The Dermott news., 1917-08-02

Get me that memorandum I wrote to my father. You know where he kept it."
 "Yes. sir, separate from the other papers concerning the International, in the third compartment" He turned the big safe door slowly. The third compartment was empty. "Its gone;' he said.
 Meade went to the safe, small one. and examined 1t carefully and fruitless- ly. His letter was not there with the other papers, where 1t should have been If 1t were in existence. It was not anywhere.
 Father told me he was going to de- stroy 1t. but rather thought he was keeping it to have some fun with mo when the bridge was completed" he said nt last.
 "Yes, sir, that was his intention. In fact. I know he did not destroy 1t at first. He told me to file 1t with the plans. He must have destroyed it later. I haven't looked in this com partment for weeks"
 "I'll never forget the lie you told to back me up. Shurtliff. I can see you loved him as much as l. |"
 No one will ever know the truth from me. sir. You saved your fathers name nnd -fame,"s i "I think we hnd better search ,..s office now. wouldn't have that paper come to life for the world" said Meade. Shurtliff was the most orderly of l men. The care of the old engineers papers and other arrangements had de- completed.
 "I guess he must have destroyed It." said the young man, but to be sure will examine his private papers at home. Good night. You will be going l yourselfT"
 "In few minutes, sir" Come to me in the morning after | the autopsy and we will arrange for the funeral" said tho younger man as he left the office. Shurtliff waited until his footsteps | died away in the hall. He waited un- | til he heard the clang of the elevator gate. Even then he was not sure. He got up and In his catlike way opened | the door of the office and pecred down the hall. It was empty. He stood in the door waiting. while the night ele- vator made several trips up and down without pausing at that floor. He sat down at the dead mans desk. From his pocket he drew forth . packet of pa. pers.
 
 There were no legal proceedings. al. though there were many inQuests at the bridge. The cause of the failure was clear. It was recognized by every. 1 one. whose opinion was worth consid. ering. that the disaster had resulted from a mistake which any engineer could have made. As matter of fact there was no experience to guide the designers. There never had been such bridge before. Certain elements of empiricism had to enter into their cal. culations. They had made the plan after their best Judgment and 1t had failed. They could be blamed. even vilified as they were in the press, but that was the extent of their punish. ment.
 The bitter weight of censurc fell en. tirely upon Bertram Meade. His ruin as an engineer was immediate and ab. ! solute. He was the scapegoat. No one had any good to say of him except Rod. ney, who fought valiantiy for his friend and classmate. at least striving to mitigate the censure by pointing out the quick and ready acknowledgement of the error which might have been ascribed to the dead man without feaR | of contradiction. An effort was made by competitors and stock spectators to ruin the Mart. let Bridge company. By throwing into the gap their private fortunes to the . last dollar and by herculean work on the part of their friends, tho directors saved the Martlet company. although It's losses were tremendous and almost insupportable. not only in money, but in prestige and reputation. Colousl lllingworth came out of tho strug4lo older and grayer than ever. The terrific combat had left him almost broken fog a time. and hiS daughter saw that N was not possible even to mention Bert. ram Meade to him. then.
 The funeral of the great engineer had been strictly private. Only his confreres. men who stood high in scientific circles. certain people foe whom he had made great and success. full designs, a few others whose tieo were personal. had been invited to tho house for the services. The intermeak was in tho little Connecticut town c Milford. in which the older Meade had been born. and from which ht had gone forth as boy to conquer th4 world.
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