The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-06-17
By c. b. LEWIS.



civil engineer and bridge builder. He
had them Mt his house that his daugh-
ter might hear and secure experience.
and when they had departed he would
go over the matter again with her to
make sure that she understood.
When the civil engineer engaged In
building the bridge over Centiped
creek was called In he and Miss Edith
met The Hon. John WIS In high
feather that day. He had secured u
mall contract over rival line and had
been told that the bridge could be
built for scr, 900 less than the estimated
expense He stretched his courtesy to
invite the engineer to dinner and to
ask Miss Edith to play the piano after
ward.
Then two or three things happened
that he didn't take cognizance of, III
though he was rated a keen and OBJ
servant man.
From that night Miss Edith began to
take more interest In railroad matters,
especially In the department of bridge
building. and Mr.. Ravens, the engineer,
sent In reports that seemed to necessl-
tate his visiting Chicago much oftener
than before.
As punctually ms the clock the Hon.
John Sharpe took a trip over his line
In his own private cur every three
months. Miss Edith had accompanied
him twice before her sudden great In
terest had come to the surface, and
| her enthusiasm over the third ap
proaching trip SO pleased him that he
| patted her golden hair and feelingly
| observed:
you are your own fathers daughter
| after all. You will come back better
| posted ON the railroad business thar
any other girl In America"
1T must take very brainy man te
| construct such bridge as | have heard
| you and Mr.. Ravens talking about,
she demurely suggested.
sit does. my dear-a very brainy man.
"And one pretty certain to rise IN the
worldY
"Um-y-e-s."
The Hon. John had risen In the
world, and he took care to let the world
know 1t. But he was rather opposed
to any one else rising, especially any
body employed on the i. and G. road.
ayes, Mr.. Ravens may rise In his
profession" he reluctantly admitted,
"but you must remember the social
gulf now existing between us. or
you and | are the owners of the +.
and G.. road. Mr.. Ravens IL an EN-
ployee."
Ten days previous to the start on the
third trip the Hon. John discovered
something that threw him into fer
vid nutter. 1t was not that his daugh-
ter In her enthusiasm to learn more
about railroad bridge building was writ
Ing to the engineer for further informa-
tlon about the cantalever principle or
that he in reply was telling about the
tensile strength Of steel and the strain
put upon It under certain conditions.
1t was that n feeder to his line was
about to pass into other hands unless
he could secure enough proxies to pre-
vent this at the election to be held In
Denver. lie took Off his coat and
started In, and he came home one
night with beaming face to say to the
daughter:
my dear girl, always remember
that the first principle Of raiiroading
Is to get possession of the road"
"But IL you can't get enough of the
stock 7" she asked.
"Then get the proxies. Buy, borrow
or beg. but get them. 1t Is with prox-
les that shall get control Of the M.
and w. | need only thousand more
votes, and they are In Denver waiting
for me"
The Hon. John was rubbing his
hands when his car left Chicago. He
enjoyed coups, and lie was on his way
to make one He felt just little sym
pathy for the already routed enemy.
Defeat would come with dull thud,
whereas he rather preferred something
OF battle first.
proxies, Hy dear" he said to his
daughter as he took bundle OF them
from his pocket and thumbed them
over-'proxies are the powder and ball
to desolate the ranks of the enemy.
Blessed be proxiesr'
At Santa Fe business detained him
half day. He had scarcely left the
car when Mr.. Ravens made his APP
pearance and was received with a
smile and blush.
The talk between him and Miss
Edith began about the bridge over the
Centiped, but gradually came down
to less scientific and more interesting
things.
He referred to hint she had given
him In her last letter and assured her
that he had acted ON 1t. and he solic-
tied her permission to ask her father
certain momentous question before the
day had expired. That afternoon when
the train had pulled out Miss Edith
futtered around for a bit and then
timidly asked:
"Father, what will happen IL you fall
to get that thousand proxies you are
counting oni'
"Why--why, I'd be knocked into a
cooked hat, daughter. But can't fall.
know Just where they are. l shall
receive a wire at the next stop. l am
glad to see youl SO interested in the