Tombstone epitaph., 1917-07-29

one Of them the man she loved and
sought. And Rodney stood by her side
equally interested. searching the crowd
with his glance. also.
There was nothing In the town to at.
tract Helen out of the car. She had
visited West and Southwest many
times. Colonel Illingworth, with Rod
ney and Severance. there left the train
Miss Illingworth decided to go into the
hills and get away from the arid and
heated plains. A siding had been bull,
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
waite 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, It was too We,
and uncomfortable to leave II. Dis
regarding the downpour, however, Cur
tiss, who had come I'D with 1t, made
very careful investigation of the
completed bridge, which more thar
surpassed his expectations in its ap
pearance Of sturdy grace, as well as
in the evidences of careful workman
ship In its erection.
That evening the special engine
pushed the other private car I'D 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 Colone
Illingworth was very much elated ovel
the situation.
"Who would have thought" he said
as they sat down to dinner in the
brightly lighted observation room
"that 1t would rain in this country al
this season Of the Year,"
1T will probably be over by tomor
row morning." observed Rodney.
IF 1t continued long enough and
rafned hard enough, that dam would
have to be looked after. Well go owe,
and see 1t tomorrow" said the colonel
cheerfully.
What would happen II II gave
way?" asked his daughter.
1T would flood the valley, SWEEP
away the town. and" he paused.
swell, fatherr"
Ruin the bridge"
ave can't afford to have another
failure after the International" said
Severance.
Now there was a newcomer at the
table, a big rancher named Winters
whom Rodney had met In the town
and had introduced to Colonel Hing
worth. The latter had invited him tC
dinner and TO stay the night in the
extra sleeper, and Winters, who hat
particular reasons for wanting TO tall
with Rodney and to meet Miss Hing
worth. had accepted.
You can count on its stopping" he
said at last. my ranch is a hundred
miles to the north Of here. I heard
Rodney was with your party. and as
he was an old classmate of mine-ir
fact. my best friend at Harvard along
with Bert Meade"-and the mention Of
the forbidden name caused Quicl
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 dryes'
place on earth, and would almost Of
fer to swallow all the rain that will
fall after this storm spends Itself"
We'll, that's good" said Curti5s, BE
cause I've 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
fidently.
After dinner Colonel Illingworth. de
sirous OF talking business, called thu
men OF the party, except Rodney ant
Winters, back into the observation
room Of the other car, leaving the sws
men with Helen.
Mr.. Shurtliff." said Helen. as thu
men stepped out on the platform, tn,
secretary following. since his employer