The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1917-06-21
CHAPTER xvl-centlnus4.

10
Colonel nlingworth had dismissed
Meade from his mind because he hated
him. Helen Illlngworth refrained
from talking about him to her father
because she loved him. So they were
never In each others presence without
thinking Of the man. This was Q
source Of great irritation to the father.
On occasion he almost found himself
at the point Of shouting at his dauyh-
ter to talk about him. And that she 70
carefully avoided the subject aud -
the avoidance was 30 obviously In &C
coedance with his own wish, the re-
straint irritated him the more. The
fact that they both sought 30 carefully
10 maintain the old relationship made
Il more impossible. Fol- relationships
which are primarily founded on love
cannot be maintained BY constraint
without the weakening of the great
force upon which their tenure had pre-
viously depended. There Is nothing
like concealment to impair and weak
- tie unless 1t be banl Prohlbi.
tioos rarely prohibit.
Still there remaine1 q deep and abid-
inG affection between father and
daughter and they managed somehow
b get along outwardly much as before.
Indeed Colonel Illingworth was more
kind and 4 nsiderate than ever to his
daughter. and she repaid him with
more than usual cnre and devotion.
The very fact that she seemed to have
accepted the situation and obeyed the
law he had laid down gave him some
eompunctions Of conscience. On that
account. perhaps. he had been the more
willing to accede to her request to take
Hhurtliff into his employ. In no way
was Shurtllff responsible for the fail.
ure OF the bridge or for any mistake
In the calculations of the Meades. and
Shurtliff was an invaluable man. not
only for an engineer but for the presi-
dent of the Martlet Bridge company.
He was familiar with the subjects
that Colonel ulingworth discussed and
wrote about. He was intelligent and
reliable to the last degree. his reputa-
ton for steadiness and discretion I'M
questioned, and he was marvelously eff
lcient In his subordinate position. The
colonel, having flrst tried him out, had
advanced him rapidly after learning
his worth. He was now his private
secretary. Shurtlin being an old bach
elor without kith or kin. and not orig
inaily fond of women. found himself
suddenly In touch with one Of the
sweetest and kindest, as well a. the
youngest and most beautiful of . sex
about which he knew nothing.
His new position naturally brought
him into close touch with the colonel.
TIE old man transacted . good deal
Of his business In his own house.
6AurtliR was frequently there. Under
other circumstances Helen IllInEworth
would have treated him with that hne
and gracious courtesy which she ex.
tended to everyone with whom she
came In contact. but she would not
Aavs especially interested herself In
him. She would not have made him
he object Of the delicate attention and
klven him the careful consideration
which would have completely turned
the head Of younger and more sus-
ceptible man.
There had been a prejudice In Shurt-
HIS mind against women In general,
and Helen Illingworth In particular.
He Ind quickly realized that she above
all persons had the greatest interest
In dIsprovIng Meade's statement and
his own and in laying the blame for
the failure Of the bridge where II be-
l0ngcd. on the shoulders OF the patron
to love whom had been the habit OF his
life. Therefore the old secretary was
constantly on his guard lest he be
trapped into admissions or actions
which, might be used to dlscredit the
older Meade and convict the two con-
kpirators.
But Helen Illingworth was far too
clever to allow any inkling OF such II
design to appear. Not the remotest
hint Of such purpose did she betrny.
Bhe deliberately set about to win the
old mans regard and respect and per-
haps eventually his affection. She had
The ordering OF her fnther's household.
II course. Tint WINS matter In which
she colonel concerned himself not ut
ali no long US things went smoothly.
- they always did. He was little
astOnished 1t her treatment Of Shurt.
III. but the old secretary was Mt heart
q gentleman, and there WINS no reason
why. II Helen chose to include him
among her friends and invite him to
dinner and otherwise make him wei
come In the house. she should not do
%. And II bis dry. precise way Bhurt-
liz was rather liknble. He was touched
and nattered by her kindness. and In
spite Of his suspicious which gradu.
ally grew less. by the way. he exerted
himself to show his appreciation and
to bear himself seemingly 10 his new
life.
Colonel IllinSworth had no suspi.
eions whatsoever that there had been
any conspiracy to suppress the truth
and shift the blame. True. his dnuEh.
ter had protested on that fatal day
that she did not believe Meade and