Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-03-02

en- platform on the track ran out half
the distance to the bridge end. Slowly
the two walked along it until but a
few feet were left between them and
the naked floor beams and the string
ers carrying the ties to which the rails
were bolted and the planks laid.
BY the side of the track on the top
of the stringers had been placed pile
Of material surmOunted by large fiat
plate of steel, which lay level upon it.
1t was triangular in shape, the blunt
point inward. The base which was
about six feet wide paralleled the
course of the river. The plate on the
top of the pile was raised about three
feet above the level of the track. They
stopped, abreast of it.
Cant we go any further?" asked
the girl in low tones, still close to the
young man, who still lightly clasped
her arm.
"Pm afraid it wouldn't be safe to
go any farther" he said.
81 want to see the steamer. 1t will
pass directly under the bridge"
''They have no business to pass un-
der the bridge" said Meade. They've
been warned hundreds of times and or
ders have been issued. There is al
ways danger that something might
fall."
"Why can't stand up there?"
"0n that gusset plate2"
'Ts that what you call it?"
"Yes, it bears the same relation to
structural steel that a gusset does to
wOman's dress"
Exactly. But can't 1 stand on it?"
'sWait," he answered.
He climbed to the center of it, lifted
himself up and down on his feet to test
it, and found it. solid apparently.
81 think so, but shall have to put
you up" he said at last as he lifted
her up and set her down on her feet in
the middle of the plate of steel.
"Oh, there comes the steamer" she
cried. 81 can see it beautifully from
here"
"Be careful. You must not move.
oldhu pCA1SCbAy SlSuuys uuu uOL 50
sure of that plate" He reached over
from where he stood on the track be-
low her and by her side and gathered
the material of her dress in an iron
grasp.
Il do not think that is necessary"
she said. "This plate seems as solid as
the rest Of the bridge and-oh, there's
the steamer She's right under u.s."
The big river craft was filed with
light and laughter. The wind fortu.
nately blew the smoke away from the
bridge so that they had a clear and
perfect view Of her. There was band
playing aboard her. They heard the
music above the beat of the whirline
paddles, the song Of the rising wind
The passengers were congregated
about the rails on the upper decks
staring upward. The bridge was as
fascinating to them as it was to the
people ashore evidently.
"How interesting" said the delight
ed girl. ''Why don't you come up here
yourself, you can see so much betterT
The man had dropped her gown, lift
ed his right foot to the pile on th'
stringers to follow her suggestion
Thoughtlessly she stepped toward tn,
outer end to give him room, quite for
getful of his caution. Before he coulC
complete his step or warn her of tn
danger, 1t now bent forward. 1t title,
distinctly. In spite of herself, Helel
nlingworth was carried still farthe
forward as she sought to regain he
balance. The piece of steel began +
slip downward, grating ON the pile o
beams as it moved; another secon
and 1t would be of and on its way il
revocably.
Meade threw himself at the girl. Fl
lunged out and caught her just as sh
was slipping downward with the plat
now almost perpendicular. To cate
her he had to step to the very edge G
the planking beyond which the rail
, ran naked on the ties.
; With a tremendous effort he caugl
I her by the waist, swung her up and il
and stood fast on the brink quiverin;
. heaving himself desperately backwar
; as he sought to maintain his balanC
! and take the backward step that mear
safety.
, A wild shout rose from the steamt
> as the huge plate dropped, like IL
! blade of a mighty guillotine, straigl
4 down through the air. If it had struC
the boat, it would have cut throul
! like a knife. Fortunately it clearC
q the gangway by inches. In a secor
1t had disappeared. Screams, shout
q arose from the boat which prompt
= sheered off into midstream.
n Helen nlingworth's back had be,
toward Meade as he seized her. 81
r. had seen as he had everything tn
happened. Recovering himself at la
v. he stepped back slowly, almost dra
n. ging her, until they were a safe d
er lance from the edge. His face W
s, CHASTITY white in the moonlight. Swe
in covered his forehead. He was shaki
like a wind-blOwn leaf.
K "The whole world went black VIII
l saw you CO." he said slowly.
d. "Do you care that much?" asked t
ht girl, trembling herself.
ic There was no necessity for maidel
lis reticence now.
er "Care?" said the man. "CareT
m, "Tm all right now."
n "You are more fortunate than 1.
stood to lose you, you stood to |,
he only life. Don't you see? Can't J
wv understands
Id Suddenly he swept her TO his bre
lie as this time she faced him. She '
" very near him and she did not III;
'ly the slightest resistance. She had w
ht. ed for this hour and she wss 81
ir. They had faced death too nearly
De- any hesitation now. She knew
he loved her, and knew that he
ed saved her at the imminent risk Of