The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-09-14
CHAPTER XXI.
At Last to the Stars.

to look at the lake and the outlet. In.
deed the water was roaring down be.
meath the steel arch bridge, filling for
the first time in generations the chan.
mel Of the Kicking Horse. Fortunate.
ly 1t could flow that way without dan.
ger to the town or the viaduct below.
The colonel led his daughter to q
chair and then turned to Winters.
"You were there? he began. ''Tell
me about It."
Graphically the big cattle rancher
Told, the story Of Meade's mad rush
over the rocks with his two eompan.
ions, Of the desperate assault on the
hOg-back, Of the success that had met
their efforts to open the imprOvised
spillway, and then the final disaster
The recital lost nothing in his graphic
relation.
ut was fine, it was magnificent
said the colonel, patting his daughters
shoulder. Where are the two who
went with him?"
They're outside there" said Win
tiers.
The old colonel went to the door of
the car and called the two men into the
| car.
"In the bank down in Coronado
there's thousand dollars Of mine for
each Of you" he said promptly.
1--WE didn't do it for money, sor,"
said the big Irishman, although twill
be welcome enough. but how is Mr..
Roberts?"
"You mean that man who blew up
the hog-back?"
Isl, signore, greata man he ees, "
said the little Italian.
II wish I could say he was all right,
but there's a doctor with him and we
have sent for the best physician in
town. He's horribly hurt"
"But plaise God, he may pull through,
sor. The Holy Virgin an the Saints
presarve him." said the Irishman, max
Ing the sign Of the cross.
And In his own language little Fun
arc breathed a similar prayer and with
his grimy, toil-stained hand he made
the same gesture.
Murphy" shouted voice from the
pines on the side Of the hill between
the car and the mesa.
'That'll be Mr.. Vandeventer, the
resident engineer" said Murphy.
Colonel nlingworth turned to the
door again.
"Where's Roberts2" cried Vandeven-
ter, stumbling down the hill. He was
haggard and worn and weary to the
point Of exhaustion. but as soon as he
had been assured Of the safety Of the
dam-and before he left the water was
| visibly receding-he had started out to
seek the engineer whom he had, in his
mind in the excitement Of the moment,
accused Of desertion.
Hes here in my car, sir" said Colo
mel nlingworth.
sand who are you, may askr said
| Vandeventer, crossing the track and
swinging himself upon the platform of
| the car.
II am Colonel nlingworth, president
of the Martlet Bridge company"
"But Roberts2"
"His name is not Roberts. It's
Meade"
"What? The International man?"
eyes,"
II knew he was an engineer. Well,
he's made up for his failure there"
"He did not fail there any more than
he failed here" said the colonel.
"Where is he?"
sits long story"
SIT can watt" said Vandeventer
brusQuely. II want to thank him for
saving the dam and the lives Of the
men on it, and the town, and the rail-
road, and the bridge"
81 don't know whether you can thank
him or not" said the colonel.
"YOu don't mean"
''He was terribly hurt by the last ex-
plosion and they brought him here"
"Can see him."
For answer Colonel nlingworth
pointed to the door. n
'This is my daughter. Your name is
Vandeventer, is it not? Helen, this is
the engineer who is building the dam.
He has come to ask after his man."
"Tve done everything can for him. -
said Severance, coming out Of the
stateroom, followed by the porter, as
Vandeventer shook hands with the girl.
"He's still unconscious, but seems to
breathe little easier"
Into the little room the woman and
the four men crowded. Vandeventer,
accompanied by Murphy and Funaro,
followed the colonel. Neither OF the
workmen would be left out. There lay
the engineer, his face as white as the
| linen OF the pillow or the bandage
which had been deity tied around his
head. One hand, still grimy and mud
stained, lay on the sheet. Helen IL
lingworth knelt down and kissed it and
laid her head on the bed.
"He is to be my husband If he lives"
she said simply.
"A man and an engineer he is" whis-
pered Vandeventer.
81 misjudged you, Meade" said the
colonel softly, speaking as If the un-
conscious man could hear. 81 con-
demned you. 1 wish to heaven you
could hear me make amends now"
"BegOb," whispered Murphy. you'd
ought to seen him run wild the dinna-
mite"