The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-02-23

last.
'Give me the blank" he answered,
''Ill 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.
Il 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-
neetion, 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 ut Martlet"
"Tll 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.
"This is Meade" began the young
man, "the consulting engineer of the
International bridge. Well, at ten
thirty this morningtI sent telegram
to Colonel Illingworth and an hour
later / sent another. What's that?
Both kilograms are on the desk? Give
me your -Johnson-you're one
of the clerks there? Well, telephone
Colonel IllingwOrth at his home
what He isn't at home? Is the vice
president there-the superintendent
anybody? How far away are they?
Twenty miles There's no telephone?
Now, listen, johnson, this is what you
must do. Get car, the strongest and
fastest you can rent and the boldest
chauffeur, and a couple of men on
horses too, and send up to that place
wherever they are, and tell Colonel
Illingworth that he must telephone me
and come to his office at once. There
are kilograms there that mean life or
death and the safety of the bridge.
You understand? Good. He says he'll
do 1t. father. We've done all we
scan. he added. He hung up the res.
ceiver, sprang to his feet, looked at
his watch. 'It's so important that I'll
go down there myself. can catch the
two o'clock train, and that will get me
there in two hours. You stay quietly
here in the Office and wait until | get
in touch with those people. mean, l
want to know where / can reach you
instantly"
an stay right here, my boy. Go,
and God bless you"
AS usual when in great hurry
there were unexpected delays and the
clock on the tower above the big struc-
tural shop was striking five when n
rlckety station wagon, drawn by an ex-
hausted horse, which had been driven
unsparingly, drew up before the office
door. Flinging the money at the driver,
Meade sprang down from his seat and
dashed up the steps. He threw open
the door and confronted Johnson.
"Did you get him." he cried.
"He isn't here yet sent an auto
mobile and two men on horseback
and"
The next minute tie faint note OF
an automobile horn sounded far down
the valley,
81 hope to God that is he cried the
young engineer, running to the win
dow.
THAT'S the car l sent" said john
son. peering over his shoulder. "And
there are people in it. It's coming this
way"
Johnson" said Meade, "you have
acted well Hathis crisis and l will see
that the Bridge company remembers
it,"
Would you mind telling me what
the matter Is, hf. Mehue!
Matter! The International"
Bert" exclaimed joyous voice, as
Helen Illingworth, smiling in delighted
surprise, stepped through the open
door and stood expectant with out
stretched hands.
Young Johnson was as discreet as he
was prompt and ready. He walked to
the window out Of which he stared,
with his back ostentatlOusly turned to-
ward them. After quick glance at
the other man, Meade swept the girl
to his heart and held her there a mo-
ment. He did not kiss her before he
released her. The woman's passionate
look at him was caress enough and his
own adoring glance fairly enveloped
her with emotion. Johnson coughed
and turned as the two separated 1t
was the woman who recovered her
poise quicker.
"What were you saying about our
bridge when I came into the rooml"
she began, and Meade fully understood
the slight but unmistakable emphasis
in the pronOun-our bridge, indeed-"I
was lying down this afternoon, but
when l awakened my maid told me
about your urgent calls for father"
she ran on, realizing that some trouble
portended and seeking to help her