davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07
They Saw Her Round, Red, Full Face.

can't go out on a bridge in that gown and those slippers, tramping over dirty tracks, piles of steel, rough wooden blanks, paint and"
 Cant F" she said you just see."
 "I hate to see you spoil your dress" he said uncertainty as she stopped.
 Really what gown on earth was worth half an hour of her society? At least that Is the way he felt about 1t. and evidently she felt the same way.
 'It is settled, then" she said, slip ping her arm through his as they walked down the long wooden plat form near the siding. At the end of the platform. as they turned about the temporary station and storehouse, be- fore them rose the bridge. The moon was rising over the high hills that sprang up from the steep clifflike bank of the other side of the vast river. They saw her round red, full face through an interlacing tracery of steel The lower part of the bridge was still in deep shadow. Indeed, the moon had just cleared the hills of the opposite bank of the great gorge cut by tho broad river flowing swiftly in its dark ness far below. At the farther end of the suspended arm extending far over the water the top of the traveller glis- tened. The cantilever on the opposite shore, incomplete and sunk under a high rise of sand. was still in shadow and not yet discernible.
 Unwittingly the woman drew little near the man. He became more con- scious than before of the light touch of her hand upon his arm. It was very still where they stood. The shacks of the workmen had been erected be- low the bridge about quarter of mile to the right along the banks of the little affluent of the main stream. They could hear faint but indistin- guishable noises that yet indicated hu- manity coming from that direction. The fires in the machine house and in the engines were banked. Lazy curlS of smoke rose to be blown away In the limitless areas of the upper air. In tho darkness all the unsightly evidences of construction work were hidden.
 "Oh." said the woman, drawing . long breath, q don't wonder that you love it. Isn't 1t beautiful. flung up In the air that way7 One would think 1t wasn't steel but silver and gold and---"
 "Time was," said the man, "when I loved . thing like that above every thing except my father, but now"
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07

'I have heard so much about it." said the girl. standing by the door. 'I want to see 1t when the workmen are all off and ii Is all quiet, in the moonlight"
 every we'll You had better change your dress, Helen, before you go," said the colonel, turning to Abbott and en- gazing him In conversation on teehni- cal matters.
 'rll wait for you at the front door of the car" said the engineer his heart beating like pneumatic riveter and sounding almost as loud in his ears.
 q won't be long" she whispered as she left him.
 Helen did not want to waste time any more than Meade did. So, instead of taking her fathers advice, all she did was to cover her beautiful shoul- ders with Il light wrap and hasten to time. Every moment they were apart, since the sum-totnl in which they could be together was so small, was mo- ment lost.
 "Now,n she said, coming out of tho door of the ear and descending the steps toward him, eagerly expectant, T want prize for my swiftness." "A prize" returned the man, "why, you've been gone years, and you haven't even changed your gown. You
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07

heart expanded with 1t. He took pride in IL even more when they began to push the suspended span across the river on the outer end of the completed cnntiicver, toward its fellow rising on the other side. He fingered about 1t when the rest of the workaday world which was concerned with it had with drawn to rest. Frequently late in the night he had arisen and had left the sheet-lron shack he occupied near the work (for the topography of the lana and the course of the river had deter mined the cation of the bridge far from any town). and In the moonlight he had gazed bewitched by the great web of steel, all It's mighty tracery dell cntely sllvercd. faintly outlined. lace like, lofty. lifted high into the heavens.
 He fell Into little reverie for n him.
 "Wellr" she asked.
 Yes, naturally" he found himself saving in conventional tone of voice, ii means n great deal to me. My father-'
 oh. your father" she began indlf- ferently, although she knew and liked the great engineer.
 Ut Is his crowning work and"
 "Your beginning"
 "It Is not in me, or in any engineer, to begin where my father left off, he said. But this will count Il great deal. because through fathers kindness I had some hand"
 'I believe you did 1t all" interrupt- ed the girl.
 He broke Into sudden laughter, and his merriment had that boyish ring she liked. He seemed to think that was u sufficient answer to that state ment. for he went on quickly.
 How long shall you stay?"
 And in spite of himself he could not keep his anxiety out of his voice.
 "I think fathers going on to the city sometime tomorrow-probably in the morning"
 Meade's face fell.
 ''So soon as thatf'
 ''I will try to persuade him to stay longer. I've seen lots of bridges built but never one like the International. and l should enjoy standing by and watching you work,
 "I don't do the work. Abbott does that. and the men. of tourse."
 "Your work Is the work tn at makes possible and profitable the labor of the others" she answered. You plan. you lead. the rest only follow. By the way. father told me to ask you and Mir. Abbott to dine with 1us tonight in the car"
 Meade's mood changed isto positive gloom.
 "I can't" he said dejeoa.dly. Il haven't any clothes, neltheN as Ab- bolt. We left our dress SUI Ios behind us when we came Into the wilderness to work"
 "oh," she laughed. What difference Ii upys vii, u"s be ~ lsS solicIs-%s % you way. M
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07
CHAPTER II.
The Witness for the Defense.

One of the pleasant evidences of the possession of riches is in the luxury of Il private ear. Although Colonel Illiugworth WAS personally Il man of simple tastes as became m old cam- paigner. there WIS uo appointment that wit could devise or that money could buy which waS lacking to make his private car either more comfortable or more luxurious in it's napery. glass. china and silver, the dining table hecd- ed no: to apologize to any other any where. The colonel WAS most pune tiliouS in dressing his part and Meade and Abbott were both scrubbed to within an inch of their lives, but. climbing about the bridge their hands were scratched. rouEhcned, stained and torn. Aside from that, Meade was cer- tainIy most presentabie and old Ah- bolt. in spite of his indifference to such matters looked the able and pow erful man he was.
 The conversation at dinner was at first light and frivolous.
 Pm lost" began Abbott "overpow- cred with all this silver and glass and china
 Yes" laughed Meade. i've should have brought along our granite ware and tineups, then we would free from thr dreadful fear that We are co- ing to drop something or break some- thing"
 You can break anything you like said the colonel with heavy pleasan- try. "So long aS the bridge stands"
 And that iS going to be forever, isn't 1t, Mr Mendc?" asked Helen quickly.
 "I don't think anything built by man will survive quite that long he an- swered HIS much to her father and the others as to her. but this gives every promise of lasting its time.
 "You know" observed CurtisS, there was some question in my mind about these big compression members. When l first studied your fathers drawings I wondered If he had made the lacing strong enough to hold the webs
 That matter was very thoroughly gone into" said Meade quickly. It was the very point which l myself nd questioned. but father Is absolutely confident that we provided latticing enough to take up all the stresses. l looked into that matter myself" he went on with much emphasis.
 q guess it's all right" said Curtiss lightly. T examined the webs and luc- ings carefully this afternoon They seem te he as right as possible"
 Those truSseS," said Abbott emphat- ically, twill stand forever. You need not worry about that
 Are you going to finish this job on timef' asked Seyerence, the vice presi- dent You know the financial end If it K mine, and much depends upon the date of completion"
 That depends upon you people at the shop. doctor. If you get the stun
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07

care. constantly reporting the prog
 ress to his father, every step taken
 under the superintendence of Abbott, Il man of great practical ability as an erector but of much less capacity as scientific designer or office engineer. Meade had watched it's daily growth with the closest attention. Like every other man in similar case, the work
 had got into his blood. II had become Il part of his life. He loved the bridge: vet more he loved Helen Illingworth.
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07

here to me I'll get it in place in short order" answered Abbott.
 We aren't worrying about anything with you and Meade on the job, Alb bolt" said the colonel genially.
 Yes. you are. father" said the girl. Ever since the International has been started you have scarcely been able to give a thought even to me. I'm tired of 1t. I hope the old thing will soon be finished. so that we can all go back to normal life again."
 'I hope so, too" assented the colonel, land 1 guess you are right. The fact is the bridge is an obsession with us all. It is the biggest job the Martlet has ever handled. Indeed, 1t Is the
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07
CHARACTER TEST

~oNFiDENCE and eood-na-
 ture are easy for folks who
 are already prosperous and successful. The true strength of a mans character is revealed, however, in diversity. Tear the foundation from beneath one who has always enjoyed advan- taces of wealth and position, and see fl he has the backbone to conquer evil days-to rise above circumstances and win. In "Wcb of SteeI' we have the story of man whose foundation is de- stroyed. His fight to rebuild it makes the novel. It is not rnere- ly entertaining fiction; it is a p.ece of inspiring literature. We feel sure all of our readers will enjoy this Cyrus Towsend Brady serial.
 THE EDITOR.
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07

Young Meade comss out os his dream with . terrific bump --the real story beuins with tHs next lnstaIiment. Tell your friends to read "Web Of 0teel.w the best serial of the year.
The Dermott news., 1917-06-07

(To BE coNTINUED.l
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

which was dedicated on October
8, 1915, there will be sufficient
funds realized from the said one
half mill tax on the taxable
property within the parish Of
Washington to pay the said judg-
ment rendered in favor of the
Bank of Angie and against the
police jury of Washington parish
in principal and interest, in &C
accordance with the schedule and
table prepared and submitted
showing the amount of principal
and interest that will have to be
paid in each year out of the said
dedicated and segregated fund
which said table is in words and
figures as follows, to.wit,
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

Whereas, it is for the best in.
terest of said police jury and the
parish of Washington that the
said Judgment be liquidated, and
the said certificates be issued for
the purpose thereof; therefore,
Be it resolved and it is hereby
resolved that the police jury of
said parish OF Washington issue
certificates according to the
schedule hereinabove and herein
after set forth and in the manner
and form herein set forth, to the
amount of $4,000 with 5 per cent
per annum interest from Dec. 4,
1915, and that said certificates be
Gin number and numbered from1
to l6 inclusive, said certificates to
be dated February 6, 1917, and to
bear interest at rate of 5 per cent
per annum from Dec. 4, 1915, the
first payment to be made July,
1, 1917, and the interest there.
after to be payable annually on
the first day of July of each year,
beginning with the first day of
July, 1918, and to mature as
follows:
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

American observers from Ber-
lin said General Won Ludendr0ff
is the present dominating in
tiuence in the kaiser's war pol
lcles.
Cuban revolutionists captured
Santiago, but at other points bet
rebellion seemed to be making
little headway.
The bodies of three Americans
who were taken into Mexico and
murdered were found not far
from the boundary line.
Joseph NJ. Rault, of New Or
leans, won the position of assist.
ant attorneV Of the Interstate
Commerce / commission in com
petition WITH 4S5 others.
On each side the opposing
armies in France gave signs of
the quickening held to fore
shadow tremendous campaign.
Cuban government troops ap
peared to be making steady pro.
gress in crushing the Liberal
revolt.
The War Department ordered
rehabilitation Of all the National
Guard units remaining on the
Mexican border.
The possibility that Governor
Pleasant may be appointed to the
federal bench created general
surprise.
1t was the expectation in
Washington that the President
will ask Congress for authority
to keep the sea open, but not to
make war.
The Greek legation in Wash
ington protested that famine is
resulting from the Entente
blockade of the coasts of Greece.
One American vessel was
among the twelve steamships
departing Sunday from New
York for the European danger
zone.
Judge W. h. Hardy, creator Of
the Ship Island railroad, promo
ter of the New Orleans and
Northeastern, and builder of
the Lake POnchartrain causeWay
died at Gulfport, Miss. ~
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22
,Genera/ News items IN Brief

The American schooner Ly-
man N. Law, manned by Ameri-
cans and carrying a non contra
band cargo, was destroyed by a
submarine.
Norway, Sweden and Den
mark made a joint protest
against Germany's new naval
methods.
The State Department an
nounced that it will continue to
live up to the spirit of the two
ancient Prussian- American
treaties.
The United States took steps
to assist President Menocal in
supressing the revolt in Cuba.
With cordial expressions of
regret on all sides, Embassado r
Won Bernstorff sailed from New
York.
Senator Ransdell said the
river and harbor bill is in grave
danger of defeat.
SouthernProgressives adopted
resolutions approving a speech
by John NJ. Parker in which he
urged that the party advocate a
number of reforms.
Gov. Bilbo, of Mississippi, an.
nounced no call would be issued
for al extraordinary session of
the Legislature to pass a ''bone
dry" law.
Because the auction purchase
price was not paid by H. D.
"Curley" Brown the civil sheriff
seized some of the machinery
and movables Of the Southern
Publishing Company (American)
Mrs. Augustine Miguez was
acquitted by a jury on the charge
of numbering Antony Franco in
New Orleans.
Germany rescinded the order
for the expulsion of the Ameri.
can relief workers from Belgium,
Important gains for the Brit
ish forces in France and in Mes
opotamla rere announced.
The exnnrt situation was de-
the most serious in the
history of the port of New York.
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

1t was further found by the
police jury that it is to the best
interest Of the said parish of
Washington and said police jury
to issue certificates in accordance
with the schedule hereinabove
set forth in satisfaction of the
said Judgment secured by the
Bank OF Angie, payable to said
Bank of Angie, or bearer, and to
base said certificates upon the
one half mill heretofore segregat-
ed and dedicated by resolution
adopted d Oct,,a 5, 1915, already
hereinabove mentioned.
Thereupon, after full discus
sion Of the matter, J. R. Leslie,
offered the following resolution
and moved the adoption Of the
same:
Whereas, the Bank of Angie. a
corporation domiciled at Angie,
parish of Washington, state of
Louisiana, acting through R. N.
Sims, Examiner of State Banks.
and F. M. Brown. special agent,
did, on the 4th day of December,
1916, in the 26th Judicial District
Court of Louisiana, in and for the
the parish of Washington, secure
a judgment against the parish of
Washington in the state Of Louis
lana, and the police jury thereof,
for the sun of $4,000 with 5 per
cent interest thereon from date,
until paid, and,
Whereas, the said Bank of
Angie. acting through its liqui-
dators above named, are willing
to accept for the satisfaction ef
the said judgment, certificates
issued by said parish of Washing
ton and the police jury thereof
to the full amount of said judg-
ment, which certificates are to be
due and payable to bearer, and
are to draw interest at the rate
of 5 per cent per annum from
Dec. 4, 1916, the date of said
Judgment, being the rate of in.
terest that said judgment pro-
vides. and all of which said GER
tifcates are to have interest cou-
pons, payable July 1, A. D. 1917,
which said interest so due and
payable on July /, A. D. 1917,
as evidenced by said coupons,
amounts to the sum of
S333.31, and all Of such said Ger.
tifcates up to the date of their
respective maturities, shall have
interest coupons attached for
each and every year, due and
payable on the first day of July,
and which said certificates are to
be divided and numbered from
to 16 inclusive, each of which
said certificates is to be for the
sum of $500 and to be due on the
1stday of July of each year, begin.
ming with July /, 1918, and end.
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22
Police Jury Proeeedin gs.
(Continued from last week.

the Parich of Washington, in thu
State Of Louisiana, was held al
Franklinton, within the bounda
ries of said state, at y o'clock in
the forenoon of the 9Th day 0,
February 1917, A. D., at which
meeting there were present: F,
L. Sanford, president, R. H.
Spring, G. M. Tate, T. D. Foil,
j. P. Starnes, J. R. Leslie, Wal
ter Green, Louis Grain, s. S.
Thomas, T. B. Roberts and W.
Banister, secretary, of the said
Police Jury, constituting all the
members of said Police Jury ex-
eept NJ. K. Pearce of the Fourth
ward. absent.
At this meeting it was found
that said Police Jury of the par.
ish of Washington had, on the
10th day of December, 1912, A.
D., entered into a contract with
H. j. Cowgirl, a resident and
citizen of the City of Bogalusa,
said parish Of Washington. Louis
lana, for the construction OF a
bridge across swamp up to Pearl
Pearl river in Washington parish,
Louisiana, crossing what is known
as Peters Lake and Pushapattapa
creek on the road leading from
the City of Bogalusa west to
ferry across Pearl river, which
said contract was made in strict
accordance with lawful ordi.
nances duly passed by the Police
Jury.
The said police jury further
found that the said H. j. Cowgirl
has fully performed and execut-
cd the work required by said con-
contract and had constructed the |
said bridge in accordance with
the plans and specifications set
out in said contract and as at
tached thereto, and that the work |
had been duly accepted by the
said police jury of the parish of
Washington.
The said police jury further
found that the contract 50 enter
ed into by the said police jury
and said H. j. Cowgirl had been
assigned, transferred, and set
over by the said H. J. Cowgirl to
the Bank of Angie, a banking
corporation organized under the
laws of the state of Louisiana,
with its domicile at Angie. Wash
ington parish, said state, and
now in the course of liquidation
bv the Examiner of State Banks
under provisions of law in the
state Of Louisiana; that all
rights in and to said contract
were now owned by the said
Bank of Angie.
The said police jury further
found that in addition to the con.
tract with said H. ]. Cowgirl the |
said Bank of Angie also was the
owner and in possession, for q
valuable consideration before ma
turity, of three certain certifi- |
Gates of Indebtedness; numbered |
/, 2 and 8. and each for the sum |
OF g, 1888, payable Jan. 1, 1914,
Jan. /, 1915, and Jan. /, 1915, re-
spectively, each bearing five per
cent per annum interest from
Jan. 13, 1918, until paid, which
said certificates were predicated |
upon and identified with the said
contract of the said police jury |
and said H. j, Cowgirl; that the
said police jury of Washington
parish was in default in the pay.
meut of the said certificates, and
that each OF said certificates was
wholly unpaid; that the said Bank
of Angie on the 9Th day of Nov.
1915, proposed to accept in lieu OF
said certificates of Indebtedness
other certificates of the parish of
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

Be it resolved and it is hereby
resolved that certificates be in
substantially the following form:
United States of America, State
OF Louisiana, Parish of Washing
ton.
No.. $500.
Certificate of Indebtedness.
Know all men by these pres
ents, that whereas, the Bank of
Angie, a corporation organized
under the laws of the state Of
Louisiana. domiciled at Angie,
Washington parish, now in the
course of liquidation by the Ex-
aminer of state banks Of the state
of Louisiana, recovered a judg-
ment against the parish of Wash
ington and police jury thereof, in
the 26th Judicial District Court of
Louisiana, in and for the parish
of Washington, on the 4th day of
December, 1916, in the sum of
$4,000 with 5 per cent interest
from date, until paid, and,
Whereas. the said Bank of
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

lice jury Of the parish Of Wash
ington duly passed at a regula
meeting held on the 9Th day o.
Nov. 1915, the proposition mad
by the Bank Of Angie was duly
accepted by the said police jury,
in which said resolution the Hon
orable District Attorney fol
Washington parish was authoriz
ed and directed on benalf Of said
police jury to confess judgment
| before the 26th judicial District
Court in suit to be brought by
the Bank Of Angie for the sum 0!
$4,000 in pursuance of the COM
promise settlement agreed to be.
tween Bank of Angie and the
police jury.
The said police jury further
found that on the 4th day of De-
cember, 1915, the said Bank of
Angie filed its petition in the 26th
judicial District Court Of Louisi;
ana in and for the Parish of
Washington praying for a judg-
ment against said police jury for
the said sum of $4,000 with 5 per
cent interest thereon from date of
judgment until paid, and that on
said date. Dec. 4. 1916, the said
police jury of the parish Of
Washington filed its answer to
said petition, and that on said
date, Dec. 4, 1916, judgment was
in open court and signed
by the Honorable judge of the
26th Judicial District Court in
favor of said Bank of Angie and
against said police jury and the
parish of Washington for the fnll
sum of $4,000 with five per cent
per annum interest thereon from
date until paid.
The said police jury further
found that the said parish of
Washington had no funds avail
able to pay said Judgment, that
;he assessed valuation Of thetax-
sble property of the said parish of
Washington was for the year
1915 about and that it
would probably increase slightly |
rom year to year in the future,
hat the said police jury now had
he right, under the constitution
md statutes of the state of Loui-
'iana, to levy 10 mills on the en-
ire assessed valuation of said
parish, with the exception of as
o the incorporated city of Boga-
usa in which city the police jury
we're only entitled to levy eight
Mills on the taxable property.
The police jury further found
hat Of the said fund of 40 mills
which could be so levied, two
md one half mills thereof had |
'een appropriated, segregated,
ledcated and pledged for the years
.916 to 1889, inclusive, for the
purpose Of paying the indebted |
less Of the parish of Washing
ON, by a resolution adopted by |
;he said police jury at its regular
Meeting held on the 5th day of
October. 1915; that two mills Of
;he amount so dedicated and set
apart was designated and pledge
% satisfy and pay indebtedness
1ue by the said parish of Wash.
ngton on a certain contract en-
;ered into OIL the 9th day of June,
1911, for the construction of roads
N the parish of Washington, that
BY separate resolution passed by
he police jury the said two mills,
above mentioned, were funded
nto interest bearing certificates
.or the purpose above set forth ;
hat the remaining one.half mill
Of the said two and one-half
mills appropriated and segregated
On the said date, the 9th day of
October, 1915, was dedicated, seq
The Era-leader., 1917-02-22

ing with July, l. 1888, inclusive.
respectively as numbered, as
follows: