The Madison journal., 1917-03-03

7 "N,~. said the colonel "Lu. w.
don't want orr experiment 70 laI in
this Instance"
They won't" said the youu- man
boldly.
II" had long since persuaded himself
, that he had been all wrong and his
7 lather all right, 50 that he entered
upon his defense and the defense of
/ I'll" brIdS" with enthusiasm. He was
ready TO break Il lance with anybody
on its behalf"
NeiI began the colonel. 1--WE have
every confidence IN Your father and in
YOU don't mind telling You. Meade.
IL need not 70 any further. that when
tiiS bridge is completed we shall be
prepared to make You personally Il
very advantageous offer for future re-
IatlonS with the Martlet COMPANY If
you care 10 accept ii. On the strength
of your probable acceptance we are nj
ready planning to venture into certain
foreign fields which We have hitherto
not felt it 10 our interest to enter"
That is most kind Of You. Colonel
illingworth, said the young man crate
fully. "and it appeals to me very
strongly. I have been associated with
father latterly. He wants 10 retire
with the completion of this bridge. and
betore | open any office of my own |
should like the advantage of further
experience. Such connection as you
propose seems 10 me 10 be ideal. from
my point of view. No man could have
any better backing than the Martlet
Bridge company
We'll. we shall look 10 YOU to be
worthy Of it," said the colonel kindly.
His glance vaguely comprehended
ms daughter as he spoke. Colonel
llIlngw0rth was n very rich man. The
Martlet Bridge company was nearest
MS heart. but he had many other in
tereStS. His only daughter would event
ually be the mistress of n great for
tune. Meade was not poor. OF course.
MS means We're limited compared to
colonel lllingwOrth'S great fortune, hut
what he had earned, saved. and invest !
ed was Sutticient-yeS. even for two. !
And he would inherit much more. Old |
Meade had not been the greatest engi- |
neer OF his generation for nothing. In |
dependent and self-respecting. young |
Meade could not be considered a for
tune hunter by anybody. He was the |
kind of man 10 whom decent father |
likes to intrust his daughter. Old |
Colonel Illingworth found himself gaz-
ing wOnderingly at the two.
After dinner the men sat out on the
observation platform with their cigars
and coffee. For those that liked II
there was something in tall glasses in
which ice tinkled when the glasses
were agitated, but Meade declined all
three
with your permission, sir" he said,
Il am going to take Miss nlingworth
out on the bridge. The moon is rising
and"
Il have heard so much about it,"
said the girl, standing by the door.
1 want To see ii when the workmen
ire all off and 1t is all quiet, in the
moonlight"
Very well. You had better change
'Our dress, Helen, before you 60" said
he colonel, turning to Abbott and en-
,aging him in conversation on techni-
al matters.
"Tll wait for you at the front door
# the car" said the engineer, his heart
'eating like pneumatic riveter and
almost as loud in his ears.
Il won't be long" she whispered as
he left him. I
Helen did not want to waste time :
my more than Meade did So. instead
f taking her fathers advice, all she
id was to cover her beautiful shoul- ,
ers with a light wrap and hasten TO {
he car door in the shortest possible
me. Every moment they were apart, I
ince the sum-total in which they could 1
e together was SO small, was a mo- I
lent lost. [
Now" she said, coming out of the q
oOr of the car and descending the S
-eps toward him, eagerly expectant,
want prize for my swiftness."
"A prize" returned the man. "why.
Du've been gone years. and YOU q
avent even changed your gown. You a