The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-25

bottom of the boat"
You mean it was deliberated
sunk?" she cried in horror.
81 don't like to make a charge. but
it looks very much that way"
at is impossible to patch up the
pontoon. and am having men jack up
the false work, so that the span will
be above the piers. Then when we
can get horses enough, We will sim
ply drag 1t over into place."
| Lefty knitted her brows together.
Horton stared moodily at the swift
current. He was still studying the
problem when Lefty gave cry.
Il think have solved the riddle"
she said with smiling face. ~ won't
tell you what it is, but you have that
siding cleared of cars by tomorrow
night. That's all can say. We will
not be wasting tine at any rate"
THE only thing 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 q 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 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.
men that 1t would be all right if they
could find breed of horses 10 feet
tall to work in the current. / guess
elephants will do as well. You know
Uncle JIM" she added as an elderly
man came up.
Horton let out whoop of delight as
the scheme flashed upon him. Lettys
uncle, James Tingley, was the heaviest
owner of Tingley & Balls circus. 1t
was their cars which had crossed the
bridge en- route to the next exhibition
town, and with their famous herd OF
81 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
men showed the elephant men where
to reach the river further down while
Horton had the calciunas 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 drained o.
its water ballast, 1t began to rise slow
ly until at last it had settled agains
the under part Of the span. The bolt
had been knocked away from the con
nections and presently the huge struc
ture slowly moved down stream, han
died by tackle from the completed
sections.
The elephants, their huge gray bulk
glistening from the water they ha
squirted over themselves, were range
Just below the bridge, their heav
working harnesses connected up. Tn
tackles were hooked to their traces
and at the word of command. the
strained and tugged at their breas
, straps.
Lefty, standing on the bridge besid
| Horton, shivered slightly as the heav
| structure remained immovable, but a
, the stretch Of the ropes was taken u
and the span slowly started forward
I she gave shrek Of delight an
: clutched at Horizons arm.
81 knew we'd do It," she cried. wv
, Just had to beat them. I guess the
I | didn't imagine that we would be abb
} to get elephants. Wasn't 1t lucky this
I Uncle Jims circus was to pass here
: Tomorrow's Sunday, or rather It
. Sunday now. and they don't show Il
, day"
, "This beats air ships all hollow
: Dick said with an answering laugh, N
: ferring to his suggestion Of the day b
4 fore. We'll make this In recor
time"
q The mass was now moving slowl
a forward along the creased beam
which bridges the gap between ii
: sunken pontoon and the piers. Me
l. at either side directed the drivers 9
. one or the other ends gained a lea
and at last the great Orders slippe
d from the beams onto the stone wor
l. Of the pier. Half an hour later the
g were adjusted exactly to the othel
), and the riveters were at work connec
Q ing the plates.
At last with final bang the for
o man drove his hammer home ar
q Strengthened up.
q THE bridge is done. SIR" he a
" nounced to Horton.
o And now three cheers for the Il
q tie Teddy with the elephants"
u called, and Lefty. still clasping He
70 tons arm. blushed redly as the chez
1t rang out again. Three cheers for Il
70 circus followed.
From the rear platform of Tingley
J" private car, Lefty waved farewell
r hei fiance, and Horton answere
ID though the tears filled his eyes un