The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-30

dered what the watchman really knew. He asked
 himself if the old fellow was ever sorry that he worked for International Bridge.
 For Craig Gordon sorry that he worked for that big institution Ee spent the of that starry February night studying the bueprints of the three E. spans that Scott Parsons, the shrewd old head of Transcontinenta was unloading on his friend Seth Kennerly, the shrewd old purchaser of T. & s. and then hated International Bridge For Craig Gordon knew that those three spans not fit for the Long Eddy bridge of Fremont & Southwe stern. They might last decade, generation perhaps- perhaps they might even outve Craig Gordon Still his mind not silent under such self-reasoninas. It answered every time that the spans were not right and that he knew they not right What his engineering training called the margin of safety" was missing. It to be nip and-tuck job and his mind kept telling him tat tragedy repeats itself
 Then his mind descended to the practical and asked him what of his loyalty to the eoncern for which he worked. And then he laughed Loyalty to International Bridget He hated International Bridge International Bridge stood the "go-between" in this nasty trade and Craig Gordon felt that he oed his employer no loyalty whatsoever.
 Craig Gordon understood and because he ender- stood his soul went down and sat on seat in hell
 For three days and three nights while his mind struggled give the first orders about the placing o the spans his soul stayed in hell. his mind kepe river, at the men finishing the abutments and the piers to make them ready for the trusses And then he turned away again He was losing his nerve. sf
 And when he had looked at the river one time he stepped into his office and found there letter from really had planned delicious time together; but now she had relented enough to write him. He tore the letter open and scanned 1t eagerly. 7..
 T can understand now because have been told what great work has been given to you, boy: to build strong bridge mighty river" she wrote him. He read further, and in a little while he tore the paper up into fine bits But he could not forget what she had written: "A great work a strong bridge" His eyes filled with tears. and he
 
 old, and he must be in this thing Business business and International Bridge would be the responsible party-Orville MnoF had taken fhs yoke upon his shoulders. But Orvie Minor had no pro fessional interest; Orviile Minor could not write
 The thought of Minor made him think for an in stant of hotel in the Southland, girl who stood followed the good one and he it on its way with another Then he laughed. People would think that if he took such step he took for per sonal reasons. If he let business be business and considered only his professional honor his honor a nan-sorne people would rise up and again send rooms and the shady clubs of. Fremont. But let people talk and business be business-Craig Gordon slipped out of the little office and caught train seat his soul was serenely peaceful for the first time in three days.
 inside office of King Snowden, the veteran general manager of Fremont & Southewestern--just as the old chief was starting home. The old man faced the younger with smile.
 You've come to tell me that you're beating your contract schedules?" he said Are we going to get through track by May Ist? Can't you give me the new rail within sixty days?"
 Craig Gordon faced the general manager calmly, and said:
 T can Mr. Snowden, but won't"
 And before the c. M. could catch his breath he was telling him of the whole wretched business there
 Finally it was snowden's turn to be cool
 Do you realize what you doing?" he said in
 Craig Gordon nodded assent
 Minors away, but I've written him ard told hin, s gGng n tel bnd no tba Ten bridge and then shovel coal in hell for doing 1t.
 He stopped-quckiy, for he felt he had said too
 q wish we could take care of you," said King Sne newden, frankly, but he shook his head slowly We've got engineers sitting around with their feet on the desks already"
 Gordon quickly settled that. U I'm not worried about my future" said he. T guess can trolley-car pinch"
 But as he left the general managers otdce he did worry bit about his future. He knew what from his chief dsnissing him in pictnreSuue phrasng the Western Union rules permit. More would stop him-here, there, everywhere. The rani- 6cations of International Bridge tremendoas. they even extended underneath the competitors ot that huge aggregation of capital But. after time, he ceased to worry His mind was serene and his soul fairly sang of boy from Tech who had clear mind, strong pair of arms and who had kept faith with himself and the world. And then he was su- preme.
 He stepped into telegraph office on his way. back from Snowden's office and sent wire over the slen der silver trail of the wire that found its way to the South. 4ssA tst
 Suppose were to trolley-ear?" he asked
 Hours later the reply came dancing back to Ire- mont He tore the message nervously open.
 I'd hire the by the year" she replied. s
 But Adrienne had the opportunity to exert such foolish extravagance. For King Snowden had looked wistfully at the boy from Tech. He wanted of that soyt-not merely build real bridge at Long Eddy in place of the contraption that the syndicate was dumping upon the honest security-holders of T & s. but carryforth the big engineering projects that their new Rolicy of provision to bring in its trail But the C.. M. was check mated by potcs-the worst sort of poll tics, office politics Beardsley their chief engineer, was closely related to Scott Parsons and he held down his fat job pretty firmly. When King Snow den thought of that his to lose his tenn per Before he had quite regained it. he rose ir the fHllness of upstrung justice and strode into the ident's office.
 What King Snowden said there is not written even upon the most secret records of T &, but he ealns out whstling Gates Brillings was the prssident df T. s. after all and not the Parsons Kennesty crowd. and Beardsley was going have assiatant
 assistant that would make his boss look saspfy as to the merits of his behavior And as Craig