The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-22

! cations of an explosion beneath tn
bottom of the boat"
> You mean it was deliberate
sunk?" she cried in horror
} Il don't like to make a charge, blu
1t looks very much that way"
1T is impossible to patch up tn,
pontoon, and am having men Jack vi
the false work, SO that the span will
De above the piers. Then when W,
can get horses enough, we will sim
ply drag 1t over into place"
Lefty knitted her brows together
Horton stared modify at the swift
current. He was still studying tn,
problem when Lefty gave a cry.
Il think have solved the riddle.
she said with smiling face. 81 WON
tell you what 1t is, but you have thai
siding cleared of cars by tomorrow
night. That's all l can say. We will
not b wasting time at any rate"
The only thing l can think of is air
Ships" said Horton with little laugh
Better than that" she declared
Drive me to the station. please
Dick"
Late the next afternoon a telegram
came from Lefty, dated at a station
down the road
All had been made ready and the
men were lying about the construction
camp. resting up against the work OF
the night. Powerful calcium lights
were distributed along the banks on
other side to provide light and the
tackles were all rugged.
Shortly after IL there was the glare
OF a headlight down the track, and a
train of gaudily painted cars flashed
past and across the bridge. From the
| rear car came hurrying a familiar
figure and Dick sprang to greet Let
ty.
Here we are" she cried with a
laugh that was strained and nervous.
1t was Casey who gave me the idea.
l overheard him saying to one of the
men that it would be all right IL they
could find breed of horses 10 feet
tall to work in the current. I guess
elephants will do as we'll. You know
Uncle Jim," she added as an elderly
man came up.
Horton let out a whoop of delight as
the scheme flashed upon him Letty's
uncle. James Tingley. was the heaviest
owner Of Tingley & Balls circus. It
was their cars which had crossed the
bridge en- route to the next exhibition
town, and with their famous herd of
Fl elephants the problem Of moving
the span into place in spite of cur
rent against which horses could not
struggle, had been solved.
Already the circus men had brought
out heavy runway down which the
huge brutes were numbering, and when
10 had been detrained the signal was
given and the rest were taken to the
other side. Two of the assistant fore
men showed the elephant men where
to reach the river further down while
Horton had the calciums lighted and
the sharp whir of the pontoon engine
announced that the work of pumping
the water from the pontoon had be-
gun.
AS the alright hulk was Grained of
its water ballast 1t began to ri-e SLOW
ly until at last it had settled against
the under part of the span. Tic BOLTS
had been knocked away from the con-
nections aHd presently the huge struc-
ture slowly moved down stream, ham
died by tackle from the completed
sections
The exc. harts, their huge gray bulks
clustering from the water they had
squirted over themselves, were ranged
Just below TIE bridge, their heavy
working harnesses connected up. The
tackles were hooked to their traces, |
and at the word of command. they
strained and tugged at their breast
straps.
Lefty, standing on the bridge beside |
Horton. shivered slightly as the heavy
structure remained immovable, but as
the stretch of the ropes was taken I'D
and the span slowly started forward,
she gave shrek Of delight and
at Horizons arm.
II knew we'd do it." she cried. I'VE
just had to beat them. l guess they
didn't imagine that we would be able
to get elephants. Wasn't It lucky that
Uncle Jim's circus was to pass here?
Tomorrow's Sunday, or rather it's
Sunday now. and they don't show to-
lay"
This beats air ships all hollow"
Dick said with an answering laugh, re-
'erring to his suggestion of the day be-
'ore. We'll make this in record
.ime."
The mass was now moving slowly
Onward along the creased beams
which bridges the gap between the
'unken pontoon and the piers. Men
1t either side directed the drivers as
me or the other ends gained a lead
md at last the great Orders slipped
rom the beams onto the stone work
II the pier. Half an hour later they
we're adjusted exactly to the others
nd the riveters were at work connect
ng the plates.
At last with final bang the fore
nan drove his hammer home and
traightened up.
The bridge is done, SIR" he an
Iounced to Horton.
And now three cheers for the III.
lie Teddy with the elephants" he
allied, and Lefty. still clasping Hor- [
on's arm, blushed redly as the cheers {
ang out again Three cheers for the :,
ircus followed
From the rear platform of Tinplev,e {