The Benson signal., 1917-05-12
CHAPTER Viii.
For the Father

For the Father.
Two and one-half hours later
group of anxious reporters, clustered
at the door of the Uplift building, were
galvanized into life by the arrival of
taxicab. Out of it leaped Bertram
Meade. He was recognized instantly.
"You know about the bridge,
Meade?" asked one, forcing his way
through the crowd, which broke into
sudden clamor of questioning.
Meade nodded. He recognized the
speaker, their hands met. This was
man of his own age named Rodney,
who had been Meade's classmate at
Cambridge, his devoted friend there
after. Instead of active practice, he
had chosen to become a writer on sci
entifc subjects and was there as
representative of the Engineering
News. There were sympathy and af-
fection in his voice and look, and in
the grasp of his hand.
"Have you seen my father, Rodney?"
Meade asked, quickly moving to the
elevator, followed by all the men.
"At the house they said he was not
there, and here at the office we get
no answer"
AS Meade turned he saw his fathers
secretary coming slowly through the
entrance. "Shurtliff," he called out.
"My father?"
"I left him in the Office two hours
ago. He told me to-to-go away and
leave him alone. 7 have been wan
dering about the streets"
Outside in the street the newsboys
were shrieking:
"Extry! Extry! All about the col
lapse of the international bridge. Two
hundred engineers and workmen lost"
Shurtliff had one of the papers in
his hand. Meade tore it from him.
"Who Is Responsible" stared at him
in big red headlines.
Gentlemen" said Meade, "I can
answer that question'-he held up the
paper so that all might see-"the fault
the blame-is mine"
"We'll have to see your father,
Bert" said Rodney.
''He is in this building, we know,
and he'll never leave it without run
ming the gantlet of us all" cried an
other amid chorus Of approval.
Meade realized there was no escape.
They all piled into the elevator with
him and Shurtliff. They followed him
up the corridor. He stopped before
the door of the office.
81 forbid you to come in," he said.
''This is my fathers private"
'Have no fear, Bert" said Rodney
firmly. ''We don't intend to break in.
We understand how you feel. We will
wait here until you say the word, and
then all we shall want will be a state
ment from your father"
''Thank you, old man. Come, Shurt-
liff," said Meade, turning his key in
the lock. The two men entered and
carefully closed the door behind them.
The door was scarcely shut when
Helen Illingworth left the elevator and
came rapidly up the corridor. She had
called at the office before and had no
need to ask the way. The reporters
gathered around the door moved to
give her passage while they stared at
her with deep if respectful curiosity.
pardon me, gentlemen" she began,
''but I am very anxious to see the
younger Bertram Meade
"He has just gone into the office, -
answered Rodney respectfully.
The girl raised her hand to knock.
ga moment, please; perhaps you had
better understand the situation. The
International bridge"
The girl came to a sudden determi-
nation. She could not declare herself
too soon or too publicly.
"A1y name is nlingworth," she said,
and as the hats of the surprised report
ers came off, she continued, II am the
daughter of the president of the Mart
let Bridge company, which was erect
ing the International"
eyes, Miss Illingworth," answered
Rodney, "and did you come here to
represent himw
II am Mr.. Bertram Meade, Jr.'s,
promised wife, and I am here because
it is the place where ought to be.
When the man I love is in trouble,
must be with him."