The Arvada enterprise., 1917-05-24

iSD Mesa another higher treStlc had al
ready been replaced by a splendid
steel arch. A siding had been built
near the ravine, path made to the
foot Of the mesa, and arrangements
We're being made to run local train
up from the town when all was com
pIetcd 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 desecration
Of summer hotel, the blasphcmy Of
an amusement park!
Up the valley of the Picket Wire one
morning in early fall came Il young
man roughly dressed like the average
| cOw-puncher from the ranches further
north. He rode well, yet with Il GER
tain attention to detail and nicencSs
that betrayed him to the real rough
rider of the range, just as the clothes
he wore, although they were the or
dlnary cattlcman's outfit, We're worn
in little different way that again be-
/ traycd him. One look into the face of
the man, albeit his muStache and beard
hid the revealing outlines of mouth
and chin, suiiiced to show that here
was no ordinary cow-puncher. 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
was about him some of the quiet con
tidcncc 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 a great earth
dam like that across the Picket Wire,
requires knowledge of great many
things beside the technicalitics Of the
profession. chief among them being n
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, Nandevcnter, the en-
glneer 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 Vandeventcr, 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 a
strain as might come when II man IS
about to enter upon n course of action,
to take strange or perlous step such
n little Shiver in HIS speech as n naked
man might feel In his body before he
wintry sea.
81 am
I'D like a Job"
''Wc have no use for cow-punchers
on this dam"
''Im not exactly cow-punchcr. SIR"
'Whnt are youf"
look here" said the man, smiling
II little. I've been out in this country
long enough to learn that all that 1t is
necessary to know about n man Is VIII
he make goodT Let us say that l am
nothing and let it go ut that"
"Out of nothing. nothing comes"
laughed the engineer. genuinely
amused.
som" men would have been angry,
but Nandcvcnter rather enjoyed this.
Il didn't say | was good for moth
Ing, answered the other man, smiling
In turn, though he was evidently scri-
Gus enough in his application.
We'll, what can you do? Are you an
cngiUccr?"
Well puss over the last question.
too, II you please. think | could
carry rod II had n chance and there
was vacancy"
"umph," said vandcvcntcr, "you
think you couId?"
'icS, sir. Give me Il trial"
"All right, take that rod over there
nni go ont on the edge Of the dam
where that stake shows, and I'll take n
sight on IT,"
Now there are two ways-a hundred
pcrhaps-of holding rod one right
way and all the others wrong. A new
conner invariably grasps 1t tightly In
his fist and jams 1t down. concclying
that the only way to get II plumb and
hold II steady. The experienced man
strives 10 balance It erect on It's own
base and holds II with the tips OF his
iingcrs on either side In mn upright po.
stlon. swnylng II very slightly back.
ward and forward He does 1t uncon-
sciously, too.
Nandcycntcr had been standing by n
level already set up when the new.
conner arrived ana the rod wns lying
on the ground beside II. The latter
picked II up without word, walked
rapidly TO the stake, looscncd the tar.
get. and balanced the rod upon the
stake. AZ soon ms Vandcvcntcr oh.
served that his new seeker after work
held the rod N the right way, he did