Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-26
CHAPTER XXI.
Final Preparations.

got lDS last SUI
could find," he explained as
he warmed himself at O'Neirs stove.
Did you so to Hope?"
Il did. and / saw the splavvus him
self
"Gordon?"
He's worse than we thought" Tom
tapped his shining forehead significant
Is. Loft to let"
"What-insane?
Nothing but echoes in his dome
The towns as empty as his bonnet,
too. and the streets are full OF snow.
It's a sight
Tell me about Mrs. Gordon"
She's quite a person" said Slater
slowly. She surprised me. She's
there. alone with him and d Waterman.
She does all the work. even to Juggling
in the wood and coal--hes too busy
TO help. but she won't leave him. She
told me~that Dan and Natalie wanted
her TO come over here, but she couldn't
bring herself to do it or let them assist
in any way. Gordon spends all his
tine at his desk. promoting. writing
ads. and prospeCtuses. He's got
grand scheme. He's found that Hope
Consolidated is full of rich ore, but
the trouble is in getting it out, so he's
working on a new process of extrac-
ton. It's a wonderful process-you'd
never guess what it is. He smokes it
out! He says all he needs is plenty of
smoke. That bothered him until be hit
on the idea of burning feathers. Now
he's planning TO raise ducks. because
ho1 n TSr7Tf hot
the limit: She'll have to fit him into ii
padded cell sooner or later"
Poor devil" said O'Neil. I'm sor-
~. He had an unusual mind"
Slater shifted. Il think it's pretty
soft for him myself. He's made better
than n standof-he lost his memory.
but he saved his skin. It's funny how
some men can't fall. If they slip on
q banana peel somebody shoves a
cushion under EN- before they light.
never got the best of anything. If I
dropped asleep in church my wife
would divorce me and I'd go to the
electric chair Gordon robs widows
and orphans right and left. then ends
up with a loving woman to take care
of him in his old age. Why, if l even
leave thumb print on his ear or the
dogs mother would turn out to be a
bloodhound Anyhow, I'd spend my
declining years nestled up to a rock
pile with a mallet in my mitt and a
low browed gentleman scowing a me
from the top of wall. He'd lean on
his shotgun and say: Hurry up. Fat
ty. It's getting late. and there's ton
of oakum to pick 1t just goes to
show that some Of US are born behind
the game and never get even. while
others. like Gordon. quit winner, no
matter how much they lose" Having
relieved himself OF this fervid homily.
Happy Tom unrolled a package OF
gum and thrust three sticks into his
mouth. Speak of bad luck" he
continued. when are you going to get
married, Murray"
O'Neil started "Why-never. 1t
isn't the same kind of proposition as
building a bridge. you know. There's
a little matter of youth and good looks
that counts considerably in the mar
rage business No woman would
have an old chap like me-
Slater took a mournful inventory of
his chiefs person. then said doubtful
": You might put it over. Murray l
amt strictly handsome myself. but l
did"
As O'Neu slipped into his fur coat.
after the fat man had sIOuched out, he
caught sight of himself in the glass of
his bureau and paused. He leaned
forward and studied the careworn
!,
then shook his head He saw that the
hair was growing grayer. that the face
was very plain, and-yes. unquestion-
ably 1t was no longer youthful. OF
course he didn't feel old. but the evi-
dencc that he was so admitted Of no
disproof and it was evidence Of a sort
which no woman could disregard
For week the ice rose slowly,
foot day. and in spite of the greatest
watchfuiness 1t took the false work
with it here and there. But concen-
trated effort at the critical points saved
the structure from serious injury.
Then the jam in front of Jackson gla-
cier went out. at least in part. and the
ice began 10 fall. Down it settled.
smoothly. swiftly. until it rested once
more upon the shores. It was still as
firm as in midwinter and showed no
sign of hrea king: nor had it moved
downstream hairs breadth O'Neil
gathered his forces for the anal on
slaught.
On April 5 the last Of the steel for
span No. / reached the front. and cree
ton was begun. The men fell to with
vim and an enthusiasm impossible to
describe. With incredible rapidity the
heavy sections were laid in place. The I
riyeterS began their metallic song. |
The towering three bent traveller "a u |
smoothly on its track, and under IT
grew a webwork Of metal. braced and
REINFORCED to withstand, in addition TO /
ordinary strains. the pressure of hun
dred mile an hour wind. To those who |
looked on the structure appeared to /
build itself, like some dream edifce /
It seemed a miracle that human hands !