The Alaska citizen., 1911-02-06

 Hall. and made an appointment with him to meet him at Jimmy Platt's office in half an hour. He would have telephoned Platt, but the en- gineer had no telephone.
 "ls Mir Platt in?"
 The short thick. sQuareshOuldered young fellow stood hesitatingly in the door when he found the place occupied only by brown-haired girl. who was engaged in the quiet. unprofessional occupation of em- broidering a shirtwaist pattern.
 The girl looked up with smile at the young mans awkwardness, and felt impelled to put him at his ease
 Hes not in just now, but l expect him within ten or fifteen minutes at the outside Won't you sit down, Mir. Bates?'
 He looked at her much mystifed at this calling of his name, but he mumbled his thanks for the chair which she put forward for him, and, sitting with his hat upon his knees contemplated her furt'vely.
 "I guess you don't remember me, she said. in frank enjoyment of his mystifiCation. but l remember you perfectly. used to see you quite often out at Westmarsh when MT. Burnit was trying to redeem Platt's sister"
 "No," exclaimed BiF in amaze ment You cant be the kid that used to ride on the eXcayating cars, and go home with yellow clay on your dresses every day
 Pm the kid said she with mus. ical laugh; and I'm afraid I haven't quite outgrown my hoydenish ten dencies even yet"
 Biff had no comment to make. He was lost in wonder at the eternal mystery - the transformation which occurs when girl passes from four teen to eighteen.
 Don't you remember?' she gayly went on. You gave me a boxing lesson out there one afternoon and but you never did"
 blI tlC dl tu d Suuutll HuShlllcSS from his threat
 I'd be tickled black in the face to make good any day" he urged earnestly, and then hastily correct ed the offer to: That Is, l mean I'll be very glad to - to finish the job"
 Immediately he turned violently red.
 Il don't seem to care as much for the accomplishment as l did then" observed the girl with a smile, but do wish I could learn to swing my nice Indian clubs without crack ing the back of my head"
 T got a medal for club swinging" :" said Biff ditiidently. "Tll teach you any time you like. It's easy. Come and Friday forenoons. Those are ladies mornings. and I've got noth- ing but classy people at that
 The entrance of MT. Platt inter- rupted Biff just as he was beginning to feel at ease, and threw that young gentleman. who always appro- priated and absorbed other peoples troubles, into much concern; for MT. Platt was hollow-eyed and sunk en-cheeked from worry. His coat was very shiny, and his hat was shabby. The dusty and neglected drawing on his crude drawing-table told the story all too well. The en- gineering business, so far as MT. Platt was concerned, seemed to be a total failure. Nevertheless, he greeted MT Bates warmly, and in quired after MT Burnit
 Hes always fine" said Biff. He had me come up here to meet him."
 T should scarcely think he would care to come here" said MT. Platt. after the unfortunate outcome of the work I did for him."
 You mean on old Applerod's Sub traction?"
 You couldn't hardly call 1t the Applerod Addition, could you?" re- sponded Jimmy with smile. That was most unlucky transaction for me as we'll as for MT Burnt" Biff looked about the room compre- hendingly.
 T guess it put you on the hum- mer, all right" said he. Tt don't look as if you done anything since"
 But very little," confessed MT Platt. My failure on that job hurt my reputation almost fatally"
 Biff gravely sought within himself for words of consolation, one of his fleeting ideas being to engage MT. Platt on the spot to survey the site of Bates Athletic Hall, although there was not the slightest possible need for such survey. In the midst of his sympathetic gloom came in MT. Ferris and Bobby.
 Jimmy, how would like to be chief construction engineer of the new waterworks?" asked Bobby with scant waste of time, after he had introduced Ferris.
 MT. Platt gasped and paled
 "I think I could be urged, from sense of public duty, to give up my highly lucrative private practice" he said, with pitiful attempt at levity, though his voice was husky. and his tightly clenched hand, where the white knuckles rested upon his drawing-table, trembled
 Don't build up too much hope cn it, Jimmy; but if what We surmise Is correct you will have a chance at it,"