Putnam patriot., 1916-09-15

hands he Nas taf too busy mending his own fences fo spare time for attempts upon his rival Consequently, the story was allowed to die out. and 0'Neil was finally relieved to learn that it's effect had been Killed Precisely how His had effected this he did not know nor did hP are to inquire. His had been forced into an iniauitous bar gain and. siuce he had taken the first .hanee to free himself f-om it, the question or abstract right or wrong was not a subject for squeamisl con sideratien.
 1t was at about this time that the sanguinary affray at Beaver canyon began to bear fruit one day keen faced. quiet stranger presented a card Tt Murray's office with the name Henry r. Blaine
 Beneath was the address of the Hei- dlemann building in New York. but otherwise the card told nothing. Some thing in Mr. Blaine's bearing, however, led Murray to trent him with more than ordinary consideration.
 q should like to go over your work, the stranger announced. and O'Neil himself acted as guide. Together they Inspected the huge concrete abutments, then were lowered into the heart of the giant eaissons which protruded from the frozen stream. The Salmon lay locked i'll its winter slumber now. The glaciers stood as silent and in active as the snow mantled mountains that hemmed them in. Down into the very bowels of the river the men de- seconded, while ONeil described the nature of the bottom the depth and character of his foundations and the measure of his progress He explain ed the character of that bar which lay above the bridge site and pointed out the heavy layers of railroad iron with which his cement work was re-en- forced.
 ..I spent nearly two seasons studying this spot before I began the bridge" he continued T had men here night and day observing the currents and the action of the ice. Then l laid my piers accordingly They are armored anu Ie-thloittu 'p Nith''"''' any shock"
 The river is subject to quick rises, I believe" suggested Blaine.
 Twenty feet in few hours"
 The volume of ice must be almost irresistible
 Almost" Murray smiled. Not quite. Our ice breakers were especial T.. a |. pl-ar fA Nxrif sf nd any weight There's nothing like them anywhere. In fact. there will be noth- ing like this bridge when it's com pleted."
 Blaine offered no comment, but his questions searched to the depths of the builders knowledge. When they were back in camp he said:
 "Of course you know why I'm hereT
 Your card told me that, but l don't need the Heidlemanns now"
 We are prepared to reopen negotia- tions."
 "whyf"
 "My people are human; they have feelings. You read Gordon's lies about us and about that fight at Beaver can yong Well. we're used to abuse, an1 opposition of a kind We respect. But that man stirred public opinion to such a point that there's no further use of needing it. We're ready to proceed with our plans now, and the public can go to the devil tiM 1t understands us better. We have several men in jail at Cortez charged with murder. IL will cost us a fortune to free the poor fel- lows. First the Heidiemanns were thieves and grafters and l0oters of the public domain; now they have become assassins. If this route 10 the interior proves feasible. well and good; if not we'll resume work at Cortez next spring; Kyak, cf course, is out of the .wru.f<a,.
 fTa Hn Conffnundl