The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-06-09

end. Helen IlIingworth, praying as
she mad never prayed before, sought tC
support the unconscious mans head
The Italian gathered up the tools anC
went ahead to open up the path. Rod
ney followed after.
Their progress was slow of neceS
Sity. They had to handle Meade with
great care. Winters and Rodney, after
the brief inspection they had made
could not see a chance on earth for
him. Neither could Helen Illingworth
They went along without conversation
naturally, except for an Outburst of adj
miration from Winters.
Il tell YOU" he said, 1T was a mag
nificent thing for him to do. He risked
his life a hundred times in that mad
rush with the dynamite in his hands
and the detonators in his pocket. Yet
if he had only stayed back he would
have been safe"
1T was his anxiety for the dam and
the people that brought him down"
said Helen Illingworth. HE can't die"
she murmured. God surely will not
let him die. l love him so. And yet if
he does and have lost him, innocent
| or guilty, he has redeemed his fame"
HE saved Others" quoted Rodney
under his breath, himself he could
not save"
1t was a work of great difficulty to
get the wounded engineer into the car,
but they finally managed 1t. By the
wOman'S direction they laid him on her
bed in her own private stateroom.
Zone of US must go for a doctor at
once" said Rodney, land that will be
my job"
Its twenty miles to the town."
said the conductor, who had helped to
receive them. eff one of you could
telegraph we could tap WIRE"
None Of them could.
"1t's all dOwn-grade and there's a
good roadbed and I was some Splinter
in my college days." said Rodney.
"And there was never greater need
Of haste than now" said Winters. 81
wish had horse here"
Don't give up, Miss Illingworth,"
continued Rodney, as he started to-
ward the door. Hes alive yet"
Just then, OPPORTUNITY enough.
rounding the last curve before the arch
bridge, they saw the end Of the other
car rapidly approaching them. Had
they not been so excited they could
have heard the furious putting of the
engine as it drove the car at great
speed up the heavy grade.
wait" said the conductor, I'VE can
send the engine down for the doctor.
That'll be the coloneFs car"
In few minutes the car stopped on
the siding. Out of it came Colonel
IlIingwOrth, Doctor Severance, CurtisS,
and some of the officials of the Bridge
company in town. They were all great
ly excited. The colonel did not stop to
put on his hat. He ran to the other
car and climbed aboard.
''The dams going" he shouted. "The
bridge and the town will be flooded.
We got word an hour ago by messen-
ger galloping down. The telephone
wires are down. ran the car up here
as the quickest way to get over to the
reservoir and the dam. Some Of you
who know the way come with me-"
BY this time the observation room
of the car was filled with men.
"You need not worry about the dam"
said Rodney.
what do you mean"
"a man blew up the hog-back, made
a spill-way, the water rushed out
it into the ravine, you can
see it below there, relieving the pres
sure on the dam at once. Since it has
held up till now it will hold for good"
THANK God !" cried the colonel, sink
ing down into a chair and wiping the
sweat off his brow 1.-The bridge will
be safe then. BY George" he gasped,
1.-THE Martlet company could hardly
have stood another loss like that.
Who's the man who blew it up?"
Ills name is Meade" said Rodney |
quietly.
"Not-?"
"Yes."
There was a long pause. Every |
man there knew of the failure Of the |
and in what estimation |
the old colonel held the name of Meade
because Of that
swell, 1t was fine thing" said the
colonel; st makes up for his blunder-
Ing work on the bridge"
"Beg pardon, sir" said Shurtlif. who
had stood wide-eyed and white and suf-
fering In silence ever since the engi-
neer had been brought to the car, ut
was not his blunder."
"Why, you said SO yourself" cried
the colonel.
IL lied" admitted the secretary.
Quick as a fash Rodney had his
notebook out. Here was the proof at
Iast.
"Why?"
"To save the reputation of the man
loved"
"And how do I know you are not
wing for this man nowr' asked the
colonel harshly.
"These will prove It," said Shurtliff,
extending some papers he drew out of
his pocket, where he had placed them
-a;1o half intending m fell