davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

least she was to be depended on
you know you can count on me-"
II know can," he exclaimed CRATE
fully.
"Now tell me-"
1.-THE International bridge Is about to
fall"
The color came to her face again.
Was that ALI came into her mind.
That was serious enough. of course,
but it would not matter in the long
run. Helen realized the awful gravity,
the terrible seriousness, of the situa-
ton Of course. The bridge meant much
to her even II in quite different way.
It was there he had saved her from the
awful fall. 1t was there that he had
told her that he loved her. The bridge
might fall, but it was as eternal as her
affection in her memory. Their en-
gagement, or their marriage, had been
made dependent upon the successful
completion of the bridge. What Of
that? The provfso meant nothing to
her when she looked at the white-faced
agonized man to whom she had given
herself.
1T is terrible. of course" she said
quietly. 'sBut you can do nothing?"
IF could, do you think I'd let the
bridge, and you. SO without"
I'm not going with the bridge" was
her quick and decisive interruption.
| They had both forgotten the pres
ence Of young johnson, who was not
only decidedly uncomfortable, but des-
perutely anxious. He was about to
speak when, into this already broken
scene. came another interruption.
There was rush Of wheels on the
driveway outside. the roar of a motor.
Before Meade could answer the state
ment, into the room burst Colonel Il
lingworth- He was covered with dust,
his face was white. his eyes filed with
anxiety. The character Of the sum-
mons had disquieted him beyond meas
urA Back Of him came Ssssrence, the
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

There's going to be no penalty against
us on account Of me. won't stop work
a minute. he explained patronizingly.
There will be bigger penalty II
you don't do what say, and paid in
another way. in blood. And 1t will be
your fault" %
Now both men were angry and in
their passion they confronted each
other more resolute and fierce than
ever.
"Look here" said Abbott, his fiery
temper suddenly breaking from his
control. "who are you anyway? You're
only q kid engineer. Your father ap-
proved of the plan of this bridge. I
guess we can afford to bank ON his
reputation rather than yours"
swell, he doesn't know of this"
Nobody is ON the bridge now, and
nobody is going to be on there until
tomorrow morning. Wire him If you
like. He'll wire Illingworth down ut
Martlet and we'll get word what to
do" .
''You won't put any men at work on
the bridge until"
"NOt until tomorrow morning." said
Abbott decisively, "if don't hear from
somebody at Martlet tomorrow morn
ing the work goes on"
"But II my father wires you"
II take orders from the Martlet COM
pany and no one else." was the short
answer with which Abbott turned away
in dnality, SO that the other realized
the interview was over.
Meade wasted no more pleas on Alb
bott. As Ill luck would have It some
thing had happened to the telephone
and telegraph wires between the city
and the camp. Meade dressed himself,
got handcar, and was hurried to the
nearest town on the railroads main
line. From there he sent telegram
and tried to get connection with New
York by telephone, but failed. Moved
by a natural impulse, in default Of
other means of communication, he
jumped on the midnight train for New
York. He would 60 himself in person
and attend to the grave affair. Moth
Ing whatever could be % Important.
There had been some friction be
tween Abbott and Meade before ON oc-
casions, not serious, but several dmea
Meade had ventafed to suggest sous.
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

vice president. ana Curtiss. The cA8ei
engineer.
meade, what Of the bridger' b
burst out, with a quick nod to his
daughter. Colonel nlIngworth had not
stopped to hunt for q wayside tele
phone. The automobile driven madly,
recklessly through the hills and over
the rough roads, had brought him d.
rectly to the office In the shortest Dos
sible time.
There is q detection one inch and
three-quarters deep In one Of the COM
preston members. C-10R," was the
prompt and terrible answer.
Colonel nlingworth had not been
president of the Martlet Bridge com
pany for so long without learning some
thing of practical construction. he
was easily enough of an engineer to
realize instantly what that statement
meant.
"when did you discover it1' he
snapped out.
LAST night"
els the bridge gonef"
"Not yet"
"Why didn't you let rs known
II telegraphed father and, not hear.
ing from him, came down on the mid
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

way. The corresponding suemDer In
the other truss is perfectly straight"
abbott. for Gods sake, hear me-"
pleaded Meade In desperation. Draw
back the traveller and put no more men
on the bridge. Stop work until we can
get word to-
Don't talk to me. boy. I know my
business. I tell you can jack It back.
That melnber's big enough and strong
enough to hold up the world"
what are you going to jack
agninst?" Meade asked, and for the
first time little Of Abbotts contempt
appeared in the younger mans voice.
Abbott reflected that there was moth
Ing hrm enough to serve as a support
for jacks and said rather grudgingly.
for 1t seemed like q concession to the
younger and Junior engineer:
"Well, I can hook on to the opposite
truss and pull It back with turn
buckles"
'That will damage the other truss
too much, Abbott" Meade retorted
promptly. at isn't possible"
'Then TIL think up some other
scheme" returned Abbott lndifferently.
as IL humoring the other. 1--WE can't
whit. we've got to hurry 1t along.
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10
CHAPTER v.
The Death Message.


Meade, Sr., was an old man. Al
though unlike Moses his eye was dim
and his natural force abated. the evi-
dences Of power were still apparent,
especially to the observant. There rose
the broad brow of the thinker. His
power Of intense concentration was ex-
pressed outwardly by q directness Of
gaze from the old eyes which, though
faded. could flash on occasion. Other
facial characteristics Of that snow
crowned, leonine head, which bespoke
that Imaginative power without which
a great engineer could not be in spite
Of all his scientific exactitudes. had not
been cut out of his countenance BY the
pruning knife Of time.
He was a great engineer and looked
1t, sitting alone In his office with the
telegram crushed In his trembling
hand, despite the fact that his gray
face was the very picture Of unwonted
weakness, Of impotency. and abiding
horror. The message had struck him a
terrific blow. He had reeled under it
and had sunk down In the chair In q
state of nervous collapse.
The telegram fairly burned the
clammy palm Of his hand. He would
fain have dropped 1t yet he could not.
Slowly he opened 1t once more. Ordi-
narily, powerful glasses stimulated his
vision. He needed nothing to read it
again. It is doubtful whether his eyes
saw 1t or not and there was not need,
for the message was burned into his
brain.
He read again the mysterious words :
c}6e ons and three-auartsr-inch Gambler in
There could be no mistake. The
name that was signed to it was the
name Of his son. the young engineer,
the child of his fathers old age. The
boy. as the old man thought Of him,
had ventured to dispute his fathers
figures, to question his fathers design,
but the elder man had overborne him
with his vast experience, his great au-
thority, his extensive learning, his high
reputation. And now the boy was right.
Strange to say some little thrill of
pride came to the old engineer at that
moment.
he tried to find out from the tele-
gram when it had been sent. That day
was hOliday-the birthday of one OF
the worthless of the republican some
Of the United States, New York and
Pennsylvania among them, and only by
chance had he come down to the office
that morning. The wire was dated the
night before. And he recalled that the
state from which the bridge ran did
not observe that day as a holiday
They would be working on the Interna.
tional as usual unless
One and three-quarter inches Of de.
nectioni No bridge that was ever made
could stand with bend like that In
the principal member Of its compress.
sion chord. much leas SO vast a struc.
ture n that which was to span the
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

thing which to Abbott seemed useless
and unnecessary, and the fact that
subsequent events had more often than
not proved Meade's suggestions to be
worth while, had not put Abbott In al.
together the best mood toward his
Young colleague Abbott never forgot
that Meade had really no official con-
nection with the building of the bridge,
and that he was only there as special
representative Of his father, and al
though he could not help liking the
younger man. Abbott would have been
better pleased II he had been left
alone.
Meade had not gone about It In the
right way to move a man Of Abbott's
temperament. He realized that as he
lay awake on the sleeper speeding to
New York. Abbott was q man who
could not be driven. He was q tre-
mendous driver himself and naturally
he could not take his own medicine. II
Meade had received the announcement
more quietly and II he had by some
subtle suggestion put the idea of dan
ger into Abbott's mind all would have
been well, for when he was not blind
ed by prejudice, or his authority or his
ability questioned. Abbott was q SEN
sible man thoroughly to be depended
upon. But the news had come to Meade
with such audiences, Abbott had only
casually mentioned It at the close Of a
lengthy conversation regarding the
progress Of the work as II 1t were a
matter Of no special moment, that the
sudden shock had thrown Meade of
his balance.
Therefore he could see nothing but
danger and the necessity for action.
How he should handle his superior, or
rather the bridges superior, was the
last thing In his mind. Aside from his
natural pride In his father and In the
bridge and his fear that lives would be
lost II 1t failed. unless he could get
the men withdrawn, there was the
complication Of his engagement to
Helen Illingworth.
Meade could not close his eyes, he
could not sleep a moment ON the train.
Ills mind was in a turmoil. Prayers
that he would get to his father and the
bridge people in time to stop work and
prevent loss Of life, schemes for taking
up the detection. strengthening the
member, and completing the bridge,
and fears that he would lose the wom-
an, stayed with him through the night.
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

night train. 1t is holiday in New York
as well as here. just happened to
meet father In the office. He sent Q
telegram to you and not hearing from
you. duplicated 1t an hour later. !
tried half q dozen times to get you on
the telephone and finally, by u happy
chance. got hold of young Johnson"
"Where are your fathers tele-
grams?"
"Here."
Colonel Illngworth tore the first
open with trembling fingers.
"Why didn't you tell Abbott?" asked
the chief engineer.
You know Abbott. He snid the
bridge would stand until the world
caved in. Said he could jack the men,
ber into line. He wouldn't do a thing
except on direct orders from here"
'Your father wires. put no more
weight on the bridge What shall we
do?" interposed Colonel Illingworth.
Telegraph Abbott at once
''If the bridge goes it means ruin to
the company" said the agitated vice
president, who wns the financial MEM
Der Of the firm and who could easily be
pardoned for a natural exaggeration
under the terrible circumstances.
ayes, but If it goes with the men on.
it means-Johnson. are you telegraph
OPERATOR"
"Yes, SIR"
'Take the key" said the colonel.
who, having been a soldier, thought
first of the men.
johnson sat down at the table where
the direct wire ran from the bridge
company to the telegraph Office. He
reached his hand out and laid his
fingers on the key. Before he could
give the faintest pressure to the instru-
ment, 1t suddenly clicked of its own
motion. Everybody in the room stood
silent.
'It Is a message from Wilchings, the
chief Of construction foreman Of"
johnson paused n moment, listening to
the rapid click-"the International-s
he said in an awestruck whisper.
1t had come!
"Read 1t, mani Read 1t, for Gods
sake !" cried the chief engineer.
''The bridge is In the river" faltered
johnson slowly, word by word, trans
latfng the fearful message on the wire.
"Abbott and one hundred and fifty men
with it"
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

greatest Of rivers and to bring nadon
into touch with nation. He ought to
do something. but what was there to
do? Presently, doubtless. his mind
would clear. But on the instant all he
could think Of was the impending ruin.
The UplIft building, in which he had
his Offices, was mainly deserted on ac-
count Of the holiday. The banks were
closed and the offices and most of the
shops and stores. Il was very still in
the hall and. therefore. he heard dis
tnctly the door Of the single elevator
in service open with an unusual crash,
then the sound Of rapid footsteps along
the corridor as of someone running.
They stopped before the outer door Of
the suite which bore his name. In
stantly he suspected messenger Of
disaster. The door was opened, the Of
fee was crossed, q hand was on the
inner door. He sank back almost as
one dead waiting the shock, the blow.
Father" exclaimed the newcomer.
You got my telegram
The other silently exhibited the
crumpled paper In his hand.
"What have you doneT
''It's q holiday. don't You know1 I
only got 1t a few moments ago. The
bridger
"Sull stands"
But for how long7"
'I can't say. The Martlet's resident
engineer IL mad. begged, threatened,
implored. tried to get hiW to stop
work. to take the men OF the bridge,
to withdraw the traveller, but he won't
do 1t. Said you designed It. you knew.
I was only q cub"
"But the camberr
HE said, I'll Jack It into line again.
Like every other engineer who sees
big thing before him 1t looks to him as
II 1t would last forever. I tried to get
you on the telephone here and at the
house last night and failed. wired
you. Then I jumped on the midnight
express and"
"What is to be doneT' asked the old
man.
Meade. ST., was thankful that the
younger man had not said, II told you
so." es well he might. But really his
fathers condition was SO pitiful that
the son had not the heart.
Telegraph the Martlet Bridge COM
pany at once" he answered.
.'What shall we say7" asked the old
man. uncertainty.
The young man shot quick look at
him, that question evidenced the vio-
lence Of the shock. His father was
old, broken. helpless. dependent, at
"Give me the blank" he answered,
''T'll wire in your name"
He repeated the telegram that he
had sent to his father and added these
words as he signed the old mans
name to It:
Put no more load on the bridge. With
draw men and traveller.
'T can't understand why we don't
hear" said the young engineer two
hours later, walking up and down the
room in his agitation. 1.-TWO kilograms
and now we can't get telephone con-
nection, or at least any answer after
our repeated calls"
"It's holiday there as well as here"
said the older man. There Is no one
In the office dt Martlet."
"Tn try the telephone again. Some
one may come IN at any time"
He sat down at the desk, and after
five minutes Of feverish and excited
waiting he finally did get the office Of
the Martlet Bridge company. By a
happy fortune it appeared that some
one happened to come into the office
just at that moment.
'"Thls Is Meade" began the young
man, "the consulting engineer of the
international bridge. Well, at ten
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10
YOUNG MEADE MAKES DISCOVERY WHICH TERRIFlEs
HIM AND He TRIES TO SAVE MANY LIVES

Construction putting up q
Meade. engineer
nngworth daughter Of Colonel
and tbey will
bridge complete The engineer questioned his fathers udg
verified he
stop construction fearing great loss Of life. esE
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10
(TO BE CONTINUEDJ
Beware the Loaded Gun,

The man who returns from hunting
and sets his loaded gun in the corner
or hangs 1t on the wall is, In reality,
setting death-trap. Yet 1t is surpris-
ing how often this is done. The gun
we didn't know was loaded" is an
old, old story. says Farmers Guide.
You cannot be too cautious. The
loaded gun you may keep on the wall
to shoot crows with when they get In
the corn is liable to cause you more
loss than a million crows can. 1t takes
only second to put cartridge In a
gun when the time is at hand. 1t
takes no longer to take 1t out.
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

What happens after the crash
is told in the next Instailment.
What happens to the Meades
and IIIingworths, and the vast
trouble stirred up. makes thrill
ing chapters
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10
Blossom Remains.

ra--- Blossom Hemain0. ..
Bacon-"Crimsonbeak says his wife
keeps his nose to the grindstone." Ee.
bert-~Well, it doesn't seem b Woax
the red or Of it,
The Dolores star., 1917-08-10

thirty this morning sent telegram
to Colonel nlingworth and an hour
later I sent another. What's that7
Both kilograms are on the desk7 Give
me your name-Johnson-you're one
Of the clerks there? Well, telephone
Colonel nlingworth at his home
whatl He isn't at homer Is the vice
uresidant thsrs-tha superintendent
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
Man Killed May Be
CllllOm's Murderer

Sacramento, Cal, Feb. 23.--Patrol-
man Lewis Warren today shot and kill
ed man who is believed to have been
the slayer of J. c. Cullom, Berkeley
salesman, The man resisted arrest and
the officer shot him.
The officer came across the suspect
at 9th and b streets-an outlying see
'tion of the city along the Southern Pa
eific tracks. s.You answer the deserip-
ton of the man who killed Cullom,
the officer greeted him, '.and / guess
i'll have to take YOU to the station.
tYou can t arrest me, but You can
kill me, damn you, the man replied
and lunged at the officer. lie knocked
Warren down and began TO kick him.
The officer drew his gun and shot him.
In several ways the man answers the
description of the man who fatally shot
and robbed Cullom near Chico after
The latter had given him "liftf in
his automobile. He has eyeglass marks
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
Pried Bars From Window
and Made His Escape

Otto Staub, insane patient at the
Oregon state hospital, was clever
enough to pry open the steel bars of the
window of his room and escape during
the early hours of this morning. He
has not yet been found, although he was
tracked through the snow to the rail
road tracks south Of the penitentiary.
About two months ago he walked
away from the Cottage farm where he
was on parole and went to Marion and
secured job with a farmer. The
farmer soon discovered that his assist
ant was insane and reported the mat
ter and he was returned. 1t is be.
lieved that Staub went south this
time.
Staub was in ward on the first
floor and there were two other patients
in with him but they did not attempt
to get away Staub was committed from
Claekamas county.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
ARE BATHS
NECESSARY Z

This looks like foolish question in
this enlightened age, but there are near
ly q million Americans who know moth
ing Of internal bathing a few years
ago and are now eager to testify that
they are fully as essential to health
as external baths.
BY a purely natural process of prop
erly using warm water the ~. b. L.
Cascade removes ALL the poisonous
waste from the lower intestine, which
physicians agree is the cause of 50 per
cent of all human ailments.
1t instantly relieves constipation,
properly regulates the bowels and pre-
vents all the dragging down which bill
ionsnesS and liver troubles always ere
ate.
Mr.. William Blake, of Alsea, Oregon.
writes:
ssThe first CaseadeT got from you
about sixteen years ago; have never
been without my Cascade since. Would
not be without one for anything as
long as it is possible to get one. At the
time | got my first one | was total
wreck from in digestion and constipa-
tion; had not been able to work for
several years. Yours truly, z
Daniel J, Fry drug store in salem,
Oregon, has filled tremendous demand
for 20. b. L. Cascades in the past
few years, and will show and explain it
to YOU on request A free and interest
ing booklet on internal bathing, "Why
Man Of today is only SO per cent Eff
cient, can also be obtained for the
asking.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
By ALrNz THOMPSON

One Of the most delightful festivi-
ties in celebration of Washington IS
birthday was the Colonial tea given yes
terday at the Moose hall by the Wo-
man Relief Corps. The attractive hall
was effectively decorated with flags,
the stars and stripes being everywhere,
and surrounded with spring flowers.
In the receiving line were: Mrs. Will
liam Galloway, Mrs. Clara Gribble, Mrs.
Lizzie w. Smith and Mrs. Ida Bah
cock. About $50 guests called during
the afternoon and an enjoyable pro-
gramme was given in keeping with the
occasion.
Ten tables were arranged for tea
and were presided over by Mesdames
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
MANY IMPORTANT
CONTINUED from page one

The Salisbury resolutions, opening
United States ports to allied warships.
The Cummins amendment for senate
consideration of the presidents interna-
tional stand, and others.
In the 10 remaining legislative days
the following appropriation bills, ae.
cording to present schedule, will be
rushed through unless unexpected OPP
position develops, neeessitating com.
promise or abandonment
Army, navy, sundry civil, Indian leg
islation, executive and judicial, pension
and military academy, agricultural, Dis
trict of Columbia, Danish West indies,
Porto Rico and postoffiee.
The administration $450,000, 900
revenue bill will go through.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23

Dean Morton is qualified to speak
on this subject to business men and pros
peetive business men. IN connection
with his office as dean of the school
of commerce, he lectures frequently be-
fore commercial groups through the
state. He is now conducting course of
lectures for the business men of Port
land. His WORK is not unknown to the
Salem people, having spoken before the
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
MORE FOOD
CONTINUED from page one.l

made public figures which show that
more food is now in storage in this
state than in 1916.
One hundred and thirty two firms,
his figures show, held 132,000,0000
pounds of meat in 1916. This year, he
says, the same firms are holding 1867
062, 1856 pounds. Eggs are less this year
than last, 44,727 cases being held, a
gainst 159,523 in 1916. Butter is rep
resented this year by S,773,44l pounds
against 7,159,34S year ago.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-23
BEAVER BILL rs SIGNED

House bill No. 61, Ay Lafferty, relat-
ing to the killing Of beavers, has been
signed by the governor and is filed in
the office of the secretary Of state. The
governor contemplated vetoing the act
for some time, but finally decided to
approve it.