Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-04-06
CHAPTER xI-continued.

CHAF Nl--SOHllluCAs
y
Again the train was delayed and
held up for half an hour just as it
reached the Mississippi river. He left
his seat in the dining car, his dinner
uneaten on the table, to go out and in
spect the bridge during the half-hour
that the 'limited" lay idle. The next
day some enormous irrigation works
in western Nebraska so engrossed his
attention and aroused his interest that
In spite Of himself he stopped over
between trains to see them. And these
actions we're typical.
Yet after every one of these excur-
sions back into his own field, his con-
science smote him. Was he never to
get away from this engineering? Was
there nothing else for him but brick
and stone, steel and concrete, designs
and plans and undertaking and accom-
plishment in the world? Because it
was the thing that he must abandon
and put out Of his mind, engineering
seemed the only thing he cared for.
There would be no engineering on that
ranch on the slopes of the range. BE
could settle the question there.
Winters was glad to see him. He and
Rodney and Meade had been the warm
est of friends. OF course Meade could
not tell Rodney the truth on account
Of his newspaper connections, but he
decided finally that he could and would
tell Winters under assurance of absO-
lutte secrecy. For one thing the big
cattleman had bluntly refused to credit
his friends first statements; and, when
he Mt last heard the truth, he blamed
him roundly while he appreciated fully
the nobleness of his self-sacrifice. The
clear-headed, practical Winters put it
this way: Meade was capable Of do
ing splendid service to humanity as an
engineer and bade fair to be even
greater than his father, yet for the
sake of the fame of a dead man, to
whom after all 1t would matter little,
he had thrown away that splendid OPP
portunity!
This was q new thought to Meade
and disturbing one. Unfortunately.
as even Winters was forced to ac-
knowledge, the suggestion came too
lnte. The course had been entered up
on. 1t would be cowardly to try to
change 1t now. Indeed it would have
been impossible with the disappear
ance Of the written protests and notes.
Even II Shurtliff had been willing, no
one would have believed a delayed re-
traction and explanation, and Shurtliff
would not have been willing Meade
well knew. Neither for that matter
was Meade himself. He was glad that
the affair had been settled and would,
uot change 1t even now though Win
ters' rough-and-ready presentation of
the situation disquieted him.
Winters, who saw how greatly over
wrought and unstrung his friend was,
contented himself with the assertion.
He did not press the point or argue it
with him. He rested quietly confident
that matters would right themselves
some way in the long run. He treated
Meade exactly right. He left him to
his own devices. He did not force his
company upon him. Sometimes the en-
gineer would mount q horse-and all
at the ranch we're at his disposal-and
would ride away into the woods and
mountains with camping outfit. Some
times he would be gone for several
days, coming back white and haggard
and exhausted but victor In some hard
battle fought out alone.
One day there came to the ranch a
NukN.w No UUtuNare frnv, DoHnO., f,.II -
friendly chat and pleasant remlni-
scence.
MEADE has disappeared absolutely" /"
wrote Rodney In closing. "Even Miss
IlllngwOrth, to whom he was reported
engaged and upon whom have called
occasionally, says she does not know
his whereabouts. OF course you saw
in the papers his connection with the
tragedy and failure of the Information
nj? Although his frank statement was
corroborated by that of the Older
Mcnde's private secretary. l have never
been able to believe It, neither doe.
Miss Illingworth. know Bert, and Sc
does she. We can't accept even hi,
own testimony. We have been work
with very faint prospects of success 81
far. There's some tremendous mystery
about il. | have thought that mayb,
Meade might have come to you. If h,
hns show him this letter und beg hin
TO tell us the exact truth at any rate.
Winters passed the letter over L
Meade without comment. The en-
gineer read It with passionate eager
ness. He was hungry for any news o
Helen nllngworth. Rodney was cal
ing upon her. A sharp pang of Jealous
shot through him at that, although h
knew there was no reason. Dear oil
Bodneyl He could see his grave fac,
his disappearing manner, his air of III
belief, as he had taken down Meade
words in the office that tragic day.
OF course, Helen Illingworth was NJ
a recluse rs he was. She mingled |
society. She took up life with its d.
mands. She entered into it's pleasure
and fulfilled its duties. He was je
Ious Of everyone who might come
contact with her. but he knew Il
names of none except Rodney.
And they were suspicious of h
avowall That was balm to his sol
OF course Helen Illingworth was su
picious, but why should Rodney dou
his assumption Of the blame? Al
they were working to establish his |
nocence. The thought dlsQuieted hi
lest they should discover the truth
some way. And 1t gave him Joy al:
They would work despite any remor
trance from him. He thought of tn
protest to his father always with U