Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-17

III was reported OF lne IttOn. John
Sharpe that he had but two fads where
other schemers and spectators and
owners of railroad lines had a dozen.
One of his fads was the z. and G. rail
road. in which he owned a controlling
interest. He knew every foot of its
roadbed and kept himself posted on all
details.
His other fad was that his daughter
Edith. having finished her school days,
should interest herself in the r. and G.
even as he had. If she had been cut
out for an old maid or business wo-
man she might have obeyed orders lit
orally, but as it was she had to assume
an interest she did not feel.
The Hon. John lived IN Chicago. and
| his pet line was farther west. When
! tired of making money and fighting
| other lines on the Stock Exchange or
| by some sly coup. he would order the
general superintendent or other official
| into Chicago to report details and plan
| improvements.
! If 1t wasn't the general superintend-
| ent, then it was one off q division or
civil engineer and bridge builder. He
had them at 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 was in high
feather that day. He had secured q
| mail contract over a rival line and had
been told that the bridge could be
built for $4,000 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, al
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 necessi-
tate his visiting Chicago much oftener
than before.
AS punctually as the clock the Hon.
John Sharpe took a trip over his line
in his own private car 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-
preaching trip SO pleased him that he
patted her golden hair and feelingiy
observed:
"You are your own fathers daughter,
after all. You will come back better
posted on the railroad business than
any other girl in America"
1T must take very brainy man to
construct such bridge as have heard
you and Mr.. Ravens talking about
she demurely suggested.
at 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 it. But he was rather opposed
to any one else rising, especially any
body employed on the F. and c. road
Eyes, Mr.. Ravens may rise in his
profession" he reluctantly admitted
'.but you must remember the socia
gulf now existing between US. o.
you and l are the owners of the r
and G. soad. Mr.. Ravens is an EN-
ployee."
Ten days previous to the start on The
third trip the Hon. John discovered
something that threw him into fer
-vid futter 1t was not that his daugh
ter in her enthusiasm to learn NOR
about railroad bridge building was writ
ing to the, engineer for further informa
ton about the cantaleyer principle o
. that. be. In reply was telling about tn