Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-03-23

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?"
II left him in the Office two hours
ago. He told me to-to-go away and
leave him alone. / have been wan
dering about the streets"
Outside in the street the newsboys
were shrieking:
"Extryl Extryl 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, 81 can
answer that question"-he held up the
paper so that all might see-'the fault
the blame-is mine"
"We1l have to see your father,
Bert" said Rodney.
she is in this building, we know,
and he'll never leave it without run
ming the gantlet of us ALL" cried an
other amid a 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.
II forbid you to come in," he said.
"Thls 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 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 nlingworth 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 l 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.
"a 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.
my name is Illfhgworth," she said,
and as the hats Of the surprised report
ers came off, she continued, 81 am the
daughter of the president Of the Mart
let Bridge company, which was erect
ing the International"
"Yes, Miss Illingworth," answered
Rodney, "and did you come here to
represent him?"
Il am Mr.. Bertram Meade, Jr.'s,
promised wife, and am here because
it is the place where 1 ought to be.
When the man love is in trouble,
must be with him."
She raised her hand again, but Rod
ney was too quick for her. He knocked
lightly on the door, and then struck
1t heavily several times. The sound
rang hollowly through the corridor, as
it always does when the door of an
empty room is beaten upon. There
was no answer for a moment.
"Oh, / must get in," said the WON.
an.
Rodney knocked again, and this time
the door was opened. Shurtliff stood
n the way. He had been white and
haken before, but now so anguished
nd shocked was his appearance thai
'erybOdy stared. Shurtliff moistened
lis lips and tried to speak. He could
not utter q word, but he did manage
to point toward the private Office.
Perhaps l would better 60 first.
said Rodney, as the secretary stepped
back and gave them passage.
Helen Illingworth followed, and ther
the rest. Young Meade was standins
erect by his fathers chair. The greaf
bulk of the old engineer was slouchet
down, his body bent over, his heaC
on the desk, face downward. On,
great arm, his left, extended, sho
straight across the desk. His fis
was clenched his right arm hung linn
by his side. He was still.
! There was something unmistakabl.
terrible in his motionless aspect. The.
Lad no need to ask what had hap
pened. A sharp exclamation from tn,
woman was the only sound that brok
the silence, as she stepped to her lov
ers side.
You can't question my father now
gentlemen" said Meade; she is dead.
In the outer Office they heard Shurt
lift brokenly calling the doctor on tn
telephone and asking him to notify tn
police
"Did he" began one, hesitatingly.
HE was too big man to do himsel
| | any NUT huOW, duSWGIGu
| proudly, as he OWNED the question
'"The autopsy will tell. But 1 am sur
that the failure of the bridge ha
broken his heart"
"And we can't fix the responsible
now," said Rodney, who for his friend
, sake was glad of this consequence {
the old mans death.
Eyes, you can," said the young mai
. He leaned forward and laid his rigl
hand on his dead fathers shoulde
:, Helen Illingworth had possessed he
{ self of his left hand. She lifted it an
: held it to her heart. The enginet
e seemed unconscious of the action, ar
: still it was the greatest thing he ha
q ever experienced. Meade spoke slow
z and with the most weighty deliber
, tiOn In an OhvinuS pndp0vor to oivp n