Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-02-23

Il hope SO, too,' assented the colonel,
''and l guess you are right. The fact
is the bridge is an ebsession with us
all. 1t is the biggest job the Martlet
has ever handled. Indeed, it is the
biggest thing in the world. It's the
longest cantilever, the greatest span,
the heaviest trusses, the"
"Tve heard all about it," interrupted
the girl, waving him into silence, "ever
since you began it. Sometimes think
it's beginning to obsess me, too"
"You don't look like it, whispered
Meade, under cover of the general
laugh that greeted her remark.
"What do l look like?' she whis-
pered back quickly, in return.
But Meade had no opportunity to
tell her.
SIT is not exactly a subject for din
ner conversation" said the colonel with
sudden gravity, 'but all of US here
even you, my dear, must realize how
much that bridge means to us. won't
go so far as to say that its failure
would ruin US, but it would be hard for
US to survive
Have you ever known anything that
my father designed to fail?" asked
Meade somewhat hotly.
NO and that is why we took his
plans in spite Of"
''In spite of what, sir?'
"In spite of Curtiss here and some
Others"
''Mr. Curtiss," said Meade, turning
to the chief engineer, eff it will add
anything to your peace Of mind, I will
assume my full sh are of responsibility
for the matter. You know the books
by Schmidt -Chemnitz, the great Ger
man bridge engineer?"
CurtiSS nodded.
"At first THAT is, we-thought that
there might possibly be weakness in
those compression members, but ]
checked them with the methods he ad-
vocates and then submitted the figures
to my father, and then he went through
the whole calculation and applied CO.
eficients he felt to be afe."
"rm willing to take your fathers
judgment in the matter rather than
Schmidt-Chemnitz', or anybody's," said
Curtiss, $50 successful has been his ca
reer"
''Now that have seen the members
in place have no doubt that they will
stand" said the colonel.
"Sure they WILL" added Abbott witt
supreme and contagious confidence, ar
assurance which helped even Meade t.
believe.
"Of course we all know" said Doc
tor .Severence, who had been Ions
enough in touch with engineering, t.
learn much about it, ''that there is al
ways more or less of experimenting il
the design of a new thing like this"
"Yes," said the colonel, "but W,
don't want our experiment to fail il
this instance"
''They WON'T" said the young mai
boldly.
He had long since persuaded himsel
that he had been all wrong and hi
father all right, so that he entere
, upon his defense and the defense o
the bridge with enthusiasm. He wa
. ready to bre ak a lance with anybod
on its behalf"
WELL" began the colonel, "we hav
every confidence in your father and
you. I don't mind telling you, Meade
it need not go any further, that whe
this bridge is completed we shall b
E prepared to make you personally
? very advantageous offer for future r.
| lations with the Martlet comp any
E you care to accept it. On the strengt
t ready planning to venture into certai
= foreign fields which we have hithert
e not felt it to our interest to enter"
e "That is most kind of you, Colon,
], IllingwOrth," said the young man graf
: fully, '"and it appe ais to me yer
= strongly. have been associated wit
: father latterly. He wants to retil
e with the completion of this bridge, an
o before 1 open any Office of my own
!, should like the advantage of furtht
s experience. Such q connection as yo
d propose seems to me to be ideal, fro
: my point Of view. No man could hay
> any better backing than the Martl'
o Bridge company"
= "Well, we shall look to you to
worthy of it," said the colonel kindl
It His glance vaguely comprehend
his daughter as he spoke. Colon
y Illingworth was a very rich man. II
q Martlet Bridge company was neare
his heart, but he had many other i
d terests. His only daughter would even
e ually be the mistress of great 70
'e tune. Meade was not poor. Of cours
D. his means were limited compared
E Colonel Illingworth's great fortune, b
what he had earned, saved, and inves
) ed was sufficient-yes, even for tW