The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-31

anybody? How far away are they?
Twenty miles! There's no telephone?
Now, listen, Johnson, this is what you
must do. Get car, the strongest and
fastest you can rent and the bOldest
chauffeur, and a couple of men ON
horses too, and send up to that place
wherever they are, and tell Colonel
Illingworth that he must telephone me
and come to his Office at once. There
are kilograms there that mean life or
death and the safety Of the bridge.
You understand? Good. He says he'll
do it, father. We've done all we
can" he added. He hung up the re-
ceiver, sprang to his feet, looked at
his watch. Its so important that I'll
90 down there myself. I can catch the
two O'Clock train, and that will get me
there in two hours. You stay quietly
here in the Office and wait until l get
in touch with those people. mean, l
want to know where l can reach you
instantly"
'Ill stay right here, my boy. Go,
and God bless you"
| AS usual when in a great hurry
there were unexpected delays and the
clock on the tower above the big struc-
tural shop was striking five when a
! rickety station wagon, drawn by an eX-
| hausted horse, which had been driven
unsparingly, drew up before the office
door. Flinging the money at the driver,
Meade sprang down from his seat and
dashed up the steps. He threw open
the door end confronted Johnson.
did you get him?" he cried.
"He isn't here yet. l sent an auto
mobile and two men on horseback
and"
The next minute the faint note Of
an automobile horn sounded far down
the valley.
81 hope to God that is he" cried the
young engineer, running to the win
dow.
THAT'S the car I sent" said John
son, peering over his shoulder. "And
there are people in it. It's coming this
way"
johnson" said Meade, "you have
acted well in this crisis and l will see
that the Bridge company remembers
it,"
"Would you mind telling me what
the matter is, Mr.. Meade?"
Matter! The International"
>. "Bert," exclaimed q joyous voice, n:
Helen nlingworth, smiling in delighted
surprise, stepped through the opeI
door and stood expectant with out
stretched hands.
Young johnson was as discreet as n
was prompt and ready. He walked t
the window out of which he stared
with his back SYSTEMATICALLY turned to
ward them. After q quick glance
the other man, Meade swept the cir
to his heart and held her there me
ment. He did not kiss her before h
; released hgs. The woman's passionat
look at him was caress enough and nj
own adoring glance fairly envelope
her with emotion. johnson coughe
, and turned as the two separated.
1 was the woman who recovered he
=. poise quicker.
"What were you saying about on
bridge when I came into the room
. she began, and Meade fully understoo
= the slight but unmistakable emphasi
In the pronoun-our bridge, indeed
> was lying down this afternoon, br
when I awakened my maid told m
about your urgent calls for father
: she ran on, realizing that some troubl
portended and seeking to help h'
lover by giving him time. Il kne
+ something must be wrong, SO l can
). here. I didn't expect to see you. D
: what is it?' she broke off, sudden
y realizing from the mental strain in b.
: lovers face, which the sudden sight
her had caused him to conceal for
moment, that something terribly SCI
GUS had happened, and she turned
little pale herself as she asked II
) question, not dreaming what the a
70 swer would be.
"Helen," said the young man, ste
: ping toward her and taking her ham
again. "we're in awful trouble"
= 'Tf 1t is any trouble l can shai
u Bert" said the girl, flashing at him
u look which set his pulses bounding
least she was to be depended ON
"you know you can count on me"
e 81 know I can," he exclaimed gra,
fully.
IL "Now tell me.s
he "The International bridge is about
IL fall"
II The color came to her face aga
Was that ALT, came into her mir
: That was serious enough, of cour'
but it would not matter In the 10
run. Helen realized the awful crawl
the terrible seriousness, Of the sitr
hrf6n0 nf NH