The Dermott news., 1917-08-09

gorge past the other side of the Span ish Mesa another higher trestle had al- ready been replaced by splendid steel arch. A siding had been built near the ravine, path made to the foot of the mesa, and arrangements were being made to run a local train up from the town when all was com pleted to give the people an oppor- tunity to ride up the gorge and see the great pile of rock, on which enterprise was already planning the dissertation of a summer hotel. the blasphemy of an amusement park
 Up the valley of the Picket Wire one morning in early fall came young man roughly dressed like the average cow-punCher from the ranches further north. He rode well. yet with cer- tain attention to detail and niceneSs that betrayed him to the real rough rider of the range, just as the clothes he wore, although they were the or dinary cattleman's outfit, were worn in a little different way that again be- trayed him. One look into the face of the man, albeit his mustache and beard hid the revealing outlines of mouth and chin. sufliced to show that here was no ordinary cow-puneher. He rode boldly enough among the rocks of the trail and along the rough road, which had been made by the wheels of the wagons and hoofs of the horses. There nF fidence begot of achievement. some of the power which knowledge brings and which success emphasizes, yet there were uncertainty and hesitation. too as if all had not been plain sailing on his course.
 To be the resident engineer charged with the construction of great earth dam like that across the Picket Wire requires knowledge of great many things beside the technicalities of the profession. chief among them being a knowledge of men. As the newcomer threw his leg over the saddle-horn. stepped lightly to the ground, drop ping the reins of his pony to the soil at the same time. Vandeventer. the en- gineer in question. looked at him with approval. Some subtle recognition of the mans quality came into his mind Here was one who seemed distinctly worth while. one who stood out above the ordinary applicant for jobs who came in contact with Vandeventer, as the big mesa rose above the foothill. However. the chief kept these things to himself as he stood looking and waiting for the other man to begin:
 Are you the resident engineer asked the newcomer quietly, yet there was certain nervous note in his voice which the alert and observant engineer found himself wondering at. such q strain as might come when a man is about to enter upon course of action. to take strange or perilous step. such little shiver In his speech as naked man might feel in his body before he plunged into the icy waters of the wintry sea.
 "I am."
 "Td like a job"
 eve have no use for COW w-punchers on this dam."
 "Tm not exactly cow-puncher. sir"
 What are you?"
 Look here" said the man, smiling a little. i've been out in this country long enough to learn that all that 1t is necessary to know about a man Is 'wIn he make goodT Let us say that 1 am nothing and let 1t go at that"
 "Out of nothing. nothing comes" laughed the engineer, genuinely amused.
 Some men would have been angry, but Vandeventer rather enjoyed this.
 Il didn't say I was good for noth- ing" answered the other man. smiling in turn, though he was evidently seri- ous enough in his application.
 Well. what can you do? Are you an engineerY
 "We1l pass over the last question, too, if you please. I think l could carry q rod If had a chance and there was vacancy"
 "Umph." said yandeventer, you think you couldr"
 Ies, sir. Give me a trial"
 All right, take that rod over there and so out on the edge of the dam where that stake shows. and I'll take a sight on It."
 Now there are two ways-a hundred perhaps-of holding n rod one right way and all the others wrong. A new comer invariably grasps it tightly in his fist and jams 1t down, conceiving that the only way to get it plumb and hold 1t steady. The experienced man strives to balance 1t erect on it's own base and holds 1t with the tips of his fingers on either side in an upright po- sition, swaying 1t very slightly back ward and forward. He does 1t uncon- sciously. too.
 vandeventer had been standing by . level already set up when the new conner arrived and the rod was lying on the ground beside 1t. The latter picked 1t up without . word. walked