The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-19

tract Helen out of the car. She had
visited West and Southwest many
times. Colonel Illingworth, with Rod-
ney and Severance, there lett the traIN'
Miss IlIingwOrth decided TO go INTO tne
hills and get away from the ara ana
heated plains. A siding had been punt
near the steel arch under the slope ol
the hill from which the huge mesa
arose, within two miles OF the daih'
and the car was to be placed there.
The men left behind would use the prl-
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 sldih8
| and left up in the hills some twenty
! miles from the town, it was too wet
and uncomfortable to leave it. DIS
regarding the downpour, however, Our
! tiss, who had come up with 1t, Hiaue
q very careful investigation OF the
completed bridge, which more thah
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 up from
the valley, bringing the people VINO
had inspected the bridge. A few more
weeks would complete the great via
duct. Everything was proceeding IN
the most satisfactory way and ColoneI
Ilingworth was very much elated over
the situation.
"Who would have thought" he said
as they sat down to dinner in the
brightly lighted observation room
that it would rain in this country at
this season of the year?
1T will probably be over by tomor
row morning." observed Rodney.
"If it continued long enough anC
rained hard enough, that dam would
have to be looked after. Well go over
and see it tomorrow" said the cOlone
cheerfully.
"What would happen if 1t gave
way? asked his daughter.
ut would flood the valley, SWEEP
: away the town, and" he paused.
: well, father?''
{ sRuin the bridge"
, Eve can't afford to have anOthe
: failure after the International" salt
Severance.
2 Now there was newcomer at tn
t table, a big rancher named Winters
= whom Rodney had met in the tow
: and had introduced to Colonel Hing
! worth. The latter had invited him L
f dinner and to stay the night In tn
s extra sleeper, and Winters, who ha
n particular reasons for wanting to tai
with Rodney and to meet Miss Hing
e worth, had accepted.
q "You can count on it's stopping, n
o said at last. my ranch is hundre
e miles to the north Of here. l hear
Rodney was with your party, and
| he was an old classmate of mine
| fact, my best friend at Harvard alon
with Bert Meade"-and the mention c
| the forbidden name caused qulc
glances to be passed around the tabl'
| but raised no comment-"the chance {
seeing him brought me down here.
know the weather along this Who'll
section Of the country; it's the dryes
place on earth, and l would almost o
fer to swallow all the rain that WI
d fall after this storm spends itself.
8 well, that's good" said Curtiss, "b
Ri cause I've heard that the dam lacE
III very little of completion, but that II
II spillway has been delayed
Il "You'u find that the storm has br
II ken in the morning" said Winters co
\ fidently.
Il After dinner Colonel Illingworth, d
sirous of talking business, called Il
| men of the party, except Rodney al
| Winters. back into the Observable
: room of the other car, leaving the tV
al men with Helen.
III "Mr. Shurtliff." said Helen. as Il
men stepped out on the platform, u
secretary following. since his employ
had intimated his services might
ps needed. "If you can, wish you won
come back here as soon as possible
Certainly, Miss Illingworth,' sa
~ tho secretary, Immediately, If 20
father finds that he does not need me
~ "Rod," said Winters when they we
alone, I'D go q long way to see yc
:. but | might as well be frank. q
~ not come down these hundred mile
" leaving my ranch in the dead OF Wlnt
with all its possibilities OF miShap
=, the cattle, simply to see you, or ev
~ Miss Illingworth here, although she
- worth it." he went on with the ira
hluntness of u western man.
l |s "Of course you didn't" said Rodn
nv smiling. 81 know I'm not sufiicit
n+- attraction
IL ~ came to talk about Meade"
"Mr. Winters" said Helen, clasp
ber hands over her knees and le
- ing forward, eff you know anyth
nc about him, where he is, what he
oes doing, how he fares, is he well, d
70 he think of beg you to tell II
80 "Niss ulingworth, there is moth