Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-04-06
CHAPTER XII.
MarshaIing the Evidence.

What she began she finished, and she
was not deferred from beginning things
by fears of consequences. She was con-
vinced that Meade had not told the
truth in that famous declaration in his
fathers office. She respected him for
his desire to shield his fathers name
and fame even at the expense of his
veracity, albeit she would not have
been a woman if she had not resented
the fact that in so doing he had sacri-
feed her happiness as well as his own.
The question whether Meade, Jr.,
was the more responsible or even re-
SpOnsible at all was more or less
academic to Colonel Illingworth. He
would have had nothing further to do
and certainly not with the younger sur
vivor. He tried to believe that if it
had come to a final choice the daugh-
ter, in spite of the fact that such is
the habit of women in the experience
of life, would not have given up age
and her father for youth and her lover.
Indeed she was too genuinely devoted
to her father to do that except as a
last resort.
She cherished the hope first, that
Meade could re-establish himself-she
| had too sweeping a confidence in his
character and capacity to doubt that
and second, that it could be shown
that he had not been responsible for
the failure of the bridge. She was
more and more convinced that his as
sumption of the blame had been die
tated by the highest of motives and
instead of being a fit subject for cen
sure and condemnation, he merited ad-
miratiOn and applause. She hoped with
her woman's wit to prove this event
ually, perhaps in spite of her lover,
and to this end she applied herself as
siduously to solve the problem.
To her, at her request, came Rod
ney. Now the reporters had dealt very
gently with Helen nlingworth. They
had made no announcement of the en-
| gagement or of it's breaking at her IA
ther's earnest request. There was no
necessity of bringing her into the
bridge story, although it would have
added a dramatic touch to their mar
ratives. Her inclination had been to
avow it. But upon reflection she saw
it would have annoyed her father be-
yOnd expression, it would not have
helped Meade any and it might ham
per her in her work. She realized
that she had Rodney to thank for this
omission and after she had time to col.
lect herself she asked him to call upon
her. He was very glad to come.
81 sent for you, Mr.. Rodney, on ae.
count of Mr.. Bertram Meade" she be
gan, after thanking him for his cour
tesy toward her the day. the Older
Meade died and thereafter. 'T want
you to help me-"
81 shall be delighted to do so fol
your own sake. / know how deeply
interested you are in Meade's rehabili
tation."
''Mr. Rodney" returned the woman
flushing little, "yOu know of course
that we were engaged. He consider,
the engagement broken"
81 suppose so. That would be uk,
him." said Rodney gravely. Indeed
as a man of honor he could do no less.
"You are all alike" said the won
an a little bitterly. "Your notions ar
supreme. You may sacrifice love ant
your best friend so long as you pre-
serve those notions of honor intact"
"And yet if we weren't honorabl
men you wouldn't care for us at ALL"
"Yes, suppose that's it. Well, d.
care very much, as you understand.
may as well be frank with you. NJ
father, of course, is bitterly antagonis
tic to Mr.. Meade. He won't even al
, low his name to be mentioned"
"One can hardly blame him for thai
, Miss nlingwOrth. The failure of tn
bridge seriously embarrassed the Mar
let Bridge company, and it is a grea
handicap for them to overcome in seeh
!, ing any further contracts"
'But did not summon you here t
discuss the affairs of the Martle
Bridge company" said Helen, "intel
esting though they may be, but to Sc
if by working together there was nc
, some way by which we could prov
. that Bertram Meade has assumed tn
blame to save the honor and fame G
his father"
"You believe that, Miss Illingworth
/. 81 am sure of it."
$50 am l." said Rodney quickly.
4 "Thank God," cried the girl litt
4 hysterically, surprised and almo'
O swept off her feet by this prom
q avowal by one who, though young, wi
o already an authority in the literatul
/ of engineering. 'Why do you say tha
n What evidence have your"
Unfortunately" answered Rodne
n 81 haven't any tangible evidence wha
S. ever, but 1 know Bert Meade as fe
e people know him, Miss Illingwort
d perhaps not even you," he went on,
le spite of her unspoken, but vigoro1
le protest at that last statement, as 81
D. shook her head and smiled at hil
lie "And there are several little circul
II stances that make me feel that
10 could not have been to blame. Ha
De you any ground for your conviction
r Probably even less than you ha
Id and yet l, too, know him" Helen
a lingworth looked into the plain, hon
IS, ly, but strong, reliable face of t
n man and dismissed any thought of
ly serve from her mind.
re Let us place." she began, ''the lit
4r. circumstances upon which our int
or tions are based, if intuitions are ey
er based on anything tangible, togeth
X Perhaps the sum of them may vi,
ng something"
''The suggestion is admirable"
he serted Rodney, land as 1 knew h
be first and longest will begin. Perhf
he it would be well, too, to take notes
RI that we may consider them at leisu
re, getting an eye view as we'll as an
1t. view of them"
'ed "Now, in the first place." he beg
Id writing and speaking at the same til
lar point one is Meades absolutely
ers bounded devotion to his father. 2