.
One evening Arthur Evison was re-
turning from solitary walk across
the common when he was somewhat
astonished to see Walter Jerrard in
company with an employe of Josiah
Grey. Evison knew that his fellow
clerk had hitherto had nothing but
nodding acquaintance with his present
companion, but he put down their be-
ing together to chance meeting.
They had not seen him, and he speedily
forgot the matter.
It was Evison's custom several even
1ngs in the week to stroll over the
common and climb Erkon Beacon, a
lonely hill about two miles from W..
Here hs would sit and smoke soli-
tarp pipe while he contemplated the
glow of the furnaces Of w, and, far
ther away, the lights of the shipping
in the bay.
About week after he had seen Wal
ter JerTard in company with Josiah
Grey's clerk, Evison was on Erkon
f. Il, i,o h.,