The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-10-04

Had he been at all emotional ne
might have sworn a vendetta. but he
did not; he merely failed 10 forget,
which Is quite the same.
IL seemed queer that HaDford should
wind up I'm the bridge business him
self after drifting through several un
satisfactory positions. but that three
months OF application at the Atlantic
plant came In handy. after all. and he
fiually took a desk In the Office OF the
Patterson Bridge company. He work
ed hard. he was a good salesman, and
in time he was promoted. BY and by
the story was forgotten by every one
except Henry Hanford. But he haC
lost some precious years.
When IL became known that the
English and continental structural
shops were so full OF work that they
could not figure ON the mammoth
$5,000,000 steel bridge designed 10
span the Barrata river In Africa and
when the royal commission finally
advertised from London that time was
the essence OF this contract. Mr.. Jack
son Wylie. Sr.. realized that his plant
was In magnificent shape TO handle the
job with great profit and renown TO
the Wylie name. He sent his son. or
Jackson Wylie the second" rs he
was known since he had become a
partner. TO London armed with the
strongest sort OF letters 10 almost ey-
erybody In England from almost ey-
erybody In America.
Two weeks later-the Patterson
Bridge company was not so aggressive
as its more p%retentlous riyal-Henry
Hanford went abroad on the same
mission. but Hanford carried no letters
OF introduction. principally because he
had no pull.
Jackson WYE the second had been
10 London frequently. $ % he found
things there much 10 his liking. lie
had friends with headquarters at
Princes and Romano's who were de-
lighted to entertain so prominent an
American. His letters gave him entree
TO the clubs and paved his way so
cially wherever he chose 10 go.
IL was Hanford's first trip. lie ar
rived with nothing but a grip full of
blue prints and no destination outside
OF the parliament buildings. where he
counted upon finding the Barrata
bridge commission eagerly awaiting
his estimates. Instead he failed not
only TO find the commission, but any
body who knew anything about 1t. lie
did locate the Offices finally to discover
VI.e a. ...uus ,..ar.lV a f,rvx+u VVHta.v ul
dress. He was Informed that the com
mission had convened once and hence
was not entirely an imaginative body,
and on one visit 10 the office he dis
covered that Sir Thomas Drummond.
the chairman. was inside, but his clerk
with whom Hartford had become ac-
quainted, informed him that Mr.. Jack
son Wylie the second from America was
closeted with bls lordship. who could
not be disturbed. When Hanford got
thoroughly Ia touch with the situa-
ton he soon saw that lntroductions.
acquaintance aud social Influence
would so further toward landing the
Barrata bridge than mere engineering
ability or natural capacity. Ii also be-
came plain during his early visits that
the work would OF necessity go 20
America. inasmueh as 40 European
shop was prepared to complete II on
time.
Owing 20 government needs this
! huge eleven span structure must be on
the ground within ninety days from
the date OF the contract and erected
eight months thereafter. The commits
| sion's clerk. a big. red faced, jovial
| fellow, Informed Hanford that price
was not nearly so essential as time OF
delivery, and. while the contract gilt
tered with alluring bonuses and was
heavily weighted with forfeits. neither
bonuses nor forfeitures could compen-
safe for a delay Ina time. Hence IL was
that the commissioners looked askance
az prospective bidders who might in
any way fail to complete the task as
specified.
And that's why Wylie gets the call,
ehY' Hanford observed.
II understand he has the highest
references" the Englishman said.
"Um-m! Well, inasinuch as [ cant
arrange an interview with any mem
Der OF the commission. suppose you
and | 20 20 lunch"
The clerk accepted, and thereafter
the two saw much of each other. This
fellow. Lowe by name. interested Han
ford. lie was a cosmopoiite. a widely
travelled. daredevil chap with a cold
eye and a hrm chin. combining a
strange mixture OF recklessness. mod
esty aud liberality of morals. lie had
roamed the far places, had fought In
a war or two aud had led hopes quite
as forlorn MS the one Hanford was now
engaged upon. IL was this, perhaps.
that drew the two together.
In spite OF loves help. however,
Hanford found Il difficult 10 obtain
any real inside information concerning
the Barrata bridge. He even expert
enced difficulty ia securing the blue
prints he wanted.
'It Looks Drptfv fOu0h" IOwa told