The Benson signal., 1917-07-07

shaking and his body quivering; yet he
was glad after all, more happy than he
had thought he could be- in making the
revelation, inkvindicating the innocent,
in giving that satisfaction to Helen
Illingworth, tardy, even too late, though
it might be-.
Letters, sir. You will find there
blueprint Of the design of the compress
sion MEMBERS" answered Shurtliff
monotonously as If he had forced his
mind to a certain action and it was
working automatically. with it is
letter from Bertram Meade to his IA
ther suggesting that the lacings were
too light and calling attention to the
empiric formula Of Schmidt-C -Chemnitz
in proof Of his argument. On the
back Of that letter Mr.. Bertram Meade,
Sr., made an indorsement-you know
his handwriting and can, identify it
Hold until bridge is finished and then
give back to the boy. Well show him
that even Schmidt -Chemnitz doesn't
know everything.'@
Colonel Illingworth turned the paper
over. There was the Endorsement.
swell, by heaven !" he began.
"There's another paper in an envel-
ope addressed to the editor of the New
York Gazette. Will you read it aloud,
Sir?'
Almost as if he had been hypnotized
Colonel Illingworth took from the en-
velope the brief note. He read it:
I alone am responsible for the error
in the design Of the International bridge,
which has resulted in this terrible disas-
ter. I know that my son, in an effort to
shield me, will assume the responsibility.
AS matter of fact, he had previously
pointed out what he believed to be struc-
tural weakness, but refused to heed his
representations and overbore his objec-
tions The fault is entirely chargeable to
me- There is no possible expiation for my
| blunder. The least can do is to assume all
the responsibility. The blame is mine.
BERTRAM MEADE.
He laid it down with the other pa
pers.
'"The demonstration is complete and
absolute" he began spontaneously,
amid breathless silence. "The proofs
are adequate. They would establish
young Meade's innocence in any court
in the land. Where is he? have done
him an injustice. I am ready to make
amends" continued the colonel.
"And while you are talking" said
Helen nlingworth, who had been stand
ing in the doorway too absorbed by the
dramatic recital to interrupt it, "he's
dying"
"Dying! Wherew
"He was battered to pieces by the
last dynamite explosion. We brought
him here"
"Were you there?"
"We saw it from the top of the mesa.
Oh, don't talk any longer"
"Severence," said Illingworth, with
prompt decision, 'you haven't forgot
ten all your old medical skill. This is
your job. One of you jump on the en-
gine and bring a physician up and"
I'm going" said Rodney. "Who's
the best doctor in town."
doctor Fraser. He's young man,
but very skillful," answered one of the
local bridge men.
"Bring our own Doctor Bailey up
here from our hospital with him, and
tell that engine driver to get down
to the town and back just as quickly
as he can go. Cheer up, Helen," said
the colonel. 81 know that man is
not going to rehabilitate himself by
such an action and have the evidence
| 1of 1rIf OF
moment just to die"
"Will you give me those papers, colo
nel?" said Rodney. "You'll want this
written up and"
''Take them," said the colonel.
"Will you come along with me, Mr..
Shurtliff? After see the doctors I'll
want your affidavit"
eyes, sir, anything" said Shurtliff.
'It was fine Of you," said Winters,
ito try to shield your employer and
the man you loved, but thank God, you
spoke out before it was too late. I'm
sorry pulled that gun on you; you're
a man, all right, even if you don't look
it," he added to himself as Shurtlltt
bowed and followed Rodney.
Winters stood at the door Of the pas
sageway leading to the stateroom while
Helen Illingworth and Severence, who
had been educated as physician, ana
the old colonel, who knew great deal
about wounds and accidents from his
war experience, entered the stateroom.
A new spirit had come into the rela-
tions between father and daughter and
both were glad. There was no ques-
ton now about the future. There
should be no opposition from Colonel
Illingworth. Within an hour the pa
pers would have the story of how one
man had saved a great dam, the via
duct, the town, and its people, and
they would have at the same time the
story of who was responsible for the
fall of the International bridge. They
would have the story of the attempted
self-sacrifice of the son to save the
fo+bor Thou would have tho story of