The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-08-22

StrumentS."
II think may be trusted with one,
SIR" answered Meade, his eyes bright
ening.
eyes, perhaps; but have watched
you in odd hours. The young men
around here are constantly practicing
with the transits. I've never seen you
put hand to one. How about it?''
I'm not exactly a youngster, Mr..
Handkerchief" returned Meade, land
I really didn't think it necessary to
practice, but if you trust me with one
I believe can manage it,
Old Handkerchief leaned back in his
chair in the Office and looked care
lessly away from Meade to all appear
ances. He clasped his hands back of
his head and seemed lost in thought.
Suddenly he began humming a little
scrap of verse about another college
which Cambridge men sing with zest ::
I'm a physical wreck,
From the grand old Tech,
But h. Of az engineer!
He stopped abruptly, whirled about
in his swingchair, and shot a quick
glance at Meade. 1t was a trap. And
as he sprang it Vandeventer surprised
the ghost of smile, Iepressed quickly
but there, on Meade's lips. The chief
engineer was satisfied. Before this,
little things had betrayed a fellow
alumnus, or at least n fellow student
Of the old Lawrence Scientific school.
Vandeventer was pleased at his adroit-
ness. He did not, however, refer to
1t.
'"There's a new transit in that box
on the floor there" he said, resuming
his Indifferent manner, "I've had the
case opened, but haven't taken it out.
Get it, and We'll 60 outside and see
what you can do with it."
Now a transit, for ell it is used in
rough fieldwork, is one Of the most
expensive and delicate of instruments.
It IL capable Of the NEST accurate ad-
tuz:naent, and if It is to be of any
req; use, the refinement of these ad-
tuaements' must not be impaired in any
degree by unskilled and reckless pack
ing. The boxes In which the instru-
meats are shipped are very carefully
constructed in accordence with the
principles which experience has shown
to be necessary, and each one is espe-
cie3ly fitted to the paxslcular instru-
ment e. be contained therein. The
box IS a complicated thing and the
trauri% cannot be taken out or replaced
except tN one way. With a knowledge
of tie combination, so to speak, it is
omFafctively simple to take transit
from the box; without that knowledge,
which none but an expert transitman,
or the packer himself can have, it is
rather difficult without running risk
Of ru7 hing the instrument
THIS command was another Of Van
deventer's tests, therefore. Meade
knew this as we'll as his superior. In
spite Of himself, he woult have to be-
tray his familiarity. Wel', he had
brought himself to the coAcSLsion that
he could not continue hi> Fork with
out very soon disclosing *!ss fact that
he had been an engineer. Sad in case
Of the inevitable, the soopGe the bet
ter. So long as he had to retray him
self, he would have all the advantages
as well as the Disadvantage He un-
locked the door of the box; slid the
instrument out quickly, accurately,
without q moments hesit&!ion, and
rapidly unscrewed the hea6 from the
slide-board, and screwed i; carefully
on the tripod. Vandeven'tr's eyes
sparkled.
"Come outside" he said. leading the
way to the side Of the hill, ''hnd set it
up there over the tack in f:at stake
and jewel IT."
. Beginners have been known to take
ten minutes to get transit set up,
levelcd anc centered. It is good work
if it is done inside of minute; thirty
seconds is aery fast. In fcrt$>hve Sec
onds MeadA reported, "all ready, sir"
He could have done it in less, but he
was a little out Of practice, he said
to himself.
'Iook here" said Vandeventer, "you
can't pull any more bluff on me, Rob-
erts; you're an engineer, all right"
II know something about the practi-
cal side of it, sir" answered Meade,
turning a little pale and wondering
how far Handkerchief would press his
questions and what he would learn.
But the engineer was man.
"Practical, yes, and theoretical too,
I'll be bound, but don't seek to pry
into your antecedents. It's enough for
me if you do good work for me here"
"Iu do my best, sir.'--