The Dermott news., 1917-08-23

l gineers who planned the great irriga ton works had done that, but he want l ed to do 1t fvr himself. At one place, where the distance between what might be called the edge of the valley and the head of the ravine was narrow 1 est--indeed. he estimated after pacing l ii that it measured not over twenty i feet across-he discovered that the rounded earth crest was slightly lower l than the intended level of the top of l the dam.
 When he returned to the office, he | found on examining the construction i drawings that an earth dike was l planned to run along the hogback so i that the top level should he higher than that of the dam. This dike would i be only hundred and fifty feet long i and few feet high. and could be built i in few days time. Work on the main 1 dam being more important, nothing i had as yet been done on the dike.
 Meade had been promoted toward ] the end of the fall and In rather unusual way One of the transit men, q young engineer. got better job and left his instrument Nandeventer called Meade before him.
 Roberts" he said. there's va cancy for u transit man. You've done such good work so far and shown such familiarity with tieldwork, that I'd give it to you if had any idea that i you knew anything about handling in- l struments.'
 "I think I may be trusted with one, i sir" answered Meade, his eyes bright l ening.
 Yes, perhaps: but I have watched l you in odd hours. The young men around here are constantly practicing i with the tranSits. I've never seen you 1 put a hand to one How about it?"
 I'm not exactly Il youngster Mr. i Vandeventer. returned Meade. "and ! l really didn't think it necessary to 1 practice. but If you trust me with one i believe l can manage it."
 old Nandeventer leaned back in his chair in the office and looked care lessly away from Meade to all appear anccS He clasped his hands back of ] his head and seemed lost in thought. 1 Suddenly he began hummng q little scrap of verse ahoht another college which Cambridge men sing with zest; I'm a physical wreck.
 From the grand old Tech.
 But a h-- of an engineer!
 He stopped abruptly, whirled about in his swincchair. and shot n quick glance at Meade. IL was trap. And as he sprang 1t Nandeventer surprised the ghost of Il smile repressed quickly but there, on Meade's lips. The chief engineer was satisfied. Before this. 1 little things had betrayed fellow alumnus. or Tt least fellow student of the old Lawrence Scientific school Vandeventer was pleased at his adroit- ness. He did not, however, refer to 1t.
 "There's n new transit in that box on the floor there" he said, resuming his indifferent manner. "Ive had the ease opened. but haven't taken 1t out. i Get 1t, and we'll go outside and see what you can do with it."
 Now transit. for all 1t is used in rough heldwork. is one of the most expensive and delicate of instruments IL Is capable of the most accurate nd justmcnt, and if' II Is to be of any real use. the refinement of these ad- ! justmcnts.must not be impaired in any degree by unSkilleA and reckless pack ing The boxes in which the inStru- ments are shipped are very carefully constructed in accordance with the principles which experience has shown tQ be necessary. and each one Is espe- cially fitted to the particular insuu- ment to be contained therein. The box is complicated thing and the transit cannot be taken out or replaced except in one way. With Il knowledge of the combination, SD to speak, 1t is comparatively simple to take transit from the box; without that knowledge. which none but an expert transtman or the packer himself can have, 1t is rather difficult without running risk of running the instrument.
 This command was another of Van i utNfHtfF tests. tutItlttt. knew this as we'll as his superior. In spite of himself. he would have to be- tray his familiarity. Well. he had brought himself to the conclusion that he could not continue his work with out very soon disclosing the fact that hc had been m engineer. And in case of the inevitable. the sooner the bet ter. So long as he had to betray him self. he would have all the advantages as we'll us the disadvantages. He un- locked the door of the box, slid the instrument out quickly, accurately. without moments hesitation. and rapidly unserewed the head from the slide-board. and screwed 1t carefully on the tripod. Vandeventer's eyes sparkled.
 Come outside" he said. leading the way to the side of the hill. "and set 1t up there over the tack in that stake and IavaI