The Dermott news., 1917-06-21

Have you clear head?" asked the man. "l mean does 1t affect you to be on high elevations? Do you get dizzy?'
 T never have was the answer, but"
 "I think I'll hold you" was the reply.
 He erasped her firmly by the arm. The loose wrap she was wearing over her shoulders did not cover her arms. and it was q bare arm that he took in his hand.
 "I beg your pardon he said quick ly, but"
 Ut doesn't matter. I understand. You would better hold me. l might slip" There was something electric and compelling in the pressure of his strong hand upon the firm flesh of her round arm. She Shrank closer to him. again unthinkingly. by natural im- pulse.
 The moon WIS now well clear of the brow of the highest hill. It's yellow was turning to silver and in it's cold and beautiful illumination the whole river flowed bright beneath them. Ey- cry inch If the bridge wnS uow clearly revealed in the white passiouleSs light.
 Fifty feet aWay it ended in the air, ] They were now almost directly be heath the traveller. near the end of the 1 suspended span. It's huge legs srrawled out like those of gigantic animal en the extreme edges af the bridge en ei- 1 ther side above their heads. The wood en platform on the track ran out half the distance to the bridge end. Slowly the two walked along f until but few feet were left between them and the naked floor beams and the string 1 CTS carrying Inc ties to which the ru!ls 1 We're boltea aud the blanks aid.
 By tHe s53e ef the track on the top ef the ~JrIo-,rs had bcea plgccd q pile aG=H=latlel -HfmeHH.et hy sf=htf=e Gae aate pf strel EAIeA laF level uFea f. tf Was tf#H-aHr tH sH#po. thc blunt aaul mnard T4s= base. which s,4s aaHat six feet wac eara a'ya the eaarsc=st t6e rfver. The Utara n jbe J lep f=aae= H.leHas ra,eea aheat three i feet aHaye#faN fayci of the track. They stopped ahe,ast of IL. "CaH't We 70 any farther2" asked ] thc girl In how tones. S.iH close to the young man. uho still lightly clasped her aem.
 "Im afraid fl wouldn't be safe 10 % any farther he said.
 'I want tn see the steamer. II will puss directly under the bridge"
 "They have no business to pass un- der the bridge said Meade. They've been warned hundreds of times and or ders have been issued. There k al- ways danger that something might fall"
 "Why can't I stand up there?"
 "On that gusset plate?'
 "Is that what you call itf" ''Yes. 1t beurs the same relation to structural steel that a gnsset does to woman's dress"
 Exactly. But can't I stand on itfa "Wait." he answered. He climbed to the center of 1t. lifted himself up and down on his feet to test 1t, and found 1t solid apparently.
 "I think so, but I shall have to put you up" he said at last as he lifted her up and set her down on her feet in the middle of the plate of steel. "Oh. there comes the steamer" she cried. II can see 1t beautifully from here"
 Be careful. You must not move. Stand perfectly steady. I am not so sure of that plate" He reached over from where he stood on the track be- low her and by her side and gathered | the material of her dress in an iron | grasp.
 'I do not think that is necessary" she said. "ThIs plate seems as solid as the rest of the bridge and-oh, there's the steamerl She's right under us"
 The big river craft was filled with light and laughter. The wind fortu- nately blew the smoke away from the 1 bridge so that they had a clear and perfect view of her There was band playing aboard her. They heard the music above the beat of the whirling paddles, the song of the rising wind. The passengers were congregated about the rails on the upper decks staring upward. The bridge was as 1 fascinating to them as 1t was to the people ashore evidently.
 'How interesting" said the delight ed girl Why don't you come up here yourself, you can see so much better7"
 The man had dropped her gown, lift ed his right foot to the pile on the stringers to follow her suggestion. Thoughtlessly she stepped toward the outer end to give hiut room, quite for