The Dermott news., 1917-09-06

visited West and Southwest many
times. Colonel Illingworth. with Rod
ney and Severance. there left the train.
Miss lllingworth decided to go into the
hills and get away from the arid and
heated plains. A siding had been built
near the steel arch under the slope of
the hill from which the huge mesa
| arose, within two miles of the dam.
and the car was to be placed there.
The men left behind would use the pri-
vate car of the division superintendent
of the railroad when they had ended
their several tasks.
1t had been raining dismally during
the afternoon. and when the car was
detached and switched to the siding
and left up in the hills some twenty
miles from the town, ii was too wet
and uncomfortable to leave II. Dis
regarding the downpour, however, Cur
tiss, who had come up with 1t, made
very careful investigation of the
completed bridge, which more than
surpassed his expectations in its APP
pearance of sturdy grace, as we'll as
in the evidences of careful workman
ship in its erection.
That evening the special engine
pushed the other private car up from
the valley. bringing the people who
had inspected the bridge. A few more
weeks would complete the great via
duct. Everything WAS proceeding In
the most satisfactory way and Colonel
1llingworth was very much elated over
the situation.
'Who would have thought" he said
rs they sat down to dinner in the
brightly lighted observation room.
that 1t would rain In this country mt
this season Of the year?'
ut will probably be over by tomor-
row morning." observed Rodney.
IF 1t continued long enough and
rained hard enough. that dam would
have TO be looked after Well go over
and see 1t tomorrow" said the colonel
cheerfully.
What would happen II 1t gave
way?" asked his daughter.
ut would flood the valley. sweep
away the town, and" he paused.
"Well, father2"
Ruin the bridge"
ave can't afford to have another
failure after the International" said
Severance.
Now there was n newcomer ut the
table, big raneher named Winters,
whom Rodney had met In the town
a hoI int
worth. The latter had invited him To
dinner and TO stay the night In the
extra sleeper and Winters. who had
particular reasons for wanting to talk
with Rodney and to meet Miss Hing
worth, had accepted.
You can count on It's stopping" he
said ut last. MY ranch Is hundred
miles to the north of here. | heard
Rodney was with your party, and as
he was an old classmate of mine-in
fact my best friend at Harvard along
with Bert Meade"-and the mention of
the forbidden name caused quick
glances To be passed around the table.
but raised no comment-'the chance of
seeing him brought me down here.
know the weather along this whole
section of the country; it's the dryest
place on earth, and l would almost Of
fer to swallow all the rain that will
fall after this storm spends itself"
We'll, that's good" said Curtiss. be
cause Eve heard that the dam lacks
very little of completion. but that the
spillway has been delayed"
You'll find that the storm has bro
ken in the morning" said Winters con-
tidently.
After dinner Colonel Illlngworth, de-
sirouS of talking business, called the
men of the party. except Rodney and
Winters. back into the observation
room of the other car, leaving the two
men with Helen.
"Mr Shurtliff." said Helen, as the |
men stepped out on the platform. the
secretary following. since his employer |
had intimated his services might be |
needed, III you can, l wish you would |
come back here as soon ms possible" !
Certainly. Miss Hlingworth," said |
the secretary, Immediately, If your |
father finds that he does not need me-" |
Rod" said Winters when they were |
alone, I'D go a long way to see you,
but / might as well be frank l did |
not come down these hundred miles,
leaving my ranch In the dead OF winter |
with all its possibilities OF mishap TO |
the cattle. simply TO see you. or even |
Miss nlingworth here although she is |
worth IT." he went on with the frank |
bluntness of western man.
"Of course you didn't" said Rodney.
smiling. Il know I'm not a sufficient |
attraction"
IL came to talk about Meade"
"Mr. Winters" said Helen, clasping
her hands over her knees and lean
ing forward. ''if you know anything
about him, where he is, what he Is |
doing. how he fares, is he well. does
be think of beg you to tell me-"
Miss nlingworth, there is nothing
l would refuse to tell you II II rested |