The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-05-10
CHAPTER xI-continued.

Again the train was delayed ant
held up for half an hour just as II
reached the Mississippi river. He left
his seat in the dining car, his dinner
uneaten on the table, to go out and in
sbect the bridge during the half-hOuI
that the 'limited" lay idle. The next
day some enormous irrigation works
In western Nebraska so CngrOSsed his
attention and aroused his interest that
In spite of himself he stopped over
between trains to see them. And these
actions were typical.
Yet after every one of these exCur-
sionS back into his own field, his con.
science SmOte him. Was he never to
get away from this engineering? Was
there nothing else for him but brick
and stone steel and concrete, designs
and plans and undertaking and accom-
piShEcnt in the world? Because it
vas the thing that he must abandon
and put out Of his mind, engineering
seemed the only thing he cared for.
There would be no engineering on that
ranch on the slopes of the range. He
could settle the question there.
Winters was glad t0 see him. He and
Rodney and Meade had been the warm
est Of friends. OF course Meade could
nOt tell Rodney the truth on account
Of his newspaper connections, but he
dcVlded finally that he could and would
tell Winters under assurance of abSo-
Iute secrecy. For one thing the big
cattleman had bluntly refused to credit
his friends first statements; and, when
ne at last heard the truth, he blamed
tim roundly while he appreciated fully
the nOblenesS Of his Self-SucriiiCe. The
clcar-hcadcd, practical Winters put it
This way: Meade was capable of do
Ing splendid service to humanity as an
engineer and badc fair to be even
greater than his father, yet for the
sake of the fame of dead man, to
whom after all it would matter little,
be had thrown away that splendid op-
pOrtunity!
This was new thought to Meade
and disturbing one. Unfortunately
IS even Winters was forced to ac-
knowledge, the suggestion came too
lnte. The course had been entered up
on. 1t would be COWardly to try to
change it now. Indeed it would have
been impossible with the disappear
Hnce of the written protests and notes.
Even If ShuItliff had been willing, no
ono would have believed Il delayed re-
traction and explanation, and Shurtitf
would not have been willing Meade
well knew. Neither for that matter
vas Meade himself. He was glad that
She affair had been settled and would
not change it even now though Win
terS' rOugh-and-rcady presentation of
the situation diSQuicled him.
Winters, who saw how greatly over
wrought and unstrung his friend was,
COntented himself with the assertion.
He did not press the point or argue il
with him. He rested quietly confident
that matters would right themselves
some way in the long run. He treated
Meade exactly right. He left him to
Ills own devices. He did not force his
company upon him. Sometimes the On.
C.uccr would mount horSc-and all
q the ranch We're ut his diSpOSal-and
You'd ride away into the woods and
HrOuntains with a camping outfit. Some
fines he would be gone for several
Gays, coming back white and hNggard
and exhausted but victor in some hard
tattIe fought out alone.
One day there came to the ranch
r.tter to Winters from Rodney, full of
friendly chat and pleasant rcmini-
acenCc.
Meade has disappeared absolutely"
wrote Rodney in closing. Even Miss
IIlingwOFth, to whom be was reported
engaged and upon whom have called
occasionally, says she does not know
his whereabouts. OF course you saw
IN the papers his connection with the
tragedy and failure of the Internation-
al? Although his frank statement was
cOrrobOrated by that Of the older
Meadc's private secretary, have never
heen able to believe it, neither does
Miss IllingwOrth. | know Bert, and so
Goes she. We can't accept even his
own testimony. We have been work
ing together to establish the truth, but
with very faint prospects of success so
far. There's some tremendous mystery
about it. have thought that maybe
Meade might have come to you. If he
has show him this letter and beg him
to tell us the exact truth at any rate"
Winters passed the letter over to
Meade without comment The en-
sineer read it with passionate eager
ness. He was hungry for any news of
Helen Illingworth. Rodney was call-
ing upon her. A sharp pang of jealousy
ShOt through him at that, although he
knew there was no reason. Dear old
Rodney! He could see his grave face.
Ids disappearing manner, his air of un-
belief. as he had taken down Meade's
words i'll the Office that tragic day.
OF course, Helen Iillngworth was not
a recluse as he was. She mingled In
society. She took up life with Its de-