The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-04-28
CHAPTER xI-continued.

CHAPTER xI-continued.
-
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 fialf-hour
that the 'slimited" 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 were 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 1t
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. He
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 aDso-
lutte secrecy. For one thing the Dig
cattleman had bluntly refused to credit
his friends first statements; and, when
he at last heard the truth, he blamed
him roundly while he appreciated fully
the nobleness of his self-sacrifice. The
clear-headed. practical Winters put II
this way: Meade was capable OF do
ing splendid service to humanity as an
engineer and babe fair to be even
greater than his father, yet for the
sake of the fame of q dead man, TO
whom after all it would matter little
he had thrown away that splendid op-
portunity! :,
This was a new thought to Meade
and disturbing one. Unfortunately,
as even Winters was forced TO &C
knowledge. the suggestion came too
late. The course had been entered up
on. IT would be cowardly to try 60
change IL 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 delayed re.
traction and explanation, ana Snurtull
uouId NOT have been willing Meaoe
wen knew. Neither for that matter
was Meade himself. He was gao Una,
tha affair had been settled and woule
NOT change it even now though WIN
ters, rough-and-ready presentation o.
the situation disquieted him.
winters. who saw how greatly over
wrought and unstrung his friend was
contented himself with the asseruon !.
He aid not press the point or argue !
with him. He rested quietly connden
that matters would right themselves
some way in the long run. He treatee
Meade exactly right. He left MIN y
his own devices. he did not Ioree nl'
company upon him. Sometimes lns 81 !,
cinaar would mount horse-ano al
NJ tha ranch were at his disposai-ah'
wonld ride away into the WOODS AM
mountains with camping outnt. oon'e
times he would be gone TOT sese. !.
DAYS, coming back white anu nas = :,
and exhausted but victor In solne 10,
battle fought out alone.
One flay there came to the ransn
letter 70 winters from Rodney Iul, =
friendly chat and pleasant ~
scence. ,,.ta,vi
MEADE has disappeared absolu1e ely,
wrote Rodney In closing. even Mas
nlingworth. to whom be was report
eneared and upon whom ! have calls .
occasionally. says she Goes NO. To-, cav
his whereabouts. Or course ~. ~
i'm the papers his connection W. -
tragedy and failure OF the lnfernaIon
ala Although his frank stafemen. ' wa
corroborated by that Of the olos
Meade's private secretary : nav s. 49, ~
been able to believe IL nels "a !
Miss nlingworth. know ber.. an1 !,
does abe. We can't accept even ~ !,
own testimony. We have been wu. -
ing together to establish fne 49, - :
with very faint prospects o. sus sstar
far. There's some TREMENDOUS s,svh
about ii. I have thought tIla. e !
Meade might have come to you. = i, !
re-. show him this letter ana DEE ~